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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Jim O'Brien

    Jim O'Brien New Member

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    But this brings up a helpful message: 'You do not have permission to view media within this album.

    Why is viewing so restricted? Could Hemerdon explain?
     
  2. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    Unless things have changed markedly from when I was TM at Bristol the Yatton loops (south of the station) are goods-only (single bladed trap on exit) but IIRC the bi-directional Highbridge loop is passenger-rated, but less useful in the down direction as it requires both lines to be crossed.

    Given the intensity of use these days (even on a Sunday) it would be correct to say that timetabling a 45mph Service over this route would be challenging.

    Robin
     
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  3. Hemerdon

    Hemerdon Member Friend

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    Looks like I had the permissions wrong. Now changed so hopefully you can now view the picture. Thanks for highlighting the problem.
     
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  4. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    How does pathing a 45mph service up that line compare with pathing a 45mph service up the Brighton mainline between East Croydon and Clapham Junction? Just looking at photos of such a service at Clapham Junction last week, a move that took place in each direction during the daytime, mid week.

    Tom
     
  5. Forestpines

    Forestpines Well-Known Member

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    Clapham Jn to East Croydon is about 7 miles, 4 tracks, with enough stops that trains on the slow lines actually have a fairly low overall average speed - unless I got my sums wrong, a Selhurst-Clapham Jn stopper is timed at 18 minutes for about 6.7 miles, or about 21 mph. Even a non-stop service on the same route is given 8min, which is about 50mph.
     
  6. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    I would imagine both are, as Robin puts it - "challenging". That's not to say it can't be done. I guess most heritage/steam operations on the network fall into this category these days.

    Peter
     
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  7. Maunsell907

    Maunsell907 Member

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    Tom, as a comparison of routes, 'chalk and cheese'

    Clapham Junction to East Croydon :
    Fast lines 60 mph to Wandsworth Common, then 70 to East Croydon approaches.
    Slow lines: initially 20mph then 60 to Selhurst but with psrs to 45 at Streatham. Common,
    40 at Thornton Heath and 40 from Selhurst to East Croydon.

    BTM to EXD, 90mph to Long Ashton, 100 to Lympsham , 110 to Huntspil and then 100 Exeter.

    Block Sections, far longer ( not surprisingly ) twixt BTM and EXD than Clapham to East Croydon.
    and as noted there are a limited number of loops where 9466 could be accommodated.
    I would anticipate prolonged stops in the limited number of loops. As has been said, not impossiible but challenging.

    Despite the very intensive service I suspect Clapham Junction to East Croydon
    can accommodate a 45mph limited vehicle more easily than Bristol Temple Meads
    to Exeter St Davids.

    Michael Rowe
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2019
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  8. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    Not sure I agree with this. Both scenarios are dependent on a suitable gap between scheduled trains. CJ to EC may be a much shorter distance but, given the far greater number of scheduled trains using this section, finding a spare path for any train is probably very difficult. It is the bottlenecks that can scupper any move regardless of the distance involved.

    Peter
     
  9. Athelwulf

    Athelwulf New Member

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    Michael

    A couple of typos if I may - I doubt 100 mph to Lympstone! I think you mean Lympsham. And Long Ashton - not Aston.
     
  10. Athelwulf

    Athelwulf New Member

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    From the webcam: 9351 seen running light engine in reverse gear towards Watchet from Williton - 11:57 am 28 June.
     
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  11. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

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    Just to update the situation over loops between Bristol and Taunton, I've had a quick look at the Sectional Appendix dated August 2018 on line.
    Yatton Loops are shown as passenger loops DPL and UPL and permissive working is authorised for Freight trains.
    Highbridge Loop is shown as UGL, and is still signalled as a reversible line. It only available for freight services. (Unless special working instructions to authorise passenger trains are approved and issued.)

    Cheers, Neil
     
  12. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

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    A good time for me to say thank you to all of the Staff and volunteers at WS Restorations for all their hard work and to all those who supported the WSRA lead campaigns to raise the funds to allow this to happen. All WSRA members should feel proud of this achievement as you have all had a hand in making it happen.
    Not quite finished yet but the finishing line is hopefully in sight. I am expecting the official reports in the next week or so.
     
