West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I am sure someone can answer that question. The process here is the same as you describe. During my tenure as WSR chairman, the term "wet beds" was something i heard slmost everyday.
I understood that packing these steel sleepers was difficult. Anyway, I am glad that this seems more of a heritage solution than concrete.
Ian Coleby

 

Steels are difficult to pack by hand but use of a tamper overcomes that problem.
What will also be needed is a follow up stone tip and tamp, due to the amount of stone needed to fill the sleeper trough.
From personnal experience it can happen that the track will actually be lower after the first tamp by about 25mm.

 

To a degree, though we are currently replacing concrete sleepers that were originally laid in the 1940s!

To me, it’s the chairs and bullhead rail that give a heritage ambiance, but it’s a valid question as to whether any heritage railway can afford that in the long term, at least outside visually sensitive areas. Not just the cost of materials, but the cost of future maintenance.

Tom

 

This is sea marsh. The crust here is too thin for the alternative you suggest. The water table is only inches below the surface with no where for water to drain to. So the track has to ‘float’ to a degree.

Robin

 

Question: Does that mean that you have to have a thicker layer of ballast or a shallower layer of ballast to cope with these conditions? Just curious, nothing more meant by my question.

Ed

 

Above my pay grade! I don’t claim to be a track engineer. Just an old operator who listens quietly when the experts talk.

Robin

 

Presumably one could add Kinlet Hall Limited and whichever company or trust 9466 is vested in.

Patrick

 

Both in the ownership of the esteemed WSR PLC chairman no, one way or another?

 

Yes. Crosville Vintage Ltd reported it bought 9466. It and KHL are ultimately controlled by Mr Jones-Pratt and he has referred to them as 'my engines'.

The point I was trying to make is that CVL and KHL are separate from, and so presumably come under supporting / affiliated organisations on, the WSR.

Patrick

 

There are also 'in partnership' supporters, for example, Claire's Kitchen provide catering aboard the Quantock Belle, and Somerset CAMRA run the WSR Real Ale & Cider Festival.

 

Especially as other locomotive contracts were terminated quite recently....
Robin L.

 

Two more departures = two more vacancies

https://www.west-somerset-railway.c...ef-mechanical-engineer-head-of-infrastructure

 

" Two more departures " You write this as if it were today's news ( use of the subjunctive ?)

A formal public announcement was issued some weeks past that the 'head of infrastructure'
had resigned. It was also made clear ( certainly to Shareholders ) that Mr Bob Meanley
( some twelve months past ) was assuming on a part time and interim basis the
Chief Mechanical Engineers role.

These are IMHO key roles if the WSR is to prosper. I am particularly encouraged
that these roles have a clear reporting structure ie to the General Manager.

Andy I know you are aggrieved but please stop posting information that is (I
assume deliberately) misleading ( it follows other postings littered with
inaccuracies). It is not I suggest helpful to either yourself or the Railway you
profess to love.

Michael Rowe

 

I fear that under the current temporary incumbent, the situation has become much worse !

 

I think that the advert for the position of CME is certainly unremarkable given what has been in the public domain.

EDIT It was announced when he was appointed that Bob Meanley was only acting as a stop gap - and he is over Pension Age

I just hope the 57xx stays

 

It was news to me and knowing Andy well, I consider his accounts to be highly accurate.

 

It's not just Andy who is aggrieved with the WSR at present. I think you'll find that there are many others. <BJ>