West Somerset Steam Express

Provisional times for Sat 21 July behind Tangmere now posted here t0721d.htm
No times over the WSR yet.

David

 

12 minutes at Reading to set down? Who's getting off, a bunch of snails. Bearing in mind the outbound stop at Reading is only 3 minutes. Interesting to see it is main line after that though.

 

It is also a pathing stop, to allow other trains to overtake.

 

The latest news from the WSR people at Williton is that the charter will be banked over the branch by the WSR class 47 diesel. I do not know what the leading loco will be to Minehead. Tangmere could come off at Bishops Lydeard or continue to Minehead. <BJ>

 

Will Tangmere fit on the turntable at Minehead? I have seen a 9F on there at 66' overall, Tangmere is about 1' longer overall but I can not remember the total wheelbase length. The WSR has made a great effort to have the possibility to turn engines at both ends of the line, the ephasis being on 'the very end' as you can't get closer to the extremities of the WSR that the two locations!

Edit: Of course Braunton has already been turned on the TT...

 

The Minehead turntable will turn everything except the LNER and LMS pacifics. These will fit the turntable but are either too heavy or cannot be balanced properly.

David

 

Got my discounted ticket this morning 08-05 dep padd back at 23-23 a long day,BISHOPS LYDEARD-MINEHEAD SHOUD BE 53809 can it handle a heavy train on it's own, i am in coach H

 

Are you sure it's not 88/53808, as that is at the WSR at the moment.
And yes, it can handle a heavy train, though im sure i read somewhere that it will be banked by the WSR's 47

 

Plan is to use GWR 2-8-0 no 3850 on the BL-MD sections (non-stop). D1661 to provide rear assistance on the MD-BL leg (non stop).

BL a 1315
BL d 1330
MD a 1446

MD d 1655
BL a 1807
BL d 1814

subject to usual caveats...

Steve

 

Looks like RTC got the loco number wrong in there letter

 

What loads the charter ?, despite the WSR's gradients I'd still say a 38 could take 12 or so unassisted, class 8 power and 4 axles for adhesion.

 

RTC may have been right at the time but there's been a delay in the routine maintenance work being carried out on SDJR 2-8-0 no 88 which seems to have forced the change.

Steve

 

Yes, 3850 is a powerful beast.

 

I read somewhere that another 2-8-0, I think either 3802 or 3803, took 14 up Hemerdon unaided on a sumer Saturday in the 1960s

 

Not sure what the charter load is. The support coach and 34067 will come off at Lydeard. I think the limit for no 3850 is eleven (same for no 88 which has already proven capable of taking 12 on several occasions) and of course a 38 (number?) once took nineteen from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard...

I guess the 47 on the back over the WSR is "insurance"...esp noting the return is just 62 minutes from Minehead to Lydeard.

Steve

 

Yes, but with no stops, surely it's a lot easier and quicker than normal...

 

Agreed. The return has a scheduled crossing with a down passenger train (at Blue Anchor) which will probably involve a stop. And another crossing at Williton (D7017 with a diesel experience goods train) which may not require a complete stop. There's not likely to be any further signals stops or other delays. The key thing is to present the special back to Network Rail at the agreed time (1831) at Norton Fitzwarren, otherwise the penalties start to loom...so the WSR will want to be absolutely sure the thing keeps rolling. (my maths ability is up to its usual poor standard - my last posting suggested a 62min MD-BL run, make that 72mins)

Steve

 

Weather forcast is good for tomorrow,i hope there won't be any delays on the WSR so there is time for some fish & chips and a pint

 

Saturday morning and the SUN IS OUT in Berkshire !!!

 

It's also out in Somerset, (the sun that is), so should be a great day for photography