WSR Spring Steam Gala, Thu 26-Sun 29 March 2015

The same haulier also had a problem yesterday when moving a LU Battery Loco from Ruislip Depot to Acton Works - I understand loss of hydraulic fluid caused the trailer to drop onto the road and prevented access to the depot for over four hours. Bit of a rough week for them unfortunately.

Regards,

Dan

 

I don't know that road specifically, but I'm slightly surprised that the lorry went that way from Wareham, rather than heading east along the A351 to Lytchett Minster and picking up the A35 there - it's about four miles further, but on bigger roads.

Tom

 

It does rather read like the local primary school was asked to do a feature in the local paper...

 

Nowt wrong with the road Tom. Better to go that way as he wouldnt have got round the 2 of the roundabouts on the route you suggested

 

The 'Silent Woman' road is a preferred route for DoT/ Dorset Police for heavy haulage, which is why DoT routed the truck that way!

 

They always seem to go via wareham, over the railway and up through Sandford. Seen, 34070,30053,80104 and W24 go through that way no problem in the past few years, all getting through and around the roundabouts. Bere Road is the more unusual route..

Didn't know the Bere Road was the preferred route, but have seen lots of railway vehicles heading to Swanage via Sandford.

 

The loco was inspected by SR fitters and 6695 Group members while on the broken trailer. A representative was present at all times while the loco was moved from one trailer to the other.
It is due to continue its journey to WSR tomorrow, when unloaded it will be thoroughly examined by WSR & SR engineering staff.

Too early to say whether it will be fit for xxxx etc. It was dark when I left and nobody has x Ray vision.........

 

I regularly use this road myself to get to Swanage.
Its a minor road through Wareham Forest and I'm surprised that a vehicle of this weight was using it.
It has many slight dips in the road, I would not be at all surprised the problem was that the trailer grounded rather than broke.

 

With both Swanage & West Somerset rail connected should this incident prompt a reappraisal of the possibilities of moving locos by rail?

 

Even if 6695 was entered in TOPS for diesel haulage on the national network, the probable low speed allocated to it would make pathing a right sod, plus many heritage lines are still "land locked".

As for routes for low loaders, I imagine Shackerstone must present an issue too, pretty much every road to that place seems very much off the beaten track.

 

The cost of the FTR plus the haulage charge for the main line move is too prohibitive

 

I think it difficult to draw that conclusion; read the posts on this forum.

 

Does anyone know if there's a vintage bus service connecting BL with TAU station this year ? I know one has operated in previous years, but can't see mention of one on the website for this year. I realise there's the number 25 First Bus service to Minehead, so will probably use that.

Seems a shame there's so rarely a rail shuttle connecting the two. I realise that's FGW territory, and maybe they haven't the spare stock / resources, but it does seem a waste of the link, especially as it was upgraded a while back IIRC to allow more movements in a year.

 

There have not been any vintage buses for a few years now - they were not cost-effective. The Taunton - Minehead bus from Taunton station is number 28.

Most people want locos running chimney-first so they have to run to the Norton triangle to turn, which means that the section is not available for trains from the national network. The WSR has hired FGW units at the Mixed Traction Gala, as there was no need to send locos to the triangle for turning, but they also have been losing money the last couple of years, and they don't appear to be running at this year's MTG.

 

Ok, thanks for the information. Have to say I haven't attended a Spring Gala for many years as my post clearly shows.

Hope to get to it on the Friday this year when the 28 service should be at it's most frequent presumably.

 

Monday - Saturday the no. 28 runs half-hourly, Sunday it's hourly. Timetables here http://busesofsomerset.co.uk/pdfs/tt/28.pdf

 

Ah great, many thanks for that, so Saturday would be as good as Friday then as far as the 28 service is concerned. Will bear that in mind, but quite fancy the Friday if there's still tickets left for the Fish and Chip special in the evening. Must check that today,

 

You won't get a bus to Taunton from Bishops Lydeard as the Fish & Chip train arrives at 2030, and the buses have packed up for the day by then.

 

Ah, that's that then. Thanks for letting me know,

 

Hello,


The GWR 813 Fund Sales Stand will be at Williton during the Gala.


Nick
GWR 813 Fund