WSR Mixed Traction Weekend 10-12 June 2016

Hmm, someone advocating pragmatism, balance and analysis of the available facts - it'll never catch on you know!

Tom

 

Thank you.

That is a VERY helpful contribution to the discussion.

I am well aware of the differences between the Swanage and the WSR, as I 'moonlight' in the Swamage boxes especially for Galas. And rest assured, I am listening to the chorus, not individual voices.

A lot of useful food for thought.

As you will be able to see in a day or two I may be in a position to influence events for the WSR next year.

Please keep the comments coming, you ARE being listened to.

Robin

 

Well to be fair the list of pres locos i put on here was merely a list of locos that dont very often leave there home lines, i didnt personally indicate any preference which i would or wouldnt be interested in travelling on myself. in regards to the HST both the NVR and especially the MNR have there own MK2,s or foreign air braked stock to run with their own MK3's, i know the WSR has some dual braked MK1's but if they are used with it that would leave the railway without a dual braked rake for use with everything else, although the HST group by next year may have that sorted if they can find some spare Mk3's. but i do stand by my statement that attractiveness of the HST will not be to everyone's tastes in my age group although the younger generation when looking at the mainline seam to regard them in some affection so that may just be my generation who actively tried to avoid them wherever possible.
My personal feelings towards shed's its pretty much indifference to be fair but to try and say just because both you and i dont like them really doesn't take into account the reasonably large group who do travel large distances to scratch them in wherever possible so just to ignore them would be a mistake in my mind
however i do take on board what you say about how long it takes to do a return run on the WSR vs the Swanage but im not really sure how much an issue to the public that is as the length of the line is for some the best part of the line but also that does limit the amount of return runs we could achieve that is the main reason that people dont like the steam diagrams in the middle of the only weekend in the year that you go there especially for the diesel's, i expect6 the usual 10xx LYD-MD diagram to be steam and if you are travelling some distance that's the train you will probably in time for, and with the traffic issues in Taunton at the minute if you arrive late for the earlier service you may end up on it when you really dont want to, you say you like steam but you can go to the line at any other time and get that they really could give one day up in the weekend for a full diesel service and let the steam have a day off but no doubt they wont next year again
As you quote 2014 hydraulic heavy gala was a success etc so why ever do anything different the very fact that you seam to advocate a keep on doing what weve done before except with an addition of a tram means that you would fit in well with the current organising team who only have the phone numbers of other hydraulic owners in there books, it really could be so much more than it currently is, you say in your post above that the MNR gala with 3X50's was great but again only if you happen to really like 50's and a gala has to attract a wide variety of locos to attract a wide variety of people surely you can see that argument, to try and get 1015 when you are sitting on 1010 easily the rarest working 52 dumbfounds me honestly it does if you like 52's you really would be going already i dont see that adding another one brings anything at all especially one that isnt rare on the line
AGAIN please note im not being augmentative for the sake of it i just see what others cant who dont seam to see anything at all wrong in what they are doing thats why a lot of the galas really could be interchangeable same locos same diagrams, and please for pity's sake no more visiting hydraulic loco's we get it you like them but when you have the best fleet in the country there is no need to keep bringing in more of the same as visitors

 

Well based on the draft WTTs I've been sent to proof, you'll be pleased that there's no 'un-prototypical' double headers.

 

If today was a mixed gala it wouldve done for me. 2 steam, 42, 35 and 59.

 

Any goods trains??

 

Hopefully not unless 47840 bolted to it.

 

Changing tact taking a step sideways for a moment,
Was browsing my copy of Steam Railway today, saw the advert for the gala,
Mentions the shed , the beancan,the teddy,the duff,onslaught and the mek.
Little concerned at the lack of mention for D1010,Hope this is an oversight and not a way of saying 1010 wont be out for the gala.

 

I don't think work has progressed as fast as hoped. It had a couple of test runs pencilled in this month, but they have not materialised. So there's a possibility it might not be ready.

 

Three weeks today this event will be in full swing.

Usually with events of this type a leaflet has been in circulation many months in advance containing details of the planned timetable with train type specified, locomotives hoped to be available, extra catering and other highlights. Nothing of this nature has yet to appear other than the still rather vague http://westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk/product.php/29/mixed-traction-weekend which although recently revised now makes no mention of a 'mega / fish and chip special' on the Friday or attachment of all / part of the Quantack Belle set to some trains. Have these features been dropped? It also advises use of bus services provided by a recently defunct operator.

Like many, a home fleet +D832 gala I find appealing, but I will not be purchasing an advance ticket until the information I would expect at this stage is available. I don't want to suddenly find that the first trains from Bishop's Lydeard are not until c10:00 for example.

Confusion over the detail of early / late trains and the Quantock Belle last year gave me the impression the various disagreements were beginning to manifest themselves and the situation now reinforces that view.

 

Leaflets with timetables (but not loco diagrams) are available at stations. If you live some distance away, contact the office and ask them to send you one.

There is no 'mega-train' this year. The attachment of the QB has been mentioned on this thread a few pages back.

 

Ten days ago I was given provisional diagrams for the Quantock Belle operation during Mixed Traffic Weekend and await final confirmation from Ops Dept before making them public. It would be unwise to promote the service until it becomes official.

Barrie

 

So why has the timetable leaflet not been made available on line?

 

Would like to see a class 68. Rare in the south west, one has only worked to Bridgwater on flasks and believe one was used on a railtour from Taunton.

 

I've no idea. Maybe you could ask when you call for your leaflet!

 

The class 68s are a class of locomotive that are still being delivered. Would it not be a good idea to see and ride behind them on the main line as they regularly haul passenger services? A diesel or steam gala at a preserved railway is a good way of appreciating classes of locomotive that cannot be seen every day of the week. <BJ>

 

Since they do not work daily in the South West then for us they fall under the category of 'not seen every day of the week'! Having said that, there is one working at the Severn Valley's Diesel Gala this weekend when they actually pass Kidderminster on the main line daily!

 

And as 68025 's not worked a passenger train until Thursday its popular unlike 66757.The number is so important.

 

SHOCK REVERLATION trainspotters interested in number see page 3-14 for more

 

So is there any news any more visitors?