If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. tracker

    tracker Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2014
    Messages:
    464
    Likes Received:
    874
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired IT manager
    Location:
    Essex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It is pertinent that Pioneer 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" as built was regarded as a complete failure in BR service due to poor steaming characteristics and its heavy fuel consumption. The late 2oth Century rescue of a Barry wreck and the identification and correction of design faults (chimney too small and firebed air inlet dampers too small) made the locomotive into one of the most powerful steam locomotives in the UK. Historical accuracy would have made it a liability whereas 20th/21st Century changes make it a real gem.
    So - I'm all for change if it makes things better.
    Robin L.
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2019
  2. malcolm imps

    malcolm imps New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2016
    Messages:
    175
    Likes Received:
    504
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Hillman Imp Specialist
    Location:
    norton fitzwarren
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The Duchess will come off at BL & 88 takes the train to MD, then Duchess returns to NF for turning on our triangle, then back to BL....
     
  3. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2014
    Messages:
    2,237
    Likes Received:
    918
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Is it steam rally this weekend
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2019
  4. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2014
    Messages:
    2,237
    Likes Received:
    918
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thxs
     
  5. the green man

    the green man New Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2017
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Chilton Polden
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    3rd/4th August


    Sent from my SM-J600FN using Tapatalk
     
  6. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2009
    Messages:
    1,923
    Likes Received:
    4,237
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Cardiff
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Services were delayed while a potential bridge strike was investigated. (Just like you'd have to do on the big railway). As has been mentioned we were back on timetable by the end of the day. The 11.00 service from BL was the biggest casualty resulting from the required timetable changes. All passenger I talked to seemed happy enough to know their safety was our first priority.
     
  7. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2008
    Messages:
    1,898
    Likes Received:
    2,517
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Meanwhile the GWR Taunton to Bishops Lydeard (change for the WSR) service started today:[​IMG]
     
    jackshepherd, Davo, mdewell and 8 others like this.
  8. Maunsell907

    Maunsell907 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2013
    Messages:
    881
    Likes Received:
    1,965
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Off subject but 71000 has appeared on the WSR. I Think to refer to the 'Duke' as having been a
    liability during its period of operation on BR might be an oversimplification.

    E.S.Cox et al, in various writings have made it clear that whilst there were steaming difficulties
    ( at higher evaporation rates boiler efficiencies fell to c.50 % ) 'front end' efficiencies as high
    as 15% were recorded. ( both at Rugby and on 'road tests' if memory serves me right ). Whilst
    in some quarters Cox's claim that 'front end' efficiencies > 15% represented >86 % of
    the Rankine cycle ( perhaps he should have been thinking in 'isentropic' terms ) has been
    questioned the reality is he, andothers, produced a loco whose efficient use of steam was
    without equal in the UK and arguably equalled the best anywhere, without recourse to
    complications such as compounding, feedwater heating, condensate recovery, reheating
    via the smokebox etc.

    I have no doubt that given time and the financial incentive ( ie a future for steam
    under BR auspices) they would have rectified the steaming problems of the
    modified Britannia boiler.

    None of the above is meant to take away praise from the team who restored 71000
    to main line service and effectively completed the work of others.

    On a more general note if we are to continue to run 'steam' whether on the Main
    or Heritage lines then IMHO we must be prepared to recognise operational
    practicalities. Thus it makes sense, that if the L&B's business plan assumes longer
    trains, then to design their 2-4-2T with a 250 psi boiler ( not something Baldwin's
    would have considered at the beginning of the 20th century I think !) Similarly
    modifications to the new A1 and P2, based on current knowledge and mechanical
    norms, are I suggest pragmatic.

