West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Then they would be getting rid of me as well.

I was at school alongside the GWR main line at Bruton from 1975, and remember the 'Westerns' in service. D1010 is a magnificent machine and the Hymeks are somehow 'cuddly' in comparison.

During my time working on the Southern Region of the 'big railway' I worked a lot with Class 33's and it always makes me smile to see one of the WSR pair in use.

We have to remember that the public want / deserve the Steam loco we have advertised, but 'banishing the diesels' is just childish...

Robin

 

Thanks Anthony for spotting the mention of the ailing DMU on the loco roster Thanks too Ian and Maverick for the other updates. I must try harder to keep up...

Steve

 

thanks for the explanation.

 

That I'd like to see but it won't be happening any time soon . That is visiting the WSR unfortunately .

 

From t

30854 , I don't know what happened there , but it looks like I don't want diesels on the WSR , I'm no fan but live and let live , there are some who love them , I'm just not a fan .

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now

Up trains arriving at Blue Anchor in 1976 and 2017. We are so fortunate that these lovely buildings survived to be nurtured for the future.

 

You can see the lock bar clearly in the "Now" photo.

I have never really thought of lock bars as being rare; but I am lucky to have worked on railways that are well-blessed with them.

 

I understand that in German a boiler is a "kessel" i.e. a kettle. Someone I knew, sadly now dead, picked up the expression in Germany and always talked of kettles rather than boilers.

PH

 

Totally agree. When a loco fails in traffic or when coming off shed we can wind up one of the 50s in minutes and it can Thunderbird the service with minimum delay

 

What 50? There ain't any on WSR

 

Dave's on about the SVR, although that does mean one of them has to be operational, unlike a few years ago when out of 4x 50 and grand total of 0 were available. It was good old 20059 and 188 to the rescue, again.

 

Probably before your time but 50017 and 50049 were residents once.

 

True, I was referring to SVR but WSR does have a few diesels inc a Western to call upon

 

We were discussing this again last night and most of the diesels on the WSR were built before we were born. Not only that but we have probably never travelled on a main line scheduled steam service and can see no good to reason to have a steam only WSR.

 

That top photo brings memories flooding back. Long-lost teenage me might even been on that very train. Our family holidays in 75 & 76 saw yours truly either on the railway, or bogtrotting high on the moors. Happy days! Thanks so much for posting it Robin.

 

I'd say the majority of WSR supporters, volunteers and staff have no wish to have a steam only WSR. Let's not have a pointless debate here about the topic of a bit of gossip heard on the platform. I'd rather someone running the show at Lydeard reminded all station staff it is not helpful to gossip in public in that way.

Steve

 

Totally agree with you on that point Steve, I've told this story before but I think it's worth retelling, a few years ago there were a few of us in a front coach compo on the SVR during a period of low steam availability. The TTI came round and opened the door with 'sorry about the paraffin can on the front lads, we're a bit short of real engines at the mo' only to be told by one of our party 'that's my engine your talking about' Que a very awkward silence and a red faced TTI making a hasty exit! It just shows though that staff who are front of house so to speak should just be careful about what they say and who to.

 

Wrong thread! Please could the mods relocate it? TIA

 

Heaven forfend that the good citizens of West Somerset should have to acknowledge the existence of the outside world, even when offered in support of a point about the WSR!

Tom