West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Some changes to previously published details:
wsr.org.uk/roster
also shows details of running days for 34046 (34052)

Steve

 

As you know full well, lineside fires can be touched off by all sorts of factors such as ejection from the chimney, scatteration from ashpans, firing at the "wrong" time, quality of fuel and so on. Sometimes the lineside fires are in locations where the motive power is is being worked easily. Dry weather is a reason for taking additional care rather than an excuse for big chufferitis.

Incidentally, just for the record, during the dry period the I.O.W.S.R. has utilised all six serviceable locomotives with normally loaded trains.

PH

 

Whenever criticism of the WSR is made, this kind of image always comes to mind!

 

The WSR is a tourist railway, you're right, but it goes somewhere and does pick passengers up at imtermeinter stations, reducing the road traffic congestion caused by holiday makers somewhat.
I certainly use it as a means of transport when on holiday in the area, making good use of the family week rover.
I'm happy to not be packed in like sardines, have access to a look, buffet etc.
Judging by what I see on the train and stations, I'm not the only one.

I could contrast that to nowhere to nowhere lines whose raisin d'etre seems to be attracting more holiday makers to drive to their carpark in the centre of the line (where pretty much all the facilities / attractions are) and then pack the passengers in to breaking point. A railway I won't be going back to during the summer peak. (I much prefer being able to join at the interchange, in the lower season, but I don't see many others doing it at the same time).

I'm not decrying the efforts put in to portray a Victorian era line, but in my experience, not one that gives a great customer experience during the peak.

Contrasting with the WSR which is generally busy but comfortable during the peak, with the exception of one or two trains a day which are standing room only.

 

I suspect you are falling into the old "tourist railways perform a public transport service" delusion again.

PH

 

Well, if it's a delusion to believe that a fair number of cars are sat at campsites while their owners are riding the train into and back from Minehead, then I'm delusional.

I'm not sure who is deluded here though.
Perhaps a question for those with access to info on loadings?

Perhaps your view is coloured by your association with a line that cannot provide a service, and is infact almost certainly is a cause of additional traffic.

It feels a little blinkered to not understand there are other circumstances.

 

Economics.

PH

 

Obtuse.

 

I wasn't saying get rid of large Prairies or Manors they are probably more suited than anything, I just didn't understand where a Small Prairie fits in as I thought it was a bit small, swapping it for a more capable Locomotive, and having an in-house fleet seamed to me to be the best way forward.
The same could be said for Dartmouth Steam Railway I don't understand why they have overhauled the Small Prairie, when one of their shareholders is the owner 4270!

 

Temper temper! See Post, 13643

PH

 

My response was tempered, and an apt response to your's.
Stop throwing mud when you're called out.

 

Is this in response to fire risk or availability issues?

 

See amendment to/omission from previous post.

PH

 

The small prairie, 4555, worked on the line for man years and elsewhere before. It is quite suitable for the seven car train loading in the earlier and later part of the running season. Besides which it is something iconic to the line. Recently a pannier has performed on the DSR very well. The WSRA small prairie, undergoing a protracted overhaul at Williton, is deemed suitable for the WSR I guess, again at less busy times.
Now as far as heritage/tourist lines are concerned it cannot be said that they are a pubic service as they only run part of the year. They do, however, perform a much needed service when they actually run.
The subject of regular public services of course are presently in the melting pot on the WSR as the Minehead Rail Link Group are keen to get all year round running for local people and not just tourists. We all have read, frequently, here and in another WSR thread about the merits or otherwise of that scheme but those promoting 'public services' might be just the sort of folk they are looking for.

 

Nope, makes no sense. My response was to your single word reply, not to your two word reply.
Stop attempting to obfuscate.

Back to subject now, can you not see that the WSR does serve the holiday making public as a way of traveling without their cars, and in so doing helps alleviate traffic to some extent?

(Awaits stroppy single word response).

 

Haha, no. I think the MRLG should wind their necks in. The WSR have put years and millions into the railway, why should a group who will not provide evidence of feasibility think they can risk all that effort...

The point I've been making is that it does provide a service, as you say, whilst it is running.

You don't have to run 24/7/365 to provide a service

 

<<Working fireman hat on>>
For the WSR it is my view that a Manor in good condition or something of similar size is the right engine for the line and will tackle almost anything we need to do on a day to day basis.
Large Prairies in good condition are also excellent but slightly less flexible in terms of training new footplate crew due to the slightly cramped conditions. This is one of the reasons the mogul was built BTW.
A bigger engine capable of 12 or so Mk1's is useful as there is good business to be done with incoming charters due to the main line connection The 7F is capable on this type of turn and actually seems to steam better if anything.
Now things get a little more subjective.
Everybody likes a bit of variety and who does not love the idea of a Hall on the front or indeed being on the footplate of one.
On the theme of variety plenty of work to be found for a small prairie or indeed a 4F.

Line side fires. A lot is down to the design of the ash pan. Ash pans of the modified Minehead design are far less prone to dropping hot ash and setting fire to the line side.
Thinking about which damper is open and how much it's open also helps. After all you've probably been underneath during morning prep. Fairly easy to work out which dampers are most likely to drop hot ash. For example I've worked our modified Hall on one damper for most of the dry spell. Once hot it only needed to be cracked open most of the time. and only half open once or twice on a climb.
<<working fireman hat off>>

 

Just plain old juggling of resources I guess.

Steve

 

Meanwhile, far beyond the virtual world of Nat Pres, real railway work on the WSR goes on, with yet another load coming in from the mainline. No need to debate whether a big engine is needed or not.

Steve

 

You will get a four word one "Purely subjective enthusiasts stuff."

PH