West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Two robins sitting on a branch are watching as a squirrel climbs slowly to the top of their tree, then hurls itself off, wave it's arms & hits the ground with a thud.

The squirrel picks itself up, again climbs the tree & on reaching the top launches itself into the air once more with exactly the same result.

As the squirrel climbs for a third attempt one robin turns to the other with a thought...... "You know dear, it really is time we told him he's adopted"

 

Is it a bit sad that the second thing I noticed after the robin was that the shackle was a SR one

 

Obviously a Robin of great discernment, seeking out the 'Superior Railway'.

No hint of 'thread drift' here at the moment.

Robin

 

It's only when you have to couple with couplings on other (non-SR) engines that you realise how much easier it is to manipulate the coupling when it contains that extra link.

Tom

 

I'm sure the loco people on here will have no difficulty identifying the locomotive - form an orderly queue ...

Tom

 

I could be white cider or even applejack.

 

I never mix alcohol and Railway Operations.

Robin

 

In the vain hope of nudging this thread back on topic, I thought I would include 3 photos taken today - a perfect West Somerset late autumn day, crisp and clear - illustrating the progress made by the WSR S&T Department at Williton during November.

(1) the Up Platform Starter now converted to a 'centre balance'.



(2) the new up starting signal awaiting its arm, and


(3) the new (motorised) up trap points.



Robin

 

For the signalling and operations aficionados (is there one of those inhabit this thread? Can't recall one ):

1) Presumably the "centre balance" arm is on account of the restricted space adjacent to the footbridge?

2) Given the height of the post, is the intention to add a high-level repeater? Or is there some other reason? (I can imagine that given the curving approach, a high-level repeater might be beneficial in theory, but those with footplate experience would know better as to whether it would be useful in reality).

Tom

 

I was fairly confident of the answers but have checked my understanding with Chris Pratt, our Signalmens Inspector in the past few minutes.

The Platform Starter (No.4) was reduced in height to bring it below the bridge because when the new Advance starter (No.5) - the one without an arm yet - is brought into use, they would be very close together in the driver's line of sight, particularly at night, and so a danger of 'reading through' might arise.

The solution was to lower No.4 in height, and to do so, considering the proximity to the structure of the footbridge led to the conclusion that a centre-balance should be used.

There is no intention to have a repeating arm at high level (obviously not, given the above!). It also appears that the finial is welded to the top of the post and it is unlikely that the post will be reduced in height before it comes up for renewal, which could be a long, long time into the future.......

Hope that helps.

Robin

 

Robin,

Is the reason for the platform starter staying in place so short trains can run in with the crossing still being open to road traffic? I assume the advance starter is interlocked to the crossing gates so can't be off until they are closed. I always assumed the platform signal would go once the loop was extended as its presence could preclude the use of the full platform length.

Marcus.

 

Yes, that is right.

An up train can run up to the Up Platform Starter (No.4) with the gates open to road ahead of it. That was thought to be a useful feature to retain, and as the signal was already there, no extra work was involved.

If the down train is in first, it is likely that an up train would run in with 4 and 5 'off' and so have full use of the Up platform.

Robin

 

Thanks Robin,

If the down train is not in can 4 still be pulled off with the crossing gates closed to road traffic and the train use the full platform length with 5 still on as the section signal ?

Marcus

 

With centre balance starters and the Std GWR footbridge could almost be Bewdley

 

Yes.

That might be the procedure for long trains such as charters to tuck them well into the up loop, but it would block the road crossing, which is undesirable in normal operation.

Robin

 

When I see the improvements at Williton, especially the footbridge, I think it was a slightly cruel twist of fate that Chris van den Arend did not quite live to see them. But we know he is watching us from further away....

Robin

 

34046 Braunton visiting on December 17th charter instead of 6201

 

Going back a bit, did the shuttles at the gala run full or nearly full? Were they viable enough to have precedence over engine turning?
Going back a bit more, I personally like FS! One of Gresleys finest , as were most of his designs! I also like the Princess pacifics! A King with a trailing truck!

 

The gala shuttle loadings probably don't have much relevance in judging the likely level when a regular service is run. Very different running them year round.

 

That's understood but why are the loadings for the gala being kept so secretive ?

Is there something to hide , were we right did they run empty ? In the middle of the day,