West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Whats the arrangement for the provision of a 'standby' diesel?

 

I think I'm right in saying that the arrangement is that the DEPG should make an 'instant start' loco (ie. diesel-electric, not hydraulic) available at an hour's notice, to be crewed by DEPG at weekends, and company drivers when there is no-one available at Williton.

 

My only experience was when the suspicious UXD was found next to the track at Watchet. It took about an hour to arrange for a diesel loco from Williton to rescue us. Excellent service.

 

Why cant a diesel-hydraulic be 'instant start'?

 

Maybach engines must be pre heated and therefore cannot be instant start. Sulzer engines, i.e those in the 47 and 33s can be started from cold.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

Usually the class 33 or 47 are available to the company to use on a as reqd basis, so when one is reqd in a emergency it will be whichever is in traffic and which is the easiest to get out of the yard at williton! This is normally the 33.
Robin F.

 

This is also how i understand it is, handy for me being classed as a DEPG and company driver!!!!
Robin F.

 

Swanage has a nothing but bulleid gala next year, image thst on a line like the WSR

 

I would rather not! A sort of spam can festival I suppose.

 

Nothing but Bulleid? does that include the coaches, thats going to be interesting, hello C&W Horstead Keynes, can we borrow every runnable bulleid coach you have please , hello MHR, , its a pity the 4 sub isnt mainline passed , run it on an eastleigh -wareham shuttle what else Bulleid designed is there?

 

Great to see some more progress on 9351. Test fitting of axleboxes is underway. Pictures on Steve's site.

 

A new-build Leader perhaps? That'd be an interesting project...

 

I think its better at Swanage on a SR line. WSR may be longer but at least Swanage can run an intensive service on a gala so people can ride behind them all. Better than long gaps between trains like at WSR.

 

But firing it may not be a permissible practice under present-day Health & Safety legislation? The fireman used to get rather warm, if contemporary reports are to be believed.

(Or is someone present here better informed on this topic?)

 

Can I remind everyone of the Christmas Market taking place on the platform at minehead on the 24th November. It organised by the Station Master and Friends of Minehead Station (Foms). All money raised goes to the upkeep of the station. I'm sure everyone will recognise the good work being done on the restoration of the original fencing on the seafront. All funded by Foms.

http://westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk/product.php/131/christmas-market-at-minehead-station

 

Operating any steam loco can fall foul of H & S if you want it to. Fortunately, most people, including HMRI, take a pragmatic view of things.

 

you can get warm on any loco! I had a scortch mark on my leg that went through overalls & jeans for years on one of the 45s . We had a trainee so I had to stand in the middle after firing all the way. A few years ago now , we had the Columbian coal? A long time before the Welsh.

 

The footplate was certainly adjudged very hot and there was limited space for the fireman to ply his trade. I believe the original intent was to either use an automatic stoker or oil firing. Either would have permitted the large area grate originally fitted rather than the comparatively small one finally used during the trials of 36001.

I have always thought the outline drawings of an 0-6-0, effectively a Q1, with air smoothed casing, seemed to offer almost the perfect loco for the WSR. ie reversible (Bulleid's reported running of a Q1 at 75 mph tender first is oft recounted), powerful (capable of up to ten coach trains), rugged, 5' 1" coupled wheels (ideal for 25 mph passenger running) excellent for good acceleration. You could probably build three for the cost of the recent ten year overhaul of 1472 (4472, 103 or 60103).

Not very 'God's Wonderful Railway' but definitely a new build

Michael Rowe

 

Greeting Jim,

Still way out west??

Jeff Price

 

Hello Jeff! Yes , hear in Penzance again ow foe three years. Been keeping up with your're trials & tribulations on here though!
Interesting thought of Maunsell's post above about a Q1 . I always thought the ideal WSR loco was the one we used to have, the 80,000 tank, with the undeniable bonus that they've got a rocking grate & hopper ashpan !