The Somerset Explorer - GWR HST on West Somerset Railway (Paddington to Minehead) - 13 May 2017

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

I'll not be aboard but I have put the date in the diary, planning to do some lineside phhotography of the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) as it travels along the West Somerset Railway.

[grahame]

Now showing more tickets from Frome, 30 plus 14 for groups of 4 or more

Seating allocation adjusted ... and we are now marketing the opportunity a bit.

For London / Reading passengers... there's also an opportunity to travel on the train from London to Frome (10:33), from where Buses of Somerset are arranging a mystery tour prior to rejoining the train at Weston-super-mare for a 17:00 departure.      I highly commend this option - there's places to see and you'll not be in the coach all the time. I'm privy to where it's going and it looks to me as if certain places along the way are being very generous in what they provide.

[grahame]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ukhstgroup/permalink/1196570023804404/ (link available to UK^▸ (United Kingdom) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Facebook Group members, but text below says it all ;-) )

A bit late in posting due to work commitments but a little something exclusive for those joining us on the 13th May. A chance to meet the man himself on-board The Somerset Explorer.

Sir Kenneth will be on the train from Paddington to Taunton and will be walking through the train giving autographs for a charitable donation.

It goes without saying a huge thank you to The 125 Group for their hard work in helping us with this event.

[chuffed]

Sir Kenneth who ? Probably not Williams or Horne who deserved to be knighted. Or even (playing devil's advocate here) someone who might be full of plumptiousness and ensure everyone has a tattifilarious time 

[grahame]

Sir Kenneth who ? Probably not Williams or Horne who deserved to be knighted. Or even (playing devil's advocate here) someone who might be full of plumptiousness and ensure everyone has a tattifilarious time 

A good question on a public forum - Sir Kenneth Grange.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Grange

Grange's career has spanned more than half a century, and many of his designs became – and are still – familiar items in the household or on the street

[snip]

He was also responsible for the aerodynamics, interior layout and exterior styling of the nose cone of British Rail's High Speed Train

[Rhydgaled]

The special service will be formed by a pair of 1976 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Powercars hauling our classic MK3 carriages

The requested formation is 43002+LA15(or LA16)+43185 - which for the uninitiated amongst us is essentially the two 'retro liveried' power cars sandwiching one of the green sets, but this is of course subject to availability (remembering the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Explorer last year which ended up with a 'normal' FGW^▸ (First Great Western) blue set instead of the original green set as requested).

Will we know whether the requested formation is available before the day arrives?

[grahame]

The special service will be formed by a pair of 1976 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Powercars hauling our classic MK3 carriages

The requested formation is 43002+LA15(or LA16)+43185 - which for the uninitiated amongst us is essentially the two 'retro liveried' power cars sandwiching one of the green sets, but this is of course subject to availability (remembering the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Explorer last year which ended up with a 'normal' FGW^▸ (First Great Western) blue set instead of the original green set as requested).

Will we know whether the requested formation is available before the day arrives?

As I read it, there's a probability that the set will be provided as requested.   However, I suspect that if the set has to be deployed elsewhere at the last minute to stand in for another train in trouble, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will make that switch. It would be very hard for them to cancel (say) the 19:03 Paddington to Penzance on the Friday evening because the 15:29 from Swansea has sat down at Cardiff, whilst holding back the special formation at OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) ... I suspect that the regular passengers on the 19:03 would get the set, leaving it in Penzance overnight, and the Minehead would be run by the 15:29, fixed and polished and with whatever set should have gone to Penzance.

[TaplowGreen]

The special service will be formed by a pair of 1976 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Powercars hauling our classic MK3 carriages

The requested formation is 43002+LA15(or LA16)+43185 - which for the uninitiated amongst us is essentially the two 'retro liveried' power cars sandwiching one of the green sets, but this is of course subject to availability (remembering the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Explorer last year which ended up with a 'normal' FGW^▸ (First Great Western) blue set instead of the original green set as requested).

Will we know whether the requested formation is available before the day arrives?

As I read it, there's a probability that the set will be provided as requested.   However, I suspect that if the set has to be deployed elsewhere at the last minute to stand in for another train in trouble, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will make that switch. It would be very hard for them to cancel (say) the 19:03 Paddington to Penzance on the Friday evening because the 15:29 from Swansea has sat down at Cardiff, whilst holding back the special formation at OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) ... I suspect that the regular passengers on the 19:03 would get the set, leaving it in Penzance overnight, and the Minehead would be run by the 15:29, fixed and polished and with whatever set should have gone to Penzance.

