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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    How does that compare with 92203 starting 2,178 tons at Foster Yeoman's quarry, nearly 40 years ago?
     
  2. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    I think that’s the all time haulage record for weight.

    Happy to be corrected, but I think that 1501 and Whiston both also hauled a heavier load at the Allied Steel open day back in 1999, moving 850-1000t loads - very roughly 23 mk1s would be around 700t for comparison.
     
  3. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Different scale of course, but there's a superb photo of RH&DR No.12 on test when first delivered. Standing near Britannia Points (north end of the Dungeness Loop), the carriages behind it trail back to the station.
     
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  4. 32110

    32110 Member

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    Also worth mentioning that it on a slight up grade. Would have hauled much more than that in the other direction!
     
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  5. Simon Smith

    Simon Smith New Member

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    Didnt 3822 slip to a stand on Washford bank?
     
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  6. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    Here is that impressive haulage record (not my video) :
     
  7. Aberdare

    Aberdare New Member

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    3822 and the 19 carriage train on the WSR in 1992.

    The train was arranged at the request of the 3822 group who wanted to take the opportunity for the locomotive to haul a heavy train. The operation took place in the early evening with the train departing Minehead after normal service trains had finished. As a charter no tickets were sold and the number of "passengers" were quite low, not unreasonable as there was no guarantee where the train might terminate, or when it would get there.

    I believe that the driver was the late Don Haynes, a GWR footplate man, and fireman David Bosley who was a BR(W) fireman at Taunton shed. Photographs of the train are rare due to the timing and the difficulty of getting the whole train in one shot. At Minehead 16 carriages were in the main platform but 3822 and 3 carriages were beyond the platform ramp.

    After leaving Minehead the train of 19 Mk1's proceeded to Blue Anchor and started its assent of Washford bank. At this point a light drizzle began to fall, this compounded with the lack of working sanders on the locomotive resulted in the train slipping to a stand in the deep cutting about 1/4 of a mile short of the summit on the 1:65 grade and 15 (?) chain curve. A delay resulted whilst both rails were sanded by hand from the locomotive right to the summit at Washford station.

    Once everyone involved with sanding were confirmed as clear the crew restarted the train, without setting back. Once moving and well onto the sand acceleration was impressive, two of us who had helped with sanding were line side and the last carriage of the train passed us at a good 15 mph. The sound was something not to be forgotten with every powerful exhaust beat resounding around the cutting and the surrounding hills. These beats continued without slip and grew ever faster as the locomotive reached the summit and continued to accelerate through Washford station.

    Locomotives will have hauled heavier trains but 3822 achieved a landmark feat in restarting that train in difficult conditions of grade and curvature, especially as the pony truck wheel set of the locomotive was some 5 feet higher than the rooftop ventilators of the last carriage.

    The remainder of the journey to Bishops Lydeard and back was uneventful despite further drizzle and slipping beyond Williton, slowing the train walking pace on occasions but I don't think it ever stalled again. Arrival back at Minehead was in the early hours.

    Andy.
     
  8. alexl102

    alexl102 Member

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    Is there any video footage of this? Love watching smaller locos on heavier loads!
     
  9. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Don’t know of any videos sorry, @Sidmouth might have some pictures though.
     
  10. ianh

    ianh Member

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  11. ianh

    ianh Member

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    I have fond memories of Don and Dave on 5572 after it had a earth fault on its first visit, true masters of their craft...
     
  12. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I’ve heard a similar account of a 28xx on Old Hill bank on the climb up to Rowley Regis, very underrated loco’s are the 28xx.
     
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  13. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    That truly is a mega train and would be worth paying extra for if something similar happened in future!
     
  14. PortLineParker

    PortLineParker New Member

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    Apologies for taking this away from WSR for the moment, but there's a video of 3822 in 1993 on the ELR where it is seen hauling 23 mk1's. Quite an impressive feat and it gives an idea of what it would have been like on the WSR - only with a longer train!

    East Lancashire Railway 23 Carriages 17Aug93 - YouTube

    Cheers,

    PLP
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2022
  15. used2be

    used2be New Member

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    deleted
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2022
  16. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    What was the gradient?
     
  17. 32110

    32110 Member

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    Sorry, don't know.
     
  18. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    Sorry, I don't know. I can't find out what the gradient was in the Foster Yeoman quarry.

    Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk
     
  19. Kingscross

    Kingscross Member

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    Surprised this hasn't received a mention on here - press release lifted from WSR facebook site:

    PRESS RELEASE
    Reconnecting Bishops Lydeard to Taunton Working Group
    With the increasing national interest in both station and line reopenings on the national network, a partnership working group has been established to explore the possibility of reconnecting Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway to Taunton for the purpose of reinstating scheduled trains.
    The partnership consists of:
    • Heart of South West Local Enterprise Partnership
    • Great Western Railway
    • Network Rail
    • Somerset County Council
    • West Somerset Railway PLC
    The work will be in two phases initially. The first phase will be to develop a number of high-level options to identify the simple and most effective way in which the operational, signalling and infrastructure work can be accomplished and what is required to make that happen.
    The second phase will be the development of an outline business case including the socio-economic case for change and the cost model.
    Quotations
    Christian Irwin, Rail Investment Centre of Excellence Director, Network Rail said:
    “Working closely with our local partners is essential to understanding the transport needs of our local communities and ensures that we develop a rail investment strategy which delivers a railway that is fit for purpose and supports the needs of our passengers and the communities we serve, now and into the future. We are pleased to be supporting this study.”
    Matt Barnes, Head of Service Strategy, Great Western Railway said:
    “We are delighted to work with the WSR and other partners to explore the feasibility and business case for restoring daily passenger services between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard, building on our successful trial of summer Saturday shuttle services during 2019”
    Ian Harrison, Transport Adviser Heart of South West Local Enterprise Partnership said:
    "Re-connecting communities to the national rail network gives residents better access to employment, services, education and training. It also improves connections to local businesses. Direct train services from Taunton will support inbound tourism to West Somerset, not least to the West Somerset Railway itself."
    Steve Williams, Director of Development and External Relations West Somerset Railway PLC said:
    “This work is seen by the PLC as playing a vital part in securing the long term sustainability of the West Somerset Railway. We have excellent relationships with our partners in this venture and we hope that we can develop a robust case for reconnection to Taunton that will attract the necessary support and funding to make it a reality”.
    Contact points for further information
    Steve Williams, Director of Development and External Relations West Somerset Railway PLC – either steve@williamsemail.uk or 07748-637209
    Or
    Ian Harrison, Transport Adviser Heart of South West Local Enterprise Partnership
    Ian Harrison ianbharrison@btinternet.com or 01392-876744
     
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  20. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    This brief reads to me like a feasibility study on how to use the existing structure and track so as to link Taunton and Bishops Lydeard on a more regular basis.

    That's great to know and whilst the existing connection involving bidirectional operations through Platform 2 is hardly ideal it is at least present.

    I don't see this as an open door to the possibility of a more convenient physical link into Taunton.
     

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