West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala, 27-30 March 2014

Will all loco's run chimney first as at previous galas?

Thanks,

Dave

 

There's a lot of use of the Triangle so I reckon so, Dave. Maybe the odd one that doesn't, he said caveatly...

Steve

 

Sorry to be pedantic but 4160 is ex GWR.

 

Looking at the locos for Saturday only 4160 and 6960 start at Minehead, is that correct ? ( I have ordered a programme which should hopefully arrive tomorrow).
I know 31806 is at Williton because of a night shoot on Friday.

 

I think he is being sarcastic.

 

The restricted operation of guest locomotives is to reduce the mileage related hiring charges.

The WSR approach is simple. Hire some popular engines to attract people to the event, but use the boring hourly timetable and the home fleet to keep operational costs to a minimum.

And when people don’t turn up, the excuse is to blame the weather.



In fairness to them, the railway is not doing particularly well financially so it needs to find the right balance.

They are doing well with the promotion of themed events although gimmicky phone app is a bit pointless.

 

Perhaps the WSR should take a peep over the shoulder of the Swanage Railway. <BJ>
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news921.htm

 

WSR reported a very good trading year with income in 2014 in excess of £ 2.8 million. This was is an improvement of £151,000 over 2012. Budget performance was exceeded by £43,000 and fare income improved by £54,000.
Visiting loco mileage on passenger planned 800+, home fleet 500+.

 

31806 and 34070 start at MD too.

 

Perhaps, not such a good exampke, as I believe the T9 failed on Saturday and was replaced by a Class 33 diesel.

 

''I believe the T9 failed on Saturday and was replaced by a Class 33 diesel''.

Indeed it did and that is why we concentrated that day on the M7 30053. Up and down all Saturday .....wonderful.
It was back to normal on the Sunday, everybody was happy. <BJ>

 

''Visiting loco mileage on passenger planned 800+, home fleet 500+''

If a railway advertises an event for months stating that four visiting engines would be present for the recreation
of the 'Atlantic Coast Express' and for a 'LSWR gala', why would any event organiser opt to use the home fleet
for 500 miles+ of operation?

If the WSR gets a reputation for second rate galas then it could take years to lose that image. <BJ>

 

A bit harsh if I may say so. WSR are getting in two Bulleid light pacifics plus a U class - which is as near to a good old N class as you can get. Pretty good effort IMHO. And 4160 belongs to be - after all Western Region ran the odd train over the Plymouth - Okehampton - Exeter route with ex GWR locos (OK, Halls and Churchward/ Collett moguls usually) to keep the crews' hand in for emergencies - like the Dawlish sea wall collapsing, my how we could have done with the Okehampton route now! You can't expect the home fleet to be totally confined to barracks.

John

 

I bang on about 4160 doing two round trips each gala day as that's what seems to happen, and the guest locos are sat idle. 88 is another one they like to bring out too often.

 

''WSR are getting in two Bulleid light pacifics plus a U class - which is as near to a good old N class as you can get. Pretty good effort IMHO''.

I totally agree and applaud the WSR for it. But that is of no use if have them sat on the sub's bench. <BJ>

 

Just got my programme today. I can reassure those who worry about such things that 4160 is not doing two round trips on any day of the gala. Of course, as stated above and in the programme 4160 qualifies for the gala on the grounds that it may just have worked over the Okehampton route in an emergency. 5322 qualifies in that it may have worked from Taunton to Barnstaple and maybe on to Ilfracombe, 6960 on the grounds that it probably passed the ACE while sitting in Plymouth North Road or Exeter St Davids, and best of all S&D 88 qualifies because it was probably sitting on shed at Templecombe one day when the ACE passed by!

Having said all that, it's a good collection of locos and I'm looking forward to it.

 

Visitors arriving by car for the Spring Steam Gala are advised that car parking at Bishops Lydeard Station will be limited as the waterlogged field normally used for overflow parking is not available. If the area enjoys a spell of dry weather between now and the weekend then some limited use of the field may be possible, but no guarantees. Other options for car-borne visitors are the council run pay and display car parks at Minehead and Watchet, and a very limited number of spaces at other WSR stations, except Doniford. Another option is to park in Taunton and use the Buses of Somerset Route 28 to Bishops Lydeard Station (half hourly on Thu, Fri, Sat, and hourly on Sun).

Steve (from info provided by WSR Plc)

 

WSR reported a very good trading year with income in 2014 in excess of £ 2.8 million. This was is an improvement of £151,000 over 2012. Budget performance was exceeded by £43,000 and fare income improved by £54,000.
Visiting loco mileage on passenger planned 800+, home fleet 500+.

It maybe up £151,000 but doesn't mean much if the costs have gone up by £250,000?

Whilst £2.8 million sounds good it is the profit or loss that counts!

 

Got my WTT last night... looks good to me and don't know what all the fuss is about. If you have 4 guests there's only so many workings each can do on a line the length of the WSR