brianusa Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Great pictures, pity about the weather. What is the story on Dumbleton Hall these days? I thought the loop at Williton was to be extended under the bridge which has not happened yet. Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted August 26, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2015 You are correct about Williton. The steelwork over the stream is in place, I think they are waiting for the end of the summer season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted August 26, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2015 What is the story on Dumbleton Hall these days? Brian. Quick summary from here - awaiting overhaul, but would be able to run on the SDR once done as the line has been strengthened in recent years (which presumably fortunately allowed Union of South Africa to be taken to Buckfastleigh following it's failure last week). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted August 28, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 28, 2015 Day 2 - Part 4. We arrived at Dunster and wandered down the platform towards the level crossing. Alongside the main line, at the end of the siding were a few ballast wagons, which I'd been asked to photograph for Mallard60022. As you can probably tell, cats and dogs was about right for the state of the weather. However, this was a far more important photograph for him. Back on the platform I took a few shots of the goods shed and associated platform. We then caught the next train back to Minehead, this time pulled by Odney Manor. She was then returned to the Up end of the train... and pulled us all the way back to Bishop's Lydeard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted August 28, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 28, 2015 Day 2 - Part 5. At Bishop's Lydeard, Odney Manor was again prepared for the return to Minehead. We again got off at Williton, this time to catch the next train back to Bishop's Lydeard, as our final trip of the day, which was once again pulled by Raveningham Hall. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted August 28, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 28, 2015 West Somerset Railway - Rolling stock As might be expected, the WSR has a large amount of rolling stock, dotted about at the various stations. And, of course , some locos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted August 28, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 28, 2015 Don't forget to pop into Buffers near Axminster as well, and if you're going to do the Seaton Tramway I can highly recommend "Frydays", the fish and chip shop just up the road. Thers' a good one in Chard as well!! Cheers, P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted August 28, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 28, 2015 Thanks Stubby. It does look wet some of the time mate. I really appreciate the milky pic and those Dogfish pics; very useful for my 'fleet'. I should think you also got lots of inspiration from the GWR flavour of things; that fence for example . Hope the lad enjoyed his time too (apart from getting drenched of course!) The WSR is now on my faves list having been there a few months back as you know. Great Railway. Slightly OT I hear elsewhere that the Midland Railway at Butterley is suffering hard times; quite a difference in situations of course. P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted August 28, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 28, 2015 West Somerset Railway - Lineside Structures and other things Crowcombe Williton Huts Equipment Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted August 28, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 28, 2015 Crowcombe and Heathfield. I want to live there now and I want to own that station. When I was passing there, there seemed to be a tea party happening for the staff on the platform. All very professional, smart uniforms, and so relaxed once dealing with any train or passengers/visitors was done with. Reminded me a bit of Kingscote on the Bluebell when it was the northern 'end of the line' and I was volunteering there. Bishops Lyd would be the Sheffield Park comparison; far too busy and full of tourists from Coach parties! P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted August 28, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 28, 2015 Day 3 - Seaton Junction Station I have to repeat a big thanks is due to Graham (Devonseasider) for his invaluable assistance on gaining access to the site. The Station building is in a poor state, overgrown and unkempt, but the original grandeur can still be seen. The dairy offices have also seen better days. Various buildings that once formed the dairy are still in use, but the egg packing plant and offices have been left abandoned by several tenants. The platform is overgrown, though again here there are signs of what once was elegant and functional. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham456 Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 Crowcombe and Heathfield. I want to live there now and I want to own that station. When I was passing there, there seemed to be a tea party happening for the staff on the platform. All very professional, smart uniforms, and so relaxed once dealing with any train or passengers/visitors was done with. Reminded me a bit of Kingscote on the Bluebell when it was the northern 'end of the line' and I was volunteering there. Bishops Lyd would be the Sheffield Park comparison; far too busy and full of tourists from Coach parties! P Yep tea party is a good description , my wife and I join in during the afternoon quite often haveing sorted out the guests and there rooms it is very relaxing watching the trains go by supping a cuppa with a bit of cake (all for just a donation) and nattering about life, trains, CUSTomers, why people go else where and pay a fortune for tea when you can while away a sunny afternoon in pleasant company I don't know, call in even if you don't have time to travel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 Seaton locks a desolate spot. Too bad there are no 'Friends of Seaton station'! Is there no community interest as it does not project a good image of pride in the town and vicinity. Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 It's not Seaton, it's Seaton Junction and there isn't really any vicinity. Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 It's not Seaton, it's Seaton Junction and there isn't really any vicinity. It's half way between Whitford and Shute, and the Lyme Bay Winery is just down the road. Plenty to do (if you're a farmer...) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted August 28, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 28, 2015 Seaton locks a desolate spot. Too bad there are no 'Friends of Seaton station'! Is there no community interest as it does not project a good image of pride in the town and vicinity. Brian. Seaton Junction was created by the railway. It was a convenient place for the Seaton Branch to start. There may well have been a hamlet there, certainly a farm nearby. There are few dwellings even now. I believe it was originally Colyton (village only a mile or so down the road) but I don't have my reference stuff to hand at the moment; just look at Wickedpeedial for the info. But, you were not far off the mark as poor old Seaton is also a bit run down where the rather nice Station used to be. Other parts of the town are quite nice but not as lovely as Sidmouth. P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted August 28, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 28, 2015 Just as an 'aside' I reckon there were few passengers actually originating from Seaton Junction itself. It was a summer holiday season, change for Seaton (and return) place and a Seaton passengers changing for Honiton, Exeter or possibly Axminster and return during the rest of the year (School, market, shopping etc. as for elsewhere in rural railway communities until the late 50s). Axminster was by far the busier station, especially in the summer as was Honiton (not busier in the summer as ther was no branch), both serving quite large towns. Sidmouth Junction was similar to Seaton Junction passenger use wise AFAIK. P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 It's not Seaton, it's Seaton Junction and there isn't really any vicinity. Ed OK, Seaton Junction then. Its still looks terrible! Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 OK, Seaton Junction then. Its still looks terrible! So would you if you'd been abandoned and mostly uncared for, for 40 years! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted August 29, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 29, 2015 Some years ago there were moves made - whether formally or just "testing the waters" I know not - to establish whether there would be anything gained in extending the tramway to Seaton Junction and connecting with the trains. Rail track as it then was would have been responsible for the required main line infrastructure alterations which would not come cheap; at the least they suggested a fully-signalled loop with a new signalling block and signals to control it. And a new platform on the southern side one face of which would have been used by SWT and the other by the trams. It is not possible apparently to slew the single existing line across nor was it considered suitable to build a platform to serve it in situ. South West Trains also indicated they would not be willing to stop their trains there citing absence of traffic potential. Aside from the better days of the summer season there really isn't much potential at all. Even the local bus, which only runs four times a day between Seaton and the Junction (and ends up also being the "rail replacement" Hemyock - Taunton service) typically carries single-digit passenger numbers and more often no-one over this stretch. It's a shame that "joined up thinking" isn't applied but at what cost would such a link come? It was little-used in SR / BR days outside of the summer peak, the novelty of a tram ride isn't all that attractive to a lot of people, the tramway does't run all year anyway and despite the rather narrow roads in the area most outbound users actually need to be in Axminster not Seaton Junction. There is also an hourly bus to Exeter though it's as quick to drive to Axminster and use the train to Central. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Remember that the trams are scale models and hardly suitable as public transport. Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.