West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Yes I also noticed the notice but as no one else seems to have noticed the notice I feel it best to take no notice of the notice.

 

On my last visit to the WSR the service I used could certainly have done with strengthening - it was only 6 behind a Hall and there were coaches in the sidings at Minehead been used. I also suggest that the need to strengthen the service could have been predicted

 

Perhaps it would have been noticeably more noticeable if it was printed in red?

 

Over 10 years ago when the heritage railway I'm most involved with was contemplating computerising ticket issuing, I came across an article in a european railway magazine about a new ticketing system just introduced on the Harz system in Germany. It included a specialised computer printer which would print 'real time' on Edmonson-type card blanks. It had multiple hoppers so that it could be loaded with different coloured blanks for different sorts of issue. Sadly I haven't been to the Harz since to see if their system is still in use, and my own railway went for printing onto credit card-sized postcard thickness blanks instead. (On my own railway, people buying on-line in advance are supposed to produce their sale confirmation at a booking office (either on a mobile device or printed) to exchange for a real ticket.)

Rob

 

I did have a Sicilian great-Grandfather. Or were you referring to my style of asking questions?

Robin

 

Or mounted on a galvanised post.

Robin

 

LOL! I was referring to the heels.

 

On the subject of tickets and weather.
Its nice using the Edmonsons on the WSR as we have the kit to print our own - a heritage activity worth continuing, and very popular with the travellers. To be pedantic, [ref. Ian Monkton above] not all Booking Office Tickets sold are Edmonsons. There are too many journey options to have a pre-printed ticket for each destination and passenger category, so the less common requests [e.g. a senior return Minehead to Stogumber, family return to Crowcombe, ] are covered by the Tikkitek machines. Regarding the effect of the weather, there was a recent day when the local forcast was, basically, vile. The sales at BL, which caters largely for day trippers who presumably never set off from home, were well below average. Sales at Minehead, where you are probably there for a few days at least and need to find something to do on a wet day, were quite buoyant. On a day with a good forcast it will be the other way round.

 

Exactly...

 

When I visited Dunster Staion a few years ago I was shown the printing press , oily reciprocating machineery , now I wonder why I found it so enjoyable ???

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #114

Dunster 1943 / 2017

The station staff line up for their photo. (With thanks to Fred and Dave)

1943


2017

 

In the "before" photo, shouldn't they be paying more attention to the train that is just about to arrive in the platform!

Tom

 

You are quite right about Edmondson tickets not covering all eventualities, however, you folks in the grand metropolis of Minehead are fortunate in having a Tikkitek - us out in the wilds of Crowcombe don't have such luxuries - any journeys not covered have to be hand-written on emergency tickets!

 

Interesting Bench Seats they have there in 1943. Not the normal GWR type?

You wouldn't think they were three years into a war either.

 

In the before picture would they all be Dunster staff or might some be passengers for the train just arriving ?

Paul .K

 

That is a Bristol and Exeter Railway seat.

Robin

 

Thanks Robin.

 

I love the saga"before" and"now"historically so fascinating! (I'm a french teacher in History)
many thanks Robin

 

Today’s West Somerset Free Press contains an interesting letter from Robin White offering to prepare a report on the feasibility of the Minehead-Taunton rail link to the local councils involved without any charge. What odds this will be ignored? Answers on the back of an Edmondson ticket please.