    I would also suggest that rebuilding 2-6-2T No.5193 to 2-6-0 No.9351 was not
    only entirely logical at the time, its subsequent 96,000 miles over the next ten
    years proved the point. ( preliminary drawings of a 9351 loco were originally
    produced by the Swindon D.O in the 1920s )

    In short either preserve locos statically in aspic ( even if they are a 'Trigger's Broom')
    or be prepared to consider modifications in the future. We may be faced with either
    'oil firing' or even a vegetable based derivative quicker than we imagine..

    Michael Rowe
     
  9. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2014
    Messages:
    2,237
    Likes Received:
    918
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thunderbird diesel on route to taunton.
     
  10. Dodo

    Dodo New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2016
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    96
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bath Somerset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
     

    Attached Files:

    Paul Kibbey likes this.
  11. Dodo

    Dodo New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2016
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    96
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bath Somerset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Not to be outdone by GWR, the Titfield Light Railway Co have been in talks with the WSR about running a service from Mallingford Junction to Titfield via Minehead, and a trial run took place last Wednesday. This service will be sponsored by Mr Valentine provided a full bar service is available on every train. It is believed that bus operators Pearce and Crump may object, but Crossville Motor Services are expected to buy them out soon.
     
  12. Quantock Brewery did indeed cater for many WSR passengers yesterday, not least because we offered a free pint to anyone with a valid WSR ticket. Judging by the number of shuttle tickets presented the new service was very well supported!

    The charter passengers were informed about the QB beer festival during their outward journey and many of them attended. The brewery were also pleased to cater for passengers during the unscheduled evening layover at BL awaiting their Thunderbird '47' to arrive from Southall. This followed an early request from WSR that allowed us to muster staff and further supplies for the street food outlets. A great example of WSR and a local business working together to mutual benefit.
     
  13. Maunsell907

    Maunsell907 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2013
    Messages:
    881
    Likes Received:
    1,965
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Latest news flash from Reuters "In the absence of the intended locomotive ( due to mischievous behaviour
    by others ) the 'Tivvy Bumper' was liberated from the local Tiverton Museum."

    Michael Rowe
     
  14. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2014
    Messages:
    2,237
    Likes Received:
    918
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    When does 6233 go back please
     
  15. 33026 Seafire

    33026 Seafire New Member Account Suspended

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    Messages:
    79
    Likes Received:
    40
    Location:
    Amsterdam Or Newcastle
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer

    So the main pot stirrers and backstabbers got their way in the end then.

    This railway really can't help it's self with all the silly controversy.

    Such a shame when it looked like a corner may have been turned finally
     
  16. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2012
    Messages:
    1,511
    Likes Received:
    2,706
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Western Atlantic
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Since no information has been released publicly (that I know of) as to why this happened, I think it's not really possible to comment on it usefully.

    Noel
     
  17. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2014
    Messages:
    11,246
    Likes Received:
    17,946
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Barrister
    Location:
    Stogumber
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Quite right.

    It’s generally best not to feed the trolls.

    Especially on a weekend that saw the WSR take a significant forward step with the Taunton to Bishops Lydeard shuttle trains.

    Robin
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2019
  18. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2005
    Messages:
    5,282
    Likes Received:
    2,648
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired Rolls-Royce engineer
    Location:
    Bath Green Park / Mangotsfield
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It's good to see the wsr.org loco roster updated once again. We find it most useful for planning our day at the railway. No roster, no plan, no visit.

    Thanks to Steve Edge. <BJ> http://cgibin.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/r-roster.cgi
     
    Paul Kibbey and 45076 like this.
  19. DragonHandler

    DragonHandler Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,286
    Likes Received:
    1,590
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    An up to date loco roster is something a lot of heritage railways could do with. Considering the journey time to the railway along with the rail fare/petrol costs it's very often a case of no roster, no visit.
     
  20. Anne C-B

    Anne C-B Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2016
    Messages:
    225
    Likes Received:
    353
    Location:
    UK
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The PLC AGM next week is the place to ask the questions and hopefully we can report back here afterwards.
     
    malcolm imps and alastair like this.

Share This Page