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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Yorkshireman

    Yorkshireman Part of the furniture

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    No moaners please!
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    Today’s Railway Herald reports Paul Conibeare suspended
     
  2. jma1009

    jma1009 Well-Known Member

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    Edit - Deleted
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2019
  3. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    These posts are discussing the position of an individual which is contrary to the Nat Pres rules.
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2019
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  4. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    The posts above mine might fall under that definition (although you could equally argue they're just repeating something already in the public domain) but I made absolutely no reference to any individuals or their positions, merely the fact this thread is known for producing high drama on occasion, hence the humorous GIF indicating this. It would equally apply to pretty much any other discussion seemingly that occurs on this thread!

    If mods would rather avoid this discussion altogether and delete it, as they did last week before this was being reported elsewhere, then I completely understand and expect my post to be thrown under the bus too, but in the meantime, I was specifically making fun of this thread, not any employees of the WSR.
     
  5. tracker

    tracker Member

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    Totally unfunny.. no humour.
     
  6. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Oh alright then it's gone, but I repeat, I was making no comment either way on anything except the reputation of this thread.
     
  7. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

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    New track does not come in different grades for red,
    By doing that you have exposed the reason why you keep cropping up here. Time to give it a rest?
     
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  8. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Moderator Note

    OK everyone. This thread has form and based on that please be warned not to develop discussion of this particular news item. The previous posts are perfectly within Forum Rules as the information is in the public domain. However, to avoid potential problems for individuals please remain on a different track, red or otherwise.
     
  9. Dennis John Brooks

    Dennis John Brooks Member

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    I think everyone is over-looking the point, who owns several large loco's?

    DJB.
     
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  10. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I'm sure that I have read or been told that a major problem is chair galling of the rails. If true, this effectively reduces their strength and ability to support heavy axle loads. If so, replacement of the rails with new/good S.H rail would allow an increase in axle load without any further infrastructure work. The same would apply to sleepers if their condition is not the best. The work has to be done in any case so it isn't a question of reducing expenditure. Of course, I could be miles off target.
     
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  11. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    Can someone please explain why this post is not to be expanded upon, however there was no such restrictions when the reform group used this forum to name those they thought should be removed from the WSRA? Surely this is double standards from Nat-Pres and @Robin Moira White ?

    Keith
     
  12. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    Whilst I share the scepticism, it has to be said that the WSR runs trains that are close to the limits for Class 3 (45XX) and smaller engines, and larger ones are, for the most part (e.g. Halls) red route. The line is in a right mess in terms of its loco fleet (barely enough even with 100% availability) and no pipeline of suitable engines under restoration. It will be interesting to see what happens to the 56XX. Letting the three 28XX go was a big mistake, I feel - there was the potential for the core of an efficient fleet there when combined with the Manors. In retrospect, if the working one was damaging the track it was probably because the track was poor and needed attention.
     
  13. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    Really? The common requirement is two locos (peak season three) and we have 53808, Odney, Foxcote, 9351 and 7752 in service ATM. And its only not 6 locos because of the sad failure of Bradley Manor. As a WSR operator, I dont get the feel of a steam fleet 'in a mess'. We are not diesel substituting, for example, nor am I hearing that the loco department are struggling to do washouts etc.

    Assuming the steps to recover control of 4160 are successful, that forms one loco in the pipeline and there will shortly be significant steps to move 4561 forward. ('Watch this blog')

    I am constantly surprised by the pessimism put forward here.

    Robin
     
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  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    You have answered your own question as you will recall that the whole thread was removed.....
     
  15. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    It's the difference between short term and long term. It is possible to get by with a minimalistic fleet (the NYMR managed for a season with just 4 locos for a timetable that called for 4 most days of the peak a couple of years ago but it called for a superhuman effort from the shed staff to achieve it and was not a position sustainable in the long term) but what concerns me is the lack of depth to the WSR fleet. Three of the six you mention are hired in and I suggest that finding three hire locos a year will not be easy in what is a competitive market.
     
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  16. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    Calling all enthusiasts!

    Help us make the trial Taunton to Bishops Lydeard shuttles a success.

    It is now well known that in co-operation with GWR, the West Somerset Railway will be running trial shuttle TRAINS between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard stations on 27 July, 3, 17, 31 August, 7, 21 September and 5 October.

    Here are a few of the possible origin points for a trip to the WSR on 27 July.

    These times assume an arrival at Taunton in time for the first shuttle departure at 09:39 and a return on the last shuttle which gets back to Taunton at 17:28. That would allow you to catch the 10:20 from Bishops Lydeard and the last connecting return from Minehead is 15:25, giving almost 4 hours on the beach at Minehead (or at the bar of the Beach Hotel!).

    Bring yourself, bring the family, bring someone else’s family (but ask first), or share or copy this post.
    Times are indicative and should be checked when booking.
    Departure and return times are given.

    London Paddington 0702 2037
    Reading 0730 2010
    B'ingham NS 0712 1956
    Cheltenham 0752 1910
    Gloucester 0741 1923
    Bristol PW 0826 1846
    Bristol TM 0845 1825
    Plymouth 0750 1921
    Exeter 0852 1817
    Southampton CL 0620 2022
    Salisbury 0640 1951
    Cardiff* 0700 1940
    Newport* 0752 1923

    (* Cardiff and Newport times are for 3 August - earlier on 27 July as bus for part of journey.)
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2019
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  17. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    Hmm

    Not what the original post focussed on. But heigh-ho.

    And only two hires now.

    Robin
     
  18. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    Post 20589, by DJB, might shed light on the future of hiring in locos on the WSR. It might give more credence to the desire to upgrade to red maybe?
    It could seem that the line is slowly moving away from its 'branch line' era even if it has some 'branch line' stations.
     
  19. Or 7 hours at Quantock Brewery's annual beer festival, although you might have to share the bar with several West Somerset Steam Express passengers arriving from Paddington behind a Duchess! A really busy day for the main line connection, once upon a time only allowed six return passenger movements per year, although I understand we used to start counting from when the previous train ran!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 25, 2019
  20. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    "Heritage" railway?
     

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