WSR Spring Gala 2009

Me and a friend were actually discussing that with all these big names, the WSR wouldn't have enough coaches for the gala, so is there going to be a hired rake at this gala?

 

Either that, or there'll be a fair bit of double-heading... But if 60163 is coming on the first weekend, surely it's bringing in a railtour? The WSR could have a few words about hiring that rake of carriages (although a rake of 11 carriages would be a bit excessive, even if everyone wants a ride behind 60163).

 

What I meant was they wouldn't have enough coaches for 4 sets of 7 or 8, I didn't mean add a 5th full set.

 

There is no mention of a railtour with 60163 on UK Steam.

 

UK Steam doesn't seem to have any light engine movements for this year either.

 

The WSR has around about 30 operational carriages. For galas, these are usually formed into four 6 or 7 coach sets and one 2 or 3 coach set. The line can normally handle longer trains (up to 12 or 13 coaches), but the restricted length of the crossing loop at Williton means that if two trains are passing there, one of them must be no longer than loco+7 coaches. With the complexities of gala timetabling, this usually means that all trains are kept down to a maximum of 7 coaches. On ordinary service days it is generally easier to manage the crossings so that at least one train can be longer. This is the reason that lengthening of the loop at Williton is high on the list of priorities for future works. Indeed some tweaking of track curcuits and repositioning of signals at Williton is in progress at the moment to maximise flexibility of the existing layout.

David

 

I think the WSR mentioned a few months back that they couldn't accommodate any steam railtours on gala days. Presumably, as the A1 Trust have a policy of not transporting their loco by road, 'Tornado' will be travelling by rail from York to Taunton - that'll be a good run for the engine! I wonder if it'll be diesel hauled or would Tornado go under its own power?

Regards

Andrew

 

Would the extension to the loop eventually go north past the MPD towards Doniford, or south over the level crossing, linking up to that bit of isolated track that currently houses a stranded but well-maintained box van just before the bridge (I suspect that this was once a headshunt)?

 

It'd be to the south, re-instating the original loop line that was shortened when a double-track bridge over a stream was replaced by a single-track bridge in BR days (which is also the reason for the up line curving away from the platform a tad early). The van you mention stands on the trackbed of the former up loop. Clearly, a new span over the stream is required, not cheap...

Steve
(WSW_

 

It'd be to the south, re-instating the original loop line that was shortened when a double-track bridge over a stream was replaced by a single-track bridge in BR days (which is also the reason for the up line curving away from the platform a tad early). The van you mention stands on the trackbed of the former up loop. Clearly, a new span over the stream is required, not cheap...

Steve
(WSW_[/quote:347olof0]

Interesting times for the WSR, then! I glad things seem to be moving forward at a decent pace for you chaps. Are there plans to reinstate signal and telegraph poles a la Severn Valley Railway, or will the wires remain ground-based? Anyway, I'm hoping to go to the gala on the 21st, getting there by train from Swansea. Are plans advanced enough to comment on whether there will be shuttle buses from Taunton Station again?

 

Just seen the latest news from the West Somerset Railway which is that 'Tornado' will be unable to attend the Spring Steam Gala due to commitments elsewhere, whatever they are - perhaps the A1's got some more mainline charters booked in? Obviously not the company's fault that the engine can't come down in March, though they hope to have 'Tornado' on the line later in the year, possibly in June, so that should be good. Presumably that might be over the Mixed Traffic Weekend maybe?

Ah well, there's still Royal Scot, the A4, King Ted, Braunton et al to look forward to so ill still be a super gala- plus anything thing else that might still be on the SEPT wish list!

Regards

Andrew

 

It'd be to the south, re-instating the original loop line that was shortened when a double-track bridge over a stream was replaced by a single-track bridge in BR days (which is also the reason for the up line curving away from the platform a tad early). The van you mention stands on the trackbed of the former up loop. Clearly, a new span over the stream is required, not cheap...

Steve
(WSW_[/quote:kc5fr1ag]

Interesting times for the WSR, then! I glad things seem to be moving forward at a decent pace for you chaps. Are there plans to reinstate signal and telegraph poles a la Severn Valley Railway, or will the wires remain ground-based? Anyway, I'm hoping to go to the gala on the 21st, getting there by train from Swansea. Are plans advanced enough to comment on whether there will be shuttle buses from Taunton Station again?[/quote:kc5fr1ag]

Interesting? WSR life is full of ups and downs

I don't think the WSR is planning to re-instate telegraph poles, although there was talk a year or two ago about setting up poles and dummy wires along an example stretch, but nothing has come of that.

Free bus service between Taunton Station and Bishops Lydeard Station will be in place for the Gala (if the buses don't have a commitment elsewhere )

Hope the news about the Tornado no-show doesn't put you off - still lots of goodies on offer...

Steve
(WSW)

 

I'm planning on going anyway, as it was a bit of a tradition when I was in university in Swansea, so now I've graduated, I might as well carry on, even if it has an extra expense (coming from Haverfordwest). As I'm doing the SVR Gala too, it means I can achieve my goal of riding behind all three A4s whilst they are all in steam. Royal Scot is the main draw, mind, although it'll be good to see Braunton again, to try her out as a single-header (the duet with Wadebridge in October was one of the best things I've experienced heritage railway-wise). I may come back in June if Tornado is there then, but it does depend on finances (as I also intend on going to the Eastleigh 100 bash). There you have it, my first half of 2009's railway bashing revealed!

 

Let us hope that Tornado not coming turns out to be the only no show.
We dont need a repeat of last year when most of the major headliners were not there.

 

Should be plenty to go round (if you mean the heritage buses that normally run). Have you ever seen inside their garage? =P~


John.

 

Unfortunately, last years headliners 'Leander', 'Foxcote Manor', and 'Wadebridge' were all out of traffic come the time of the gala, so that was rather unfortunate for the West Somerset but completely out of their hands, I guess it's difficult to book engines a long way in advance and be certain as to their serviceability, especially with many railways taking the opportunity of the winter shutdown to put their engines into the workshops.

Hopefully this year 'King Edward I', 'Braunton' and 'Bittern' should be pretty safe bets as they are all operational locos at present, I should imagine as well that the owner of the A4 and the WC might be quite pleased to see his two engines working together on the same line, plus 'Bittern' is not rostered on the Mid Hants for the period of the WSR Gala weekends, nor has it got any mainline charters booked, so that looks a bit hopeful!

If 'Royal Scot' does make it to the gala then surely its appearance on the line should be quite a scoop for the WSR as presumably it won't have even run its inaugural mainline special by then?

Regards

Andrew

 

It'd be to the south, re-instating the original loop line that was shortened when a double-track bridge over a stream was replaced by a single-track bridge in BR days (which is also the reason for the up line curving away from the platform a tad early). The van you mention stands on the trackbed of the former up loop. Clearly, a new span over the stream is required, not cheap...

Steve
(WSW_[/quote:1mo7k1m6]
The gap over there 's only about 5 ft. wide, cant be that much of a problem!

 

The gap over there 's only about 5 ft. wide, cant be that much of a problem![/quote:2r92o6e2]

Not a problem, true, but as I said, not cheap.

Steve
(WSW)

 

Change of plan?

oops! wrong year!

 

I wouldn't have thought so, considering those light engine moves are for 2008!