West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Is it possible to walk minehead-blue anchor mostly next to rail line.

 

Two trains in a section is not a good principle to resurrect.

Robin

 

As I recall the footpath follows the coast, so wherever you can see the sea from the train you'll be able to see the train from the path. It's a very pleasant walk.

 

Both (hopefully!) going in the same direction though

Tom

 

Seems like you need a map

Here's one I knocked up earlier http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-map-md-dr-ba.htm

Steve

 

Thank you. I wish wsr org was the official site, so much better. And since more information

 

Don’t forget that Steve’s site covers the entire WSR family not just the WSR PLC. Given the unique access Steve has to official, and unofficial, information from many varied sources it would be hard to imagine how making it “Official” would improve it . We are very lucky to have someone as dedicated, and knowledgeable, as Steve to run the site. Few people really understand what a committment of time, effort and money it takes to tun a website like his. Long may it continue unofficially.

 

Not at all. The websites perform entirely different functions and are complimentary.

The official site is mainly dedicated to bringing tourists onto the railway with the information they need to plan their trip. Steve's website is dedicated to railway and WSR enthusiasts and supporters with news, pictures, and information that most tourists are not in the least interested in.

The problem is this that the news and information for supporters coming out of the railway family appears through different mediums such as Facebook, wsr.org.uk, newspapers, magazines, blogs, websites, and elsewhere. Steve's website carries a lot of WSR news and information but not all. If the railway wants to increase its income (and sell shares) from non-tourists one of the first things they should do is raising the railway's profile with supporters and enthusiasts by ensuring more news is available to them from a common service.

 

I did this exact walk on Saturday! The first part of the walk (starting at Minehead) is currently diverted onto the golf course, but not for very long. Took about two or two and a half hours including ice cream time at Dunster Beach. You don't really need a map, just keep going along the sea front till you come across Blue Anchor station. Trains visible most of the time and very close as you approach Blue Anchor.

 

As far as I'm aware most historic slip operations were on Absolute Block lines which makes things a little less hairy from a signalling regs point of view, because you do not have to worry about requiring an authority to be on the single line. Does anyone know of any slip operations carried out historically on single lines? And if so, what method of working was used?

 

Not in my opinion . To me the attraction of the WSR is that it is GWR . Given the choice of travelling behind a Class 6 Southern loco or a GWR Prairie the 2-6-2 would win every time .

 

Now that truly is intensive , every 30 minutes , wow !

 

Yes, it would create some operational challenges, and hazards, on a single line railway.

 

You must remember that the buses formed a part of transport of getting from A - B in the overall journey so vintage buses fit in very well .

 

I'd agree with that. Which is probably why I enjoyed the SSG so much, lots of lovely GWR locos.
(although I did like the S160 and made a special point of getting several stills and video shots of it and its military train.)

 

Best post for weeks..............

 

I've opened up a new thread (https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/slip-coaches-in-preservation.1132935/) in General Railway Chat (no, not NGC!) to raise this discussion to those who might not want to know what's going on in West Somerset!

 

Yes , I do like some variety but a week-end without or very little Swindon designed/ built traction I wouldn't make the journey .

 

I suppose what the WSR is banking on is that there will be more people who will make the journey because they want to see Southern locos in new surroundings than there are people like you, who are only interested in all things GWR.

 

There was a short discussion in 2011 on slip coaches, with relevant comments including some from from a WSR guard who may not be a member here. See https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/slip-coaches.31175/