WSR 2011 Spring Gala

Waiting time at crossing stations during WSR Galas has been deliberately increased in recent years. Whilst some passengers may wonder why trains wait so long at crossing stations other passengers wishing to swop trains seem delighted with the lack of rush. Trying to please 'em all...

Steve

 

If 6024 does run towards the end/2ND w/e of the gala will someone issue an update to the WT?

 

would it not take over 34046's turn's?

 

I was at the Bluebell Gala last weekend and some people were running across the footbridge at Sheffield Park, with no care for other fare paying passengers at all. One day it may lead to an accident.

 

Like Llangollen for example at their upcoming diesel event-connections not guaranteed at Carrog-as a result my non attendance is guaranteed.Small connections at Carrog not held then 25 minuteish layover every trip at Llangollen.
No better timetable for those travelling than the four round trips on a two train operation day.

 

I think I would say that they have been increased to a ridiculous extent and even then they over-run!

Regards

 

your right . I much prefere the hustle & bustle of a 'busy' gala, thats what they are supposed to be about! If people dont want that, they can come on a Wednesday in October or something!

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the busy feel to a Gala, but safety must come first and the way some people act could lead to an accident and spoil it for the rest.

On another note, does anyone know what time the free bus service starts from Taunton Railway station?

 

Free connecting bus link (every 20 mins Saturdays, 30 mins other gala days) between Taunton Railway station, Silk Mill Park & Ride and Bishops Lydeard on each gala day.
- First departure from Taunton Railway Station - 09:00
- First departure from Silk Mills Park & Ride - 09:20
- Last departure from Bishops Lydeard - 19:30

Steve

 

Thank You!!!

 

But there are 501 ways for accidents to happen. If by not holding trains you discourage people from 'making moves' by going over the footbridge, a certain element will then just walk across the tracks to cross over to the other train and they will really be rushing because of the other train niot being held. This makes for unpleasantness and shouting at people (even if they deserve to be shouted out for their stupidity) and nobody wants that. A bit of congestion on a footbridge with trains being held for a reasonable time to enable the 'move' must be a lesser risk to safety than hurried board (or even bare track) crossings.

 

I've never understood the Bluebell's mentality regarding Kingscote. As one train arrives, the other one departs, meaning you have to hang around there for 40 minutes. Fine if there was something there other than a catering hut! They say it's to stop people dashing through the subway between trains, but surely the mad dash at Sheffield Park over the footbridge is more dangerous? I'd rather the timetable was padded out a bit to allow 5 minutes at each end to change trains. I believe they did it at one gala, but not since.

I hope to get down to WSR some time over the second weekend. Sadly work's got in the way this weekend!

 

Maybe it's one of these things about which people need to make a (dignified) stand. To take as an example, the infamous Bewdley connections issue. During the diesel gala, trains now pass using the bay platform, allowing a cross-platform connection, which makes. This avoids the inevitable arguments between station staff and paying passengers, and is better for everyone. Perhaps if people were to write directly to the railways concerned, not making demands but simply expressing their viewpoints and explaining that as a paying passenger they feel it would be advantageous to be able to get more for their money in terms of connections etc, we might get somewhere... Even if they do nothing about it, at least they've read it!

 

I'm told that the original aspiration was to have the footbridge in use at the gala, but unfortunately the installation was postponed for 10 days, so there was no longer any realistic possibility of completing the work.

David

 

One quick question, does anyone know if there is an additional fee for traveling on the auto coach trains? I know there has been on other railways. Many thanks!

 

Foolishly, I omitted to order a timetable/guide when I applied for my lineside pass. I'll arrive on Saturday 19th, in the evening (after hopefully seeing Tangmere at Upton Scudamore on the way down) and I'll to get one at BL if there's anyone still around to sell me one. However, in case I'm delayed, or they've sold out, I wondered if anyone can tell me if there's an evening train, after the 18:00 departures shown in the on-line timetable. I wondered if there was a dining train or a late goods, perhaps?

 

I'm afraid not. <BJ>

 

Never mind - thanks Bill. If I get down there in time I'll go to Crowcombe to hear the last train (don't suppose I'll be able to see much that time of the evening).

 

Pity. Ive always thought they could run a few evening trains on the Saturdays of galas.
Though not seen the footbridge in the flesh yet, it looks from the photos to change the atmosphere of Williton, almost like a main line station!

 

To the best of my knowledge, I don't think there is any plan to stop people using the existing level crossing at Williton. However there is a plan to extend the loops at the Crowcombe end of Williton to allow 10 coach trains to pass each other at peak times. It is very likely that when two long trains are in the loops, the level crossing will be blocked, so the footbridge will be the only option for crossing from one to the other.

The Williton passing loops are currently the shortest on the line at loco+8 coaches. All the other station loops can already handle at least loco+10 coaches.