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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. LC2

    LC2 Member

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    I suspect that there are many operational / support roles where politics doesn't raise it's ugly head.
     
  2. Ferguson

    Ferguson New Member

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    Et moi.
     
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  3. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Déjà moo. Where you're sure you've heard the same bulls**t before. Bit like this thread.
     
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  4. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

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    As an outsider that does not listen to 'The Archers' this is compelling stuff.

    However, this is real. People give up their time, staff work hard for their railway, many put in far more hours than they actually get paid for.

    Whilst it may be an indulgence for those of us on other railways, most of our own projects are not too dissimilar to the plights of WSR.

    I am finding this thread more and more distasteful as members and staff of WSR wash their dirty laundry.

    If I had enough hands I would bang your bloody heads together, for Christ's sake, your railway is going down the shitter, it seems that only those that seek power and recognition are dissatisfied, meanwhile the rank and file turn up and run the railway, In spite of........
     
  5. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Sadly I feel that while I realise we are only hearing one side of the story that the WSR needs to treat its volunteers & staff better
     
  6. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    April 16th visiting Railtour with Mayflower, will it go to minehead or WSR loco takes over at BL, thxs
     
  7. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    Full barriers would require either manual control (on site or via remote control using cctv) or an effective obstacle detection system (allowing automatic operation). Due to a planning agreement when the road was built Somerset County Council are liable for all costs associated with the crossing so it’s their decision whether the additional costs, to the public purse, of a better system are worth it. If (upgraded) automatic half barriers at this site still meet the required safety standards for road & rail traffic at this site I expect that’s what they’ll buy since I imagine it’ll be the cheapest option both to install and maintain.
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2019
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  8. pgbffest

    pgbffest New Member

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    It's a standard thing for all heritage lines isn't it? Mutter about communications, not being treated fairly etc. In the case of the latter it is quite often a case of somebody having been given a talking to, didn't like it and therefore has sat in the pub telling everybody about it - who all agree to shut the person up!

    Different railways do different things when it comes to giving something back, whether it be free travel, staff discounts or social events at no cost. Personally, if a person is interested, then go and get involved as you'll find there is that second side.
     
  9. SouthWestMainline

    SouthWestMainline New Member

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    The ORR might have something to say about installing AHB's considering that there is a aim to get rid of them on the national network. They will have to have a very good argument to get approval for them to be install and being the "cheapest" would not be acceptable.
     
  10. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

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    That really would be your loss. What is posted here really does not reflect the generally positive experience of volunteering on one of the UK's very best heritage railways. Many folk, myself included, pass other railways more local to them in order to volunteer on the WSR.
     
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  11. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    Is there an aim to be rid of AHB’s? There is nothing about that on the ORR website, and their guidance on the design of level crossings includes AHB.
    The ORR site does say the “safest suitable crossing for the site-specific risks will be selected when renewing a crossing” but this clearly does not rule out any method of control until the site-specific risks have been assessed.
     
  12. SouthWestMainline

    SouthWestMainline New Member

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    Yes. When crossings are up for renewal (i.e. life expired) or when re signalling schemes are involved AHB crossings are being replaced by CCTV/OD systems. You would need to have a very good case to install a AHB crossing. I don't know how busy the crossing concerned is but I would expect that the ORR would not accept the renewal of the crossing with an AHB with open arms.
     
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  13. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    Are we allowed to know what Twas the filming was for Minehead today. Thxs
     
  14. DragonHandler

    DragonHandler Well-Known Member

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    According to a WSR posting on Facebook ITV Sports were filming on the platform for the darts tournament being held at Butlins this weekend.
     
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  15. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    An additional feature at Minehead is the greatly increased pedestrian footfall since the original crossing was installed. Butlins holiday camp was always there but now we have the ‘bright lights’ of MacDonalds, three supermarkets and a path into town on the landward side of the crossing to bring folk across.

    Robin
     
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  16. LC2

    LC2 Member

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    A sensible council would have made funding of a replacement crossing a pre requisite for allowing those developments.

    Similar to Whitedown lane bridge and the new housing development in Alton.
     
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  17. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    The councils (District and County) must have received serious amounts of s106 money from the developers - what happened to that?
     
  18. DragonHandler

    DragonHandler Well-Known Member

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    They probably put it in their general fund and it got used for all sorts of things.
     
  19. Yorkshireman

    Yorkshireman Part of the furniture

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    No moaners please!
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    Thanks for that. Please can you confirm that the replacement crossing will be the improved type with full games and CCTV? TIA
     

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