West Somerset Railway General Discussion

By 'on display' do you mean at Swindon? I would think it very unlikely that the Mogul would replace the Manor, as the Mogul belongs to the PLC and the Manor to the WSRA.

 

I also agree it's unlikely, but not for the reason you quote! The manor is a product of Swindon, so it is being displayed at its birthplace. The mogul, of course, was "born" at Minehead, so might be better displayed in Morrison's entrance foyer!
Ian Coleby

 

I can't see 53808 ending up back on the WSR as a home fleet loco...

 

I suspect that ship has sailed.

 

I’d suggest it’s sailed, hit the iceberg and is most definitely holed below the waterline.

 

Dare I say, I fixed it for ya!

 

Oh.
No S&D 60 gala.
Still! At least they have another tank engine in there midst! Powerful, economical, light and it will certainly be a crowd puller once operational.

Be a nice change to see something Non-GWR on that railway.

 

53809 may make 2026.

While the S&D event in 2016 was more than decent with 48624 visiting, and the 2012 ASG had a nod to the 50th anniversary of the final Pines Express - 92203 on a lengthy train, I think the days of 6 or 7 guest locomotives are over so not really viable to run a S&D gala, not like 2006 anyway. Plus let's not have an early March gala again before the clocks go forward, the late April/early May slot has worked well in 2017, 2022 and 2023.

 

Make your mind up pal.

 

Do not really think 80064 will be a crowd puller

 

In WRH's defence it is possible to have a preferred railway company / type of engine and yet still get enjoyment from seeing something different where one's favourites are the norm

 

Prexactly!!
West Somerset make BLP's and SR Mogs look good!
Also, should it really matter what the engines are when the location is probably more of the attraction anyway.
Not many railways can boast 20 miles from luscious green hills and valley's to sandy yellow beaches with a Butlins and a brewery to add!

Well that's a shame, BUT, the dates don't matter, so a few GWR engines run, as long as as the 80064, a 7F and something else visits, it's more than enough.

Besides GWSR held an S&D event in the second May bank holiday with 3 Westerns and an Ivatt 2-6-0!

 

What i have to question is does the WSRA have the capacity to raise enough funds to overhaul this, and any future locomotives, whilst at the same time, donating funds to any future appeal that might be forthcoming from the PLc to assure the future of the actual line, I suspect it might be able to one, but at the cost of the other, It could bail out the PLc and find itself unable continue to afford to keep up with the restoration of 80064 because funds are being diverted to hold up the PLC.

 

I share those and other concerns about the WSR. However, in the spirit of the season, I am prepared to take the advice of @ikcdab and trust that matters are sufficiently in order rather than speculate further.

 

I believe 4MT tanks have ran with 8 coaches on the WSR in the past

 

I agree. If/when restored, it should be a solid, reliable performer and that is what WSR need, but it won’t be an attraction in and of itself.

 

Standard Tanks are great and useful, solid pieces of kit, useful and solid as they are, they’re not what I’d call ‘sexy’ are they?

 

Not ‘sexy’, but they are sufficiently powerful yet economical locomotives, and are exactly what most lines need for their normal day to day operations. Especially in the current cost of living crisis when all lines are trying to keep their costs down.

The WSR has a heavy reliance on short term hired in locomotives. Having a Standard 4 tank available in house instead, will be a massive benefit to them.

 

It will indeed, provided the money can be found to overhaul it in a reasonable time; but there is room for considerable doubt about the money. We have never heard a clear explanation of whether the WSR needs half a million quid a year or not.

 

That is the great unknown, its clear the WSR can't afford the necessary works, from its own fare box, and general income, it has to come from somewhere, and first call always is the supporting charities, as in all railways, I just hope it does not become another cuckoo moment, where the WSRA finds itself scapegoated because the charity has other calls on its funding, with the PLC, like the cuckoo chick, becoming more demanding of the available food source, throwing the other chicks out of the nest to ensure it gets the lion's share of what's available.