Station Masters Jottings
Well summer is firmly upon us and the railway continues to be
busy with a steam train service still running. The news would
have us believe that all is doom and gloom and the Western
Morning press headlines of the 21st June concerning the railway was no exception.
However the railway is still running a normal timetable albeit with
limited steam locos being available and diesels substituting where steam
power is unavailable. This has always been a condition of carriage on railways
as long as I have been involved with them and that is some 45 years.
Railway companies had the right to substitute or cancel trains at short notice.
Fortunately for us it very rarely happens.
Unfortunately it has happened and is over a much longer period than the railway
would have liked. What has happened and why? Well after having the
track inspected with up-to-date technology, work was put in hand to bring the
track up to a modern standard, and renew the life of the rails by ten years.
This involved as, I wrote in a previous Triangle, having the surface of the rails
along the line re-profiled, by grinding the rails. This appears to have left a
sharp edge on the inside of the rails, rather than a bevelled edge, and consequently
over a period of time, where steam-hauled trains have gone around
the curves, especially the sharper curves, a groove has been cut into flanges
of the loco wheels. This, if left unchecked, could result in the flanges being
grooved enough for them to allow the wheels to ride the rail on the curves,
with the possibility of derailment. The railway, following checks on a regular
basis, prudently made the decision to withdraw those locos affected, to save
further damage and remove the risk of derailment, however small this may
have been. What is being done to the track—well hand re-profiling on the bevel of the
track, using grinding machines, has taken place over a large length of the
line, especially those curved parts thought to be causing most of the damage
to the loco flanges. Two new rail greasers have been purchased, and
the existing greasers spread out to give a more uniform greasing on the
inside edges of the rail on curves. In future all locos will be fitted with their
own flange lubricators. The steel rail is harder than the locomotive steel
tyres, hence the wear is on the loco flange and not the rail.
This is not a new issue, the GWR and British Rail restricted the type of locomotives
that could operate on this line and locos with 4-wheeled bogies,
such as the Manor Class were banned. That’s why we need the turntable
and triangle on either end of the line, since all tender engines should be
turned to run chimney first. Locomotives like the Prairie Tanks running on
the line need to be turned infrequently, because the pony truck steers these
locos around the curves, although they too have been affected this time.
A statement has now been issued, by the West Somerset Railway, on the
matter and, as I write these notes, unfortunately diesel locos will continue to
cover until the start of the gold timetable, in mid-July. It is hoped that the
two locos at Williton, under restoration, will be used to assist covering the
railways shortage of serviceable steam locos, for the remainder of the season,
or until our locos come back into service. Meanwhile back at the station,
in late June and early July, we planted up the flowerbeds and extended
the rockery flower bed down the drive to the station, and I have to
say that this is the best state I have seen the gardens in. My thanks to Clive
Goddard and Arthur Ridler for their effort and assistance in achieving such
a wonderful display.
Susan Kaufman, the Railway Associations Manager, is settling in and we
hope to see the fruits of her efforts to bring the Association a new lease of
life. New Chairman, Robin White, with the assistance of Susan, will be
steering the Association forward.
Plans for this years Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally, to be held on
the Association land, over the weekend of the 2nd—3rd August are going
well. The event opens from 10am – 5pm daily, there will be a bus shuttle
service to and from the event, also a Severn Coast Express train, in the
evening, on Saturday, to Minehead and return, as in previous years. Any
enquiries regarding this event should be made via the Association office on
platform 1 at Bishops Lydeard Station or on 01823 433856 or email
wsra@btconnect.com.
The Station Master, Ken Davidge, has indicated that he will be taking over
these jottings at some stage in the future. So I take this opportunity to thank
you for all your favourable comments on the articles I have written for Triangle.
I have tried to be factual, informative and truthful and long may this be the case. Change is always with us, no two days are the same and even running
a heritage-tourist railway things change due to accidents, incidents or
changes to legislation. This in turn forces more requirements on the railway,
which have to be met or the railway would be deemed non—compliant and
would have to stop trading. I am thankful that we are able to comply and enjoy
the railway and countryside that it runs through, with the copper-capped
chimneyed engines plying the line to the sea.
Long may it continue, as I see lots of happy people enjoying the ambience of
it all and recalling happy memories of going to school or on holiday, by train.
My thanks to all of the people in the locality who support and volunteer for the
railway; it is thanks to people like you that the railway survives. May I wish all
readers a happy, healthy summer, enjoy your holidays, whether at home or
away, may it be a time of rest and relaxation.
Ian Aldridge Ex-Station Master.