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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

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    I'm confused here. What is "modern panoramic" stock? Any unit post the 1950's designed DMU's on which I have travelled fails the "panoramic" test dismally.
     
  2. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    Are you trying to get Robin going again? Hi -viz clothing is as far removed from the heritage aspect of railways as any modern signage and is anyway of dubious safety value on a 25 mile an hour railway, let alone in a fenced off yard. A yellow vest is no protection against getting run over if you are rash enough to get in the way of a train anyway.

    Peter James
     
  3. The Man of Kent

    The Man of Kent New Member

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    It doesn't surprise me. What is worse is where an advertised steam service has to be replaced by a diesel. I was dressed in civvies on Watchet station when this happened and I overheard one person speaking to his family, "I didn't pay all that money to travel behind a b..... diesel"
     
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  4. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    I agree, and my post 8666 hinted at that. However a train at any speed can conceivably kill you if you fall beneath it. It should be remembered that the hi-vis requirement is for the driver/crew of the locomotive just as much as the person on the ballast/cinders - they have no desire to injure anyone. Moreover given that a large proportion of volunteers are of or past UK retirement age means that for many their hearing and maybe sight just 'aint what it used to be!
     
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  5. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Does the WSR have a requirement for people to wear hi-viz away from a running line? I don't know; I'm simply asking the question.
     
  6. The Man of Kent

    The Man of Kent New Member

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    Looking to the future I would suggest that we keep an eye on the outside world and keep our destiny in our own hands by being forward looking. There are homes being built along the line, Watchet, Dunster, Bishops Lydeard, Norton Fitzwarren . Land is being sold for development at Cotford St Luke. Norton Manor is closing and surely will go for development. The Watchet paper mill is ripe for it. There are shops in Minehead with posters in the window calling for a Taunton rail-link. I admit I am beyond the limit of my knowledge on this but isn't the railway owned by SCC and leased to us? Just suppose that SCC decided that a public service railway was required, could we find ourselves with a problem? Could SCC flex its muscle? Would we be better off anticipating the direction of travel and making sure we cover the bases ourselves to protect what we have and our ambitions?
     
  7. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    If either a commercial, or SCC subsidised, service was to be viable it would need to be fully funded including the cost of running the additional services entirely using paid staff. And paying the commercial cost for the additional wear & tear to rolling stock and infrastructure. Otherwise, why should the volunteers do it?
     
  8. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    So will Hi Viz prevent you from falling beneath at a train at any speed?
     
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  9. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    Are you seriously suggesting that SCC with all its financial problems would fund a Minehead - Taunton rail link? Its already cutting/has cut bus subsidies like mad.
     
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  10. The Man of Kent

    The Man of Kent New Member

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    I'm just thinking of the Gwili and the Lavender Line.
     
  11. Yes. Hi-viz, PPE, call it what you will, anywhere within the railway boundary but not in public areas (eg platforms). Steam loco staff are excepted if working on or with their loco. Not an official response of course!

    Washford Yard is a bit of an odd one as the public can enter (with valid entry ticket) even when shunting is undertaken (altho I stress the shunting is very carefully supervised indeed).

    Looking at the picture in question, I'd be concerned about anyone with or without hi-viz, standing in or near the four foot, on any line or siding, unless they are clearly staff going about legit work.

    Steve
     
  12. Yorkshireman

    Yorkshireman Part of the furniture

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    Time for the Pink Porcines Display Team to return from their winter quarters in the Bahamas.:D:D:D
     
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  13. Yorkshireman

    Yorkshireman Part of the furniture

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    She does not need my help to do that.;)
     
  14. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    I think Tormorgaig in post 8682 adequately answered that comment.
     
  15. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

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    A public commuter service on the Gwili? where did you dream that?
     
  16. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    The Welsh Assembly Government are undertaking a feasibility study into reopening Camarthen - Aberystwyth. It appears that some in authority see it as an important way to create a through route from south to north Wales.
     
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  17. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

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    Yes but how on earth would they ever fund that now that without EU assistance?
     
  18. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Don't look at me ..... I was just ruminating on post #8668!!

    Couldn't agree more about post-1st gen DMU stock and I'm just glad I experienced the Cambrian Coast Line and the early WSR while the class 103's were running. Pity they didn't last as well as they looked .... had it been asbestos removal OR serious bodywork issues, I'd imagine rather more of them would still be with us.
     
  19. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #132

    Washford 1927 / 2017

    A 'metro' tank at Washford in 1927 with a train including a through coach from London at its head, likely one slipped from th 'Cornish Riviera' at Taunton. Note the brick extension to the loading dock.

    This is one of the many photos carefully analysed in Ian Coleby's excellant line history, still available from WSR book shops for those compliling their Christmas lists....

    In the 'Now' shot the accommodation crossing remains a very visible surviving feature, now joined by the Burnham signal box rom the S&DJR.

    1927
    IMG_1549.JPG

    2017
    IMG_1705.JPG
     
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2017
  20. burmister

    burmister Member

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    As a volunteer driver on a heritage railway, this is Spot on.
    Mr and Mrs Normal are conditioned to seeing Hi Vis worn in every aspect of operations be it rail road, air or sea now so its not affecting their experience. Also I do not think for one minute any of the moaners would turn up in court should an incident occur to state Hi Vis was not being worn as it spoiled their pictures and did not look right.

    Brian
     

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