West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I could certainly see moves towards you buying a ticker for a specific itinerary rather than a rover or between particular stations, I think that would be quite popular, and may encourage visitors to actually have a more enjoyable day out than if just left to their own devices. Not everyone is great at looking at a timetable and working out the best way to spend the day. We were starting to see a small move towards that on the GWSR before all this with a ticket specifically for just between Winchcombe and Broadway (a scenario I think you actually predicted some years ago Tom, can you do next week's lottery numbers? ) and we did used to have some itineraries written up for suggestions on how to spend your day depending on how long you had and what station you started at, surely its only another small step to sell specific tickets for that.
Personally I'd be reluctant to do away with the old model entirely though, but as you say, if it's well thought out enough it ought to be possible to cater for both once we get back to normal again.

 

Good ideas, gentlemen, but there is, as far as I recall, the matter of a gap in the line, the Seaway Crossing together with key personnel having moved elsewhere.

 

Does the capacity to do that exist though?

 

The only problem with Tom's suggestion is all the toys are kept at Minehead, which means two empty stock movements at each end of the day.
Logically, capacity could be doubled by running two down trains in the morning, and up trains at mid afternoon and late afternoon....
In the US, most of the big steam lines run one train a day. Ok, its 60 miles or so. Many passengers only travel one way, the outward or return leg travelling by coach. All staff are paid employees.
Railways here keep trying to run a traditional style service of regular trains throughout the day, heavily reliant on volunteers. Whether this will continue to be possible in future, or if interest and people's ability and inclination to volunteer dwindle, who knows. The restrictions on under 16's volunteering will likely take a toll.

 

I believe the WSR has the capability and capacity to stable both engines and rakes at Bishop's Lydeard overnight. They just can't be based there permanently, so some degree of rotation would be required after a week or two to allow for proximity to the works at Minehead.

I struggle to see that model working here in the UK, it certainly couldn't support the breadth and sheer number of operation we currently have. I don't think that's the way forward, but see my agreement with Tom's post above.

That has (or should have) already taken its toll, several years ago (I had an amusing conversation on the platform which ended with me promising to "hurry up and become 18" at the time). There are moves afoot to rectify this which would once again make it possible for under 16s to volunteer in a proper capacity, but unfortunately it requires action by central government. Whilst they have agreed to do it, central government generally doesn't move quickly, and this one especially not.

 

Stop putting ideas into their heads please

Minehead without was is now isn't Minehead!!

 

You are the late Gerald Nabarro and I claim my fifty WSR shares :-D

Patrick

 

If someone does reopen the WSR, this could well be the pattern. You have to concentrate on running trains when they are likely to be well supported.

 

All those sorts of ideas have been kicked around for years.

 

Throw enough mud at a wall and some sticks, they say.
I am sure there are surprises in store for WSR folk, whatever they turn out to be.

 

Absolutely so. I just cannot see railways reverting to a "just turn up, buy a ticket and travel" situation. The advantages of online booking are twofold. Passengers will be certain of a seat, either on the train of first choice or on a suggested alternative. Railways can spread the load over a whole day instead of being crammed into morning or afternoon services. "Cramming" is no longer allowed of course.

The WSR is not the only railway to be missing a trick. Apart from not getting income which is out there to be garnered, practice in operating pre-book systems needs to be gained. Experience obtained this year is there for next.

 

You are quite right. It has been a failure of imagination, a failure of organisational ability, a failure of leadership, a total failure of management. They will make excuses all over the place of course, it'll be everybody else's fault, but plenty of other heritage railways have now shown what might have been possible.

 

Indeed it is. I just hope that the learning includes feedback from those - not just enthusiasts - who aren't keen on the fixed itinerary model.

As an enthusiast, I like to travel as suits me, for the locomotive or stock - and that often means doing without pre-planning. As an ordinary punter, I like the flexibility to look at the weather on the day, decide to take a trip, walk between stations/on a circular route, and get the train that turns up. An operation that makes a visitor like me unwelcome will lose my business. Whether those like me are outweighed by those who like the greater certainty, I've no idea. But the analysis has to include credit and debit.

 

Same as me. There ought to be room for both when things are back to normal.

 

No Edmondson tickets of course (Apologies) Most websites show what is running on what day and, at least whilst the pandemic persists it is just something we will have todo.

 

The DSR has had a large percentage of on-line bookings being made for some years now - yes I know the purists complain about no Edmonsons - but that is the way things are in commercial situations. Their vessels, even pre-Covid- were governed by maximum capacity i.e registered only for X number of passengers only. This made known bookings essential as many passengers do the train and Paddle Steamer trip and pre-Covid, the Round Robin. Round Robin is a bus ride for one third of the journey and does not operate at present. Next year should be different.

 

Ah I see, it was all a ploy to remove the hated Edmondsons! (which the IoW don't use so they can't be important) I really don't know why it's a hill you choose to die on Paul, they're really not a problem to use, passengers like them and they can be integrated with modern systems.