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  13. Athelwulf

    Athelwulf New Member

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    Three Manors in steam today. 7822 double heading the 14:40 ex-Bishop's Lydeard with 7828 and 7802 on the 14:20 from Minehead.
     
  14. misspentyouth62

    misspentyouth62 Well-Known Member

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    Manor from Heaven
     
  15. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    Bet that was a fantastic sight when they passed
     
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  16. Paul Kibbey

    Paul Kibbey Well-Known Member

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    0-6-0 Paniers is how I remember The Minehead Branch in the early 60s . With 4 non corridor carriages , so I think it is a fine picture .
     
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  17. Paul Kibbey

    Paul Kibbey Well-Known Member

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    I also remember the pannier tank engines busying themselves shunting around the East Quay shunting the wagons in tandem with the blue tractor getting the wagons under cover in the "Dutch Barn affair " at the end of what is now the car park alongside the Boat Museum . I do think they were loaded with esparto grass , for the paper mill . This must have sometime after they had stopped using rail to move the coal from the harbour as when a coal boat was in they used what I now assume to be 14/16 ton GVW rigid lorries . How times have changed as now there isn't a paper mill .
     
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  18. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    Thanks to wsr.org for the following news article. It's good that the planning committee had the vision to hire in locomotives and therefore attract diesel enthusiasts from around the country. <BJ>

    Successful 'Vintage Diesels to the Seaside' event

    [​IMG]
    Despite problems in the lead-up to the event the June Diesel Gala on the West Somerset Railway proved to be successful with plenty of passengers travelling and fares revenue exceeding the budget target by 10% with over 2,900 passengers. Sunny and pleasant weather added a nice note to the theme of 'Vintage Diesels to the Seaside'.

    Axle loading restrictions between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead meant that early planned guest engines 'Peak' no 46010 and a Class 50 had to be cancelled and lighter substitutes found. These included Class 31 no. 97205 (31163) but sadly the 31 was declared failed before the June 20th - 22nd event and more work had to be done to find a substitute.

    In the end the guests turned out to be a pair of Class 25s D7535 and D7612, courtesy of the South Devon Diesel Traction group, Class 37 D6948, courtesy of the Growler Group at Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Rly, and a pair of GBRf Class 73/1s 73107 and 73136.

    These were joined by locos from the Williton based Diesel and Electric Preservation Group, with a particular high spot being the return to traffic of Class 35 'Hymek' no D7018 which returned to action after a gap of 24 years following a disastrous engine failure. It was joined by classmate no D7017, giving the rare sight and sound of a pair of these popular diesel hydraulics in action. Another pairing was Class 33s nos D6566 and D6575 with Class 14 no D9526 also working trains. The WSR Gala Planning Team would like to thank all the loco owners who helped to make the three days a success and also thank the owners of locos whose visit had to be cancelled for their understanding.

    Another successful part of the event was the Beer and Cider Festival staged at the Washford museum and restoration base of the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust which was run and staffed by volunteers from the Somerset Branch of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale). Some 2000 pints were sold, with supplies running out on Saturday evening and the profits were added to the takings from the Gala days.

    Together with the successful weekend of June 8th and 9th which marked the 40th anniversary of trains running between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead the June Special Events have made a most useful funding contribution towards the future of the WSR.

    29 June 2019
    Details kindly provided by the Gala Planning Team
     
  19. Captain Fantastic

    Captain Fantastic Member

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    It does have to be said whoever thought of putting the bear tent at Washford, well it was an act of genius, its turned the most unused station on the line into a busy little place that because the normals dont use it much theres loads of room for the beer heads
    The gala was no doubt helped by the fact 7018 hadnt worked for so long so that was good but again another year passed with no use of the 03 or the 09 some people really would make an appearance and pay their money for a gala that also included them, just a shunt from platform out passed Maccy's and back into the other platform with the train loco would do for the 03 and send the 09 up to Norton on the front of a rake and train engine brings it back
     
  20. DragonHandler

    DragonHandler Well-Known Member

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    A bear tent??
    And there was me thinking a Growler was a type of diesel. :):D:D
     

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