West Somerset Railway - Bishops Lydeard to Minehead (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

Not certain about the 25-50 ? perhaps connects with the Hogwarts express and therefore runs to magic timings.

[grahame]

Not certain about the 25-50 ? perhaps connects with the Hogwarts express and therefore runs to magic timings.

That's Finnish time 25:50 translates to 23:50 in Minehead.  OK - so the 25:50 was my typo. The late train from Taunton which I would expect to be very popular. 

[DaveHarries]

The webcam at Seaward way is back in use.
http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md2.htm

Good views of seagulls, Canada geese, dog walkers, cars, and the newly installed semaphore signal.

And a newly installed LED colour-light signal on the Dunster side of the crossing too by the looks of it. Wonder why that got put in when a non-LED one would retain the heritage aspect (pun intended) of things. Also the wsr.org.uk website says two new semaphores have gone in (see an entry of 27th October). Hopefully we won't one day see all of the WSR controlled by panels though as per Paignton - Kingswear.

National Rail Trains arriving at 08:25, 19:10, 20:50 and 25:50 from Taunton and beyond at the platform behind Butlins just to the east of the crossing, leaving at 05:40, 07:05, 08:30 and 21:00.   Heritage trains Eastbound just after 10:10, 11:10, 12:15, 14:15, 15:15, 16:15 and 17:10 headed for Bishop's Lydeard, returning just before 10:52, 11:47, 12:47, 13:47, 14:52, 15:47 and 17:52, connecting in almost all cases with National Rail at Lydeard?

That would be good wouldn't it! Unless you know something which I don't.....!

Dave

[broadgage]

AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know) the new LED colour light signal replaces an earlier colour light signal that used incandescent bulbs. The LEDs give a very similar appearance and are therefore considered acceptable in a location not often viewed or photographed.

Perhaps our resident WSR expert could confirm ?

[Lee]

National Rail Trains arriving at 08:25, 19:10, 20:50 and 25:50 from Taunton and beyond at the platform behind Butlins just to the east of the crossing, leaving at 05:40, 07:05, 08:30 and 21:00.   Heritage trains Eastbound just after 10:10, 11:10, 12:15, 14:15, 15:15, 16:15 and 17:10 headed for Bishop's Lydeard, returning just before 10:52, 11:47, 12:47, 13:47, 14:52, 15:47 and 17:52, connecting in almost all cases with National Rail at Lydeard?

That would be good wouldn't it! Unless you know something which I don't.....!

Dave

Here's grahame's full proposal:

[TonyK]

AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know) the new LED colour light signal replaces an earlier colour light signal that used incandescent bulbs. The LEDs give a very similar appearance and are therefore considered acceptable in a location not often viewed or photographed.

Perhaps our resident WSR expert could confirm ?

Uncharacteristically silent, but I had tea with a friend who has been training drivers on the new signals. He doesn't regard them as out of place, and sees big improvements from a safety angle.

[Witham Bobby]

AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know) the new LED colour light signal replaces an earlier colour light signal that used incandescent bulbs. The LEDs give a very similar appearance and are therefore considered acceptable in a location not often viewed or photographed.

Perhaps our resident WSR expert could confirm ?

Uncharacteristically silent, but I had tea with a friend who has been training drivers on the new signals. He doesn't regard them as out of place, and sees big improvements from a safety angle.

I don't know if you're referring to me; I don't consider myself any kind of expert on railways these days.  I was a bit more clued-up about the WSR 40+ (ouch) years ago.

From what I can tell, the signal with the LED head is a replacement for the Down Inner Home signal that was formerly a colour-light, lit by incandescent lamps.  It won't have the drivers' white light indicator aspect in the head for the former ABCL^▸ (Automatic Barrier Crossing Locally monitored) system at Seaward Way LC^▸ (Level Crossing), as the crossing has now  been converted to CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) operation from Minehead 'box

For what my opinion is worth, I don't think the new signal is any more or less relevant to the line's heritage ambience than the one it replaces.

[broadgage]

Yes I was thinking of yourself, but did not say so in so many words, so as to avoid unwelcoming replies from other members.

[Lee]

Yes I was thinking of yourself, but did not say so in so many words, so as to avoid unwelcoming replies from other members.

Don't worry, I am sure we are all big Witham Bobby fans!

[Witham Bobby]

Yes I was thinking of yourself, but did not say so in so many words, so as to avoid unwelcoming replies from other members.

Don't worry, I am sure we are all big Witham Bobby fans!

[broadgage]

The new level crossing barriers at the Seaward lane level crossing have been damaged by the recent extreme weather. A bit worrying for something so new and expensive.

News reports on the WSR website refer to ONE barrier as being damaged, but looking at the webcam appears to show TWO damaged barriers.

http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md2.htm webcam link.

[Timmer]

Has a preserved railway had more misfortune than the WSR? I really hope it can be repaired before the main tourist season begins in a few weeks time.

[broadgage]

Hopefully the repairs will simply consist of attaching new barriers with the rest of the mechanism remaining as before.

My fear is that stronger barriers will be required and that these are likely to be heavier.
Not compatible with existing operating mechanism.
New mechanism expensive and with extended delivery times.
New mechanism requires different ground fixings.
New concrete bases needed.
Existing but new cables damaged during construction of new foundations. New cabling needed.
Some subtle difference makes new mechanism not compatible with existing proving and safety circuits.
New equipment needed in equipment room.
Equipment room not big enough.
New equipment room expensive and with extended delivery times.
HMRI^▸ (Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate) rule that this is a "new installation" requiring new approvals.
CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) found to be compliant with 2020 standards but not with 2022 standards, new required.
Newts discovered. And badgers.
Complete new training and staff familiarisation plan required.
War breaks out in Ukraine, works put on hold until after the war.

[broadgage]

So far as I can see from the webcam, one barrier has been replaced, what I presume to be a new one looks larger, or perhaps simply brighter coloured and shows up better on webcam. Left hand side of crossing, nearest Butlins.
One old barrier remains in situ and looks undamaged.
One barrier that yesterday was bent of shape, is now absent, presumably  awaiting replacement. The one nearest the camera.
One barrier is still bent out of shape, the one nearest the equipment building.

Works are underway, many orange overalled workers may be observed on the webcam at about 10-30.

[broadgage]

The webcam at the Seaward Lane level crossing is again offline "due to level crossing works" And this time the Minehead station webcam is also offline.

I wonder why ? The physical location of the webcam is some distance from the crossing and would not be in the way of works thereon.
Perhaps they dont like people watching the progress of the works, or perhaps lack of progress. The work can however be viewed in person from several viewpoints, so hardly secret.

Spare crossing barriers are held in stock, but the delays suggest that something more than a simple replacement is being considered.