.....and once on board, no-one will know any different anyway? What's in a paint job? 

[JayMac]

Due to gauging issues at Watchet the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) is now terminating at Bishops Lydeard. Onward travel to Minehead will be behind D1010 'Western Campaigner' and a rake of the West Somerset Railway's Mk 1s.

[grahame]

Due to gauging issues at Watchet the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) is now terminating at Bishops Lydeard. Onward travel to Minehead will be behind D1010 'Western Campaigner' and a rake of the West Somerset Railway's Mk 1s.

In more detail ... from the organisers:

Due to operational reasons, we can no longer run our HST all the way to Minehead on Saturday 13th May as originally planned. This has resulted in a change to some of the planned itinerary for your journey with our special charter on the 13th May. Whilst we appreciate the alteration to the original journey planned for Minehead, we believe the new offering will still deliver a unique experience on the 13th May for all involved.
 
Revised Itinerary:
·         HST to operate as booked to Bishops Lydeard where it will terminate 1144.
·         HST forms 1Z25 1210 service to Taunton, arr 1235. Dep 1430 as 1Z26 to Bishops Lydeard.
·         At Bishops Lydeard, Hydraulic Diesel locomotive, D1010 – Western Campaigner will work a replacement service – “Somerset Campaigner” to Watchet and Minehead departing 1200.
·         D1010 arrives into Minehead 1306. The “Somerset Campaigner” depart Minehead 1430, the service will then arrive back into Bishops Lydeard at 1537 to connect into the HST.
·         HST to operate as booked from Bishops Lydeard back towards London at 1555.
·         Tickets will be VALID on either the HST to/from Taunton or D1010 to/from Minehead.

[chuffed]

Now showing more tickets from Frome, 30 plus 14 for groups of 4 or more

Seating allocation adjusted ... and we are now marketing the opportunity a bit.

For London / Reading passengers... there's also an opportunity to travel on the train from London to Frome (10:33), from where Buses of Somerset are arranging a mystery tour prior to rejoining the train at Weston-super-mare for a 17:00 departure.      I highly commend this option - there's places to see and you'll not be in the coach all the time. I'm privy to where it's going and it looks to me as if certain places along the way are being very generous in what they provide.

If the generous options include a Welho cream tea at a certain establishment in Melksham, I would recommend it very highly indeed ..and not just on a special occasion. Just be warned the proprietor might just try to sign you up to become a TransWilts member ...whatever that is 

[grahame]

Now showing more tickets from Frome, 30 plus 14 for groups of 4 or more

Seating allocation adjusted ... and we are now marketing the opportunity a bit.

For London / Reading passengers... there's also an opportunity to travel on the train from London to Frome (10:33), from where Buses of Somerset are arranging a mystery tour prior to rejoining the train at Weston-super-mare for a 17:00 departure.      I highly commend this option - there's places to see and you'll not be in the coach all the time. I'm privy to where it's going and it looks to me as if certain places along the way are being very generous in what they provide.

If the generous options include a Welho cream tea at a certain establishment in Melksham, I would recommend it very highly indeed ..and not just on a special occasion. Just be warned the proprietor might just try to sign you up to become a TransWilts member ...whatever that is 

There was no hint in my commendation of the tour.    Well House Manor isn't set up to handle coach parties ...

[LiskeardRich]

Due to gauging issues at Watchet the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) is now terminating at Bishops Lydeard. Onward travel to Minehead will be behind D1010 'Western Campaigner' and a rake of the West Somerset Railway's Mk 1s.

An insider (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) employee)  told me on Tuesday that gwr were unhappy with the condition of track, and had told WSR they'd only run beyond Williton if the track was replaced for the full route.
The gauging excuse doesn't sit with me as they've been several times before

[John R]

Maybe they are being a little bit more cautious after the Okehampton problems. Having been on a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to Minehead a few years back it made an enjoyable change to do something different rather than changing onto a WSR train at BL. It's just a shame that these things can't be ironed out before all the publicity goes out and people start buying tickets, but let's hope that an enjoyable day is still had by all.

[stuving]

Due to gauging issues at Watchet the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) is now terminating at Bishops Lydeard. Onward travel to Minehead will be behind D1010 'Western Campaigner' and a rake of the West Somerset Railway's Mk 1s.

An insider (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) employee)  told me on Tuesday that gwr were unhappy with the condition of track, and had told WSR they'd only run beyond Williton if the track was replaced for the full route.
The gauging excuse doesn't sit with me as they've been several times before

If GWR are concerned about the stability of the track - that it is "soft", or may have shifted - that will lead to a potential gauging problem.