West Somerset Railway - heritage line, Bishops Lydeard to Minehead - merged topic, ongoing discussio

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Planning to do this trip on a Saturday. The 0730 Ex Truro gets into Taunton at 1022 and the Bishops Lydeard service goes out at 1028. Looking at RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) last week that wouldn't seem a problem. If the 0730 was late running how would anyone recommend getting to BL for the 1100 to Minehead? I am presuming a taxi would be the only option. Would GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) hold the BL service for a few minutes if a connection could be made with a slightly late running PZ to Paddington service? The other option would be to use the XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service leaving Truro just after 0700, I'd prefer not to use that though.

Guidance would be welcomed.

At extra nugget but not guidance.  The shuttles are retimed for this Saturday (only) ... it leaves Taunton 1 minute earlier, stops for 2 minutes at Norton Fitzwarren, and arrives Bishops Lydeard a couple of minutes later than other dates.  Special stop due to the steam fayre which is listed on our calendar.

[TonyK]

Holding for connections isn't really done these days, but as both the relevant services are GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), I suppose it's possible. There's a 4-minute stop at Exeter St Dave for the Penzance train which can be used to pick up a couple of minutes, other than which you can but hope.

Are passengers to be embarked at Norton Fitz? I wasn't aware of a platform there.

[JayMac]

The West Somerset Railway have a platform at Norton Fitzwarren. Used occasionally in connection with special events, such as the Steam Fayre, which is held on land adjacent to the WSR's triangle just outside Norton Fitzwarren village.

[grahame]

The West Somerset Railway have a platform at Norton Fitzwarren. Used occasionally in connection with special events, such as the Steam Fayre, which is held on land adjacent to the WSR's triangle just outside Norton Fitzwarren village.

Wikipedia suggests this is the first call from the National Network at Norton Fitzwarren ...

The WSR entered into a partnership with the modern Great Western Railway (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)) in 2019 to operate Summer Saturday services between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard on Saturdays when special events are taking place. On 3 August, services will call additionally at Norton Fitzwarren for the annual Steam Fayre Vintage Rally, run by the WSRA, taking place at the station. The introduction of these GWR services will be the first time the new station has been served by a train from the national rail network.

[bobm]

When I went past on one of last Saturday’s shuttles there appeared to be people working on the platform so perhaps making some last minute preparations?

[TonyK]

History is being made!

[broadgage]

History is being made!

Indeed. Passenger trains from the national network have of course passed through Norton Fitzwarren, and I suspect that the odd one may have stopped for operating reasons, but this would appear to be first ever scheduled stop by a passenger train from the national network.

[Witham Bobby]

History is being made!

Indeed. Passenger trains from the national network have of course passed through Norton Fitzwarren, and I suspect that the odd one may have stopped for operating reasons, but this would appear to be first ever scheduled stop by a passenger train from the national network.

First stop of a scheduled public passenger train at Norton Fitzwarren from the Taunton direction since 1961.  I know the station is in different location now.  But it's definitely an historic moment.

The station closed by BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) was not well used; Norton Fitzwarren was a much smaller village back then.  My aunt and uncle lived there.  I don't suppose it would have occured to them to go to Taunton on the train; he had a three-wheeler for that (A Reliant, I think, with a canvas top).  I was told in the 1970s by a railwayman who had worked around Taunton for many years, that a big part of the reason for closure was the operating inconvenience of trains calling there, when both Main and Relief lines were so busy; it slowed the junction working quite considerably.

[RailCornwall]

Thanks for the comments. I'll be sorting a trip for 17th August.

[broadgage]

I hope to make at least one return trip from Minehead to Taunton, via WSR services and changing onto GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) at Bishops Lydeard.
Either Saturday 03/08 or Sunday 04/08.

Anyone else coming ? I would be pleased to meet other members on board the WSR service, or at the Plough pub in Taunton, or at the Old Ship Aground pub in Minehead.
My plans are uncertain at present as to time and date.

[grahame]

I hope to make at least one return trip from Minehead to Taunton, via WSR services and changing onto GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) at Bishops Lydeard.
Either Saturday 03/08 or Sunday 04/08.

Anyone else coming ? I would be pleased to meet other members on board the WSR service, or at the Plough pub in Taunton, or at the Old Ship Aground pub in Minehead.
My plans are uncertain at present as to time and date.

My weekend schedule

Saturday 3rd
09:30 - 10:15 - welcome "Melksham Remembers" group for meeting at "Well House Collection"
10:45 - 11:30 - attend official launch of Melksham Splashpad
19:00 - 21:00 - Informal meeting of the Bowerhill Villager team at the Refa

Sunday 4th
09:30 - leave home for station
09:50 - 10:05 - travel Melksham to Taunton on train, observe loading and how many transfer towards Weymouth
10:25 - 10:58 - train Westbury to Taunton
Taxi to Norton Fitzwarren (don't think the shuttle runs on Sunday??)
12:00 - 14:00 - stand duty for Railfuture, Severnside Branch at West Somerset Steam Fayre
15:00 - 17:00 - stand duty for Railfuture, Severnside Branch at West Somerset Steam Fayre
Taxi or lift to Taunton Station
17:23 - 18:03 - train Taunton to Westbury
18:45 - 19:00 - train Westbury to Melksham
19:15 home.
Last three items may vary - 17:41 train change at Bath Spa and Trowbridge , 19:56 at Melksham
This variation to be applied if any one of
* I miss the 17:23
* I stop for a very quick pint / natter
* There is a massive crowd in the morning headed for Weymouth and I want to see if they had a good day

Well - you did ask about other people's plans!!

[PhilWakely]

I took advantage of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) service after lunch today (breaking my journey home from Reading to Exeter). The journeys were packed as far as Norton Fitzwarren, but thinned out beyond in both directions. Apparently, a journey to Norton Fitzwarren for the steam fayre was FREE from either direction. I am sure that somebody has missed a trick here, given that the cost of the whole season operation is in the region of £160,000.

Also, it will be interesting to see what the patronage is like in future weeks when the steam fayre is not there.

[grahame]

My weekend schedule

[snip]

18:45 - 19:00 - train Westbury to Melksham
19:15 home.

Looks like me up the Swanee ...

Sun, 4 August 18:45 Westbury to Swindon due 19:27
04/08/19 18:45 Westbury to Swindon due 19:27 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Additional Information
Customers should use the next service the 19:41 from Westbury which calls at Trowbridge (19:46), Melksham (19:57), Chippenham (20:08) and Swindon (20:33).

[JayMac]

It'll also be interesting to see the outcome of next week's WSR Extraordinary General Meeting (10th August 2019). The company accounts are also late.

Bridgwater & West Somerset MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Ian Liddell-Grainger has raised concerns about WSR's finances.

WSR's chairman was interviewed by BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Points West on Friday 2nd August. I personally wasn't convinced by his responses to questions about the WSR's finances and why the accounts are late.

[TonyK]

Hm. Late accounts is not usually a good sign. Here's hoping it is a mere administrative slip.