West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Surely, the gem of the gala has to be 1501.

DJB.

 

Personally, I never tire of seeing 53808.

Perhaps it is the first thing I did in Railway heritage was to needle gun muck off the underside of her running plate, when I was aged 15, or that we had her as a good, reliable, powerful Loco when such things were in short supply, but it always makes me smile to see her go by, especially now she wears BR black rather that that unauthentic Prussian Blue livery carried for a while.

I do hope that arrangements can be made to keep sister 53809 here.

1501 is, undoubtedly a nice loco.

Robin

 

Further to this earlier post (and hijacking the thread from the WSR to the NYMR) a broken driving wheel spring was found on 76079 on Saturday evening exam. On Sunday, the 05.00 early turn fitter and cleaners changed it using the wheel drop and the loco was able to take up its rostered duty that morning (10.15 ex Grosmont.)

 

West Somerset Railway - Then, then then, then and Now! #89

Williton 1965 / 1970 / 1972 / 2005 / 2017

I make no apologies for reprising #84 to add in two more views, and I suspect there are others out there to fill in missing decades or to extend earlier in time. (happy to be sent / reminded of them if readers know where they are to be found).

Copyright Joe Moss / E Wilmshurst / Nick Jones / Peter Darke / Robin White

1965


1970


1972


2005


2017

 

A few observations. I see that in the 1965 photo there is a "cross the line by the bridge" sign on both platforms, and in the 1970 photo the bridge has gone and the "beware of trains" signs have appeared in their place. I notice from the 1972 photo that these are painted red & white, I've not really taken much notice of the colours but photos of these signs in another thread show them painted black & white like all the other signs. I assume the red & white is a BR colour scheme to make them stand out.

 

A further observation. The geometry of the "long loop" seems rather different as between 1965 and 2017, and at the angle used, seems quite abrupt in the latest relay. Is there a particular reason why the recent southward extension was not a straight relay of the previous alignment?

 

Sad to see that the water tower shown in the first of the images now lays in the gravel between the up and down lines, several yards from its original location. Very undignified.

Stef.

 

It's not the original - that is long gone.

This was brought from Pwthelli is the early years of the present company and not progressed since.

Robin

 

Looking at the pictures, the new loop looks to be longer. certainly the trap points are further away from the platform. And am I right in thinking there are catch point beyond the traps? Presumably, then, the road was always set for the up platform unless a down train was signalled?

 

Those conclusions are correct.

Robin

 

As you state the loop is longer now than back in the day, my understanding of the reason for this is that it allows long excursion trains up to 12 coaches plus loco to be passed here either way with normal services or indeed another long train of 12 plus loco. This greatly helps pathing on the line when excursions visit because the line doesn’t become ‘blocked’ for its length whilst it runs from one end to the other but can’t be passed.

The new alignment from the footplate also looks so much nicer as it gives a straight run in and out.

 

Dear Robin

Glad to see you not only appreciate the GWR but also that excellent motor manufacturer MG. I attach a photograph of the front of mine with my railway allegiance plain for all to see:

 

Is that an RE badge as well?

 

A quick question - I'm just being curious - why was the loop shortened in the first place?

Thanks in advance

Steve B

 

Between the station and the roadbridge the Monksilver stream passses under the Railway.

This underline bridge fell to be renewed and because by 1969 the longest normalbtrains were 6-car DMU's, it was possible to shorten the loop and only renew one half.

Robin

 

Thanks for that - curiosity satisfied!

Steve B

 

An excellent collection of badges. That's what's missing on modern cars, somewhere to display badges.

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #90

Williton 1961 / 2017

Up trains departing as viewed from the A39 roadbridge. The recently installed revised signalling is very evident.

Thanks are due to Emma Haywood for the 'now' shot taken at the recent WSR Gala.

Copyright Peter Barnfield / Emma Haywood

1961


2017

 

Passing a 12 coach excursion train should have been possible with the old loop. Long trains are dealt with occasionally on the Esk Valley line., even with NSTR. There are standard procedures for this. Two 12 coach trains is a different matter, though!

 

Yes indeed, has happened often on the WSR with incoming excursions from the main line. (I have travelled on 12 coach trains). As an extreme example, some years past an incoming excursion headed by two 'sheds' , with A4 'Bittern' added at Bishops Lydeard, plus 12/13 coaches, passed an Up train, already in the Up platform, at Williton. The Up train could not of course have exceeded nine coaches.

Michael Rowe