West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Just over and hour and half for 20.5 miles seems a very long time - are there pathing stops at various stations or a lot of speed restrictions? Even the 'faster' time (which presumably explains about 10 minutes of the ordinary running time by intermediate stops, although 2 to 3 minutes each seems quite high) seems pretty long for 20.5 miles with reduced stops and no other train in action (so no need for pathing stops)!

The issue is of fundamental importance in railway economics as number of diagrams - i.e. numbers of sets of people, locos and stock needed to run a service, or, if you prefer, how many departures a set of people and stock can complete in a day - is a major driver of operating costs.

Steven

 

Mondays 8,15, 22 October.

There is presently a mis-match between the information provided by the WSR Commercial and Operating departments as to whether the public train being run on these days will call at Stogumber, Watchet and Washford stations. I have raised this with the WSR Commercial Department and I anticipate clarity being provided later.

Robin
WSRA Trustee

 

In an earlier post it is suggested that the orange timetable is experimental. Is this a trial run for the projected trialling of through trains from the main line I wonder? If the times quoted, by Bean Counter, are a guide and it is mentioned that no other trains are running, then certainly the game needs to be upped in order for an experiment to be any kind of success.

 

It is an attempt to make positive use of the Railway when we are operationally ‘open’ for the Driver experience courses. It has nothing to do with through main line services.

Robin

 

It would seem to be a good time to remind folks that "other trains may run" and we should treat the line as "in use" at all times.

Steve

 

I am not aware of this service being linked to trialling through trains but this is, of course, Nat Pres

The times (an hour and a half) quoted by Bean Counter suggests he has counted rather too many beans lately - unless my reading of the orange timetable is poor

Steve

 

With its curved station, 2-3 mins at Watchet is about right (some might may pretty good) for a stop at that station especially allowing for stopping and re-starting. Stops at other stations may be less.

Steve

 

I didn't suggest it was, Steve, I simply asked the question whether it was, to which I got a reply in post 14144.

 

The following received from Sam White (no relation) of the WSR Commercial Department a few moments ago:

‘Thank you for flagging this up.

I have spoken with Mark, and he has confirmed that people can get on the train at all stations (not Doniford) however there will be no facilities apart from on board the train at the ones mentioned on the website.

I am putting together a short release to confirm this, and will send down to stations and put on the staff website.’

(‘Mark’ refers to Mark Hill, the WSR Commercial Manager.)

Robin

 

That's the Red Timetable time Steve - this Orange timetable is less, but only by about 10 minutes - @Robin Moira White's post and your own that there will be other trains running partly explain that pathing stops may still be needed and the website only shows departure times from passing places, not how much time is standing time.

Steven

 

West Somerset Railway

57 mins ·


The 10.15 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard and the 12.15 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service tomorrow (6th October) will be Diesel hauled.

 

What loco??

But 53808 is doing the afternoon round trip from BL?

 

Replaced bullied? What’s on the 14:15 ex Minehead and 16:15 ex Lydeard then?

Wish they would say what the diesel is, probably 33.

 

AH!! I thought it was the ex BL not MD my error

 

Just a few observations on the Orange & Red special trains timetables - all subject to the odd minute or two variation:

The Orange tt is quicker by 13 minutes at an average BL-MD speed of 15.2 vs 13mph.

Orange time at MD is 1:36m, Red time is 28m or 2:28m

Perhaps more interesting are the catering costs, all compared to an £18 Rover ticket:
Red Fish & Chips are £12.
Orange Cream Teas are minus £2 - ie less than a Rover so 'free' !
Orange F&C plus a CT are £8 - quite a bargain.

Orange time at intermediate stations really quite limited - 2:30m at WT is useful (as long as it stops!), but 1:50m at Dunster is barely time for a walk to the village & back - don't miss the only train! Also to be considered is the logistics of serving WT passengers - if they get on at WT on a Down train, their F&C will be an hour cold; on an Up train, will their cream teas still be available?

Just my observations.............

 

Are the cream teas worth £6?

 

Where’s it say about fish and chips?

 

Read the Plc web site! It's all there, though fairly complex.

 

Ah October 26th

https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/detail/fryday-special

£26 bargain for travel, fish and chips and cream tea, sadly can’t do it working

 

Healthy Eating Express!!

Who provides the Fish & Chips?