West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Andy

It may be that your shovel is too long!

However with say a 94xx (Super Pannier) no such issues also 6412 had plenty of room

Of course we could find one of those topless Panniers specially for you.

Jeff

 

The last time I fired a pannier (6412) I took all the hair off of the back of my left hand (even with gloves on)! It was great fun (I've heard that some chaps who are unlucky enough not to fire Panniers pay ladies to re-create just this sort of fun for them using whips and the like)!!!! As to space - there were 4 of us on the footplate and an old yachting saying came to mind about - space for 4 good friends or..........

 

I know, I mean where there would be more rail stuff to look around.

Would love to see more steam locos on the Norton triangle if only static

 

Indeed - the right answer reached in time has to be preferable to the wrong answer reached quickly.

With regard locos: there is not exactly a bouyant market in ex-GWR locos of any size, let alone those suitable for the WSR. As things stand, the Manor is secure, under cover and acting as an ambassador for the whole railway, while requiring minimal outlay. As such, surely it must be seen as more asset than liability. A hasty sale may come to be regretted at leisure.

Tom

 

I suspect - and a check against photos of my own TRB entries confirms - that your dwell times estimated are rather on the high side. The second train only has to stop for as long as station duties need. The first train will have to wait for the second to arrive, of course, but if both arrive at around the same time the first train only has to stand for about 3 minutes for signalling purposes. This is with typically 6-8 coach trains.

 

D1015 renumbering D1010 for 2moros railtour to Plymouth/okehampton.

 

I thought they were about right, similar to us at GWSR.

 

The WSRA spent years unsuccessfully looking for a suitable GWR loco for the late 20th century WSR and eventually bought 'Braunton' and came to regret it.

7821 is not without problems, which are well known, but when restored it should be associated with the WSR long after I have gone to work the celestial lever frame.

Robin

 

The timetable planners might well add more time in, of course - I've just checked, and ours allow a minimum of 5 minutes for the second train, so if trains arrive on time they do end up waiting for departure time for a couple of minutes once the road is clear. However I was talking about the minimum time it takes when trains are trying to make up time.

 

What was the problem(s) with Braunton?

 

Essentially too big for regular use (opposite problem to 6412).

Robin

 

A somewhat gnomic comment. Perhaps there will also be a celestial fence to sit on?

 

Have you ever known me to sit on the fence?

Robin

 

Sunday to Friday 4 .Saturdays durring the season , change over day at Butlins then 6 . Occasionally there was a tender engine . This is what I witnessed as a child .

 

You will never get there. I had a near death experience recently, ended up with Saint P, the Old Bearded Bloke & Old Nick having a blazing row as none of them would have me. Something along the line of 'I'm not having those Nat Pres people in Hell, they are far to stroppy & argumentative,

 

The normal coal consumption I believe on WSR duties (7/8coach trains) with 4160 is 60lb per mile. If we allow a very substantial over run eg 80 lb/mile, this represents 1,600lb/mile for the 20 miles. Similarly if we then take a very ambitious evaporation rate of 8lb of steam per 1lb of coal. (and that would represent a very high calorific fuel) we have 12800 of water per 20 miles ie 1280 gallons. Even if there has been a 10% loss of tank capacity ie 1800 gallons rather than design 2,000 gallons (and I have no reason to believe this is the case) there will be no problem with 4160. In practice I suspect normal usage is less than 1,000 gallons for the 20 miles.

The loco that has caused concern in the past, particularly when there have been significant delays at Galas, has been 9466 when hauling 7/8 coach trains. It has only 1300 gallons water capacity and has a Swindon standard No.10 boiler without superheater. The other member of the Class No.9400, (part of the National Collection) has a superheated No.10 boiler ( the first ten members of the Class built under GWR auspices had S/Hs, all later members no S/H.)

However despite the above, inter journey water facilities at WN are obviously a useful 'have' and the current arrangements at the North end of the Swindon shed are less than ideal.

Michael Rowe

 

Plus of course the carriages in use then would be significantly lighter than Mark 1s - on WSR-sized trains, the saving in using all vintage carriages would be worth at least a whole carriage, i.e. a seven coach vintage train would be similar tare to six Mark 1s.

If only the WSR had a train or two of vintage carriages ...

Tom

 

And what would be the additional water consumption if steam heat is used in the morning before departure and then the 19 miles towards BL ???

Jeff Price

 

Plus 20 minutes waiting for the points to be hand - cranked at Williton?

 

Presumably you would fill the tank at MD before heading to the front of the train at 09.40 by which time you would already have partially heated the set. How much steam you use in heating the train on the 19.9 miles to BL will obviously depend on ambient temperature etc etc but between 5 and 10% of total evaporation.

If you waited at WN for 20 minutes as someone else has suggested and the 10% figure is applied then one might postulate an equivalent evaporation rate of 2000lb/hr absolute maximum ie c.250-300 gallons per hour, say 100 gallons allowing for thermal losses while standing.

Michael Rowe