West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Best to keep an eye on www.wsr.org.uk.

There's usually someone around with a camera of some sort when they arrive.

Robin

 

Yes, it's very rare to see one in that sort of condition unless it's in a photo taken in the 1940s or 50s. I can see that carriages need to be kept clean so that visitors' clothes don't get dirty, but is there anything wrong with letting on that yes, back then, things were a lot less clean than they are today. If the WSR wants to recreate the 50's, it should at least try to recreate the 50's as they were, not how people might like them to have been. If that means a lttle less time spent polishing steam locomotives, well, that's a bonus, because that's time that could be spent doing something else. This is a major problem with the "Heritage" industry, it either produces a sanitised version of how things really were or the reverse. You'd think that no-one ever had a dirty or damaged car, bus, lorry, steam locomotive, carriage (railway or road) etc etc. Alternatively you get buildings which would have been just built in the depicted period appearing with hundreds of years of dirt and weathering on them.

 

Which is what we as a group did on the NYMR.
Everything in the attached photo was paid for by York Area Group from the 2 road building to the Tamper on the right.
As far as I am aware the building cost us new approx £75K and is 40 metres in length.
Supplied by a local Industrial / Agricultural building fabricator.
Land was already railway owned.

Funding, easy enough, Since 1973 we have raised all required funds for any project, (not just the shed,) on the NYMR by our recycling efforts, Newspaper, Cardboard, Glass and Metals.
I think we are the largest stock holder of vehicles other than the railway itself.
Most of the vehicles in our care are dedicated to support for the Civil Engineer and the railway PW Dept.

 

But a sanitised version of the past is just what you are selling and the operative words are "sanitised" and "selling". I am no particular fan of Tripadvisor but it does give some picture of what people are looking for. Comments are unlikely to include "grubby" as a term of approval or "clean" as one of disapproval. Similarly, smelly lavatories are unlikely to appear on visitors' wish lists.

PH

 

I disagree with that, but on operational grounds as well as customer perception. Cleaning locomotives is an essential part of keeping a close eye that everything is as it should be - nothing broken, fittings secure etc. Even for a novice cleaner who may initially miss lots of things, starting out as you mean to go on is good training for when they reach the heady heights of driver and such close inspection is an essential part of safe operation. It's true that BR locomotives fell off in cleanliness towards the end of steam: they also fell off in reliability, and I think the two are related.

Beyond that, a clean locomotive is a sign of pride in the job which should be nurtured; and for the crew at least, a clean cab is part of your daily working environment. Would you want to work in a dirty office?

Tom

 

I can see your point, and I can also see that, with the majority of carriages being Mk1s, it would be difficult to aim for a period other than the late 40's and 50s, so perhaps preserved railways are doomed to operating in the "Miss Marple" era for ever.

 

Miss Marple era? In the BBC (i.e, the best version), a WC pacific, numbered 80079, pulls out of "Paddington" with pristine Great Western coaches, just after the lady who gets murdered passes a newspaper hoarding with "Russians in space" on it. Confused? Later, on the SVR, the WC pacific 80079 turns into a standard 4 tank engine, also numbered 80079. Still confused? Not Miss Marple. As usual, she solves the mystery (the murder, I mean).

 

Brilliant to see the western out next weekend's 80 mile run.

 

Very sad to hear of the demise of FOCHS. The webcam is still running.

 

Quite agree. As far as I can tell, the Plc will now manage the things that FoCHS once managed. In a letter to former* FoCHS members, the GM said "I would like to reassure you all that the work, time and effort put in by our volunteers to keep our rural station open and welcoming to passengers and visitors alike will continue; the maintenance of the buildings and gardens, plus the provision of the sales and catering services will carry on as usual, resource and funds permitting; it’s just that these activities will be overseen and managed in a different manner" - so we should not see too much change at least, in my humble view, in the short term. BTW the Crowcombe Heathfield webcam can be found on www.railcam.uk and www.wsr.org.uk

Edit: please read "former FoCHS members" as "members of the now-defunct FoCHS". Sorry for any confusion.

Steve

 

Oh Dear, how did that happen?

 

Best not to ask!

 

Can we please not have this 'I know but am not telling you.'

The 'friends' groups on the Railway have done lots of good work, and the Crowcombe group especially so. If there is a problem that needs solving, or a difficulty that might cause a problem for the other stations with active friends groups, can we please know what it is?

Robin

 

Indeed.

If a railway is so insecure that it can't reveal (broad) details about the closure of a support group, then the railway is not exactly open and welcoming. It's more of an 'old boys' club', and as Robin says the attitude of 'I know but am not telling you' is so childish and so reminiscent of the former WSRA Trustees....


Keith

 

If the General Manager has sent out a letter to FOCHS members, I would think it more important to sent out a letter of explanation to all those previous members of FOCHS who put in so much work but because of the circumstances and lack of leadership decided to leave.

For example, at one meeting, (chaired by an existing WSRA trustee) it was seriously suggested that a sign was put up(in public view) in the waiting room telling staff not to gossip amongst themselves! Many members have left due to the attitudes of those who thought the station was simply theirs. Great to see the PLC getting actively involved. I won't mention the goods office.

 

Over the last few months, my attention have been made aware of certain developments but as I was not a member of FoCHS, I feel it would be wrong to provide my (possibly one-sided) view of what led FoCHS to the EGM and its demise. Better that explanation comes from a member of the now-defunct FoCHS and/or the Plc. Happy to discuss offline. I would add a personal view that I'm surprised and disappointed that none of the background issues (which affect all stations) to this sad situation seems to have been discussed at the PDG.

Steve

 

Just for the record I have zero knowledge of the background to the demise of FOCHS. As I said it is probably best not to ask. No more, no less. Perhaps Robin will have the courtesy to retract her comment.

 

So why did you put your post in then with those smiles, as it sounded as if you knew something especially with using those muted smiles, so to me you should retract your comment.

 

Sorry but I fail to see why questions cannot be asked. Is it a station friends group or a secret society? There is no reason why a brief statement cannot be released and why it cannot be discussed on forums such as this.

Keith

 

Some might say that there are reasons why it may not be wise - and matters in West Somerset discussed at length over the last few years just might form part of that point of view. Surely it's no bad thing if there have been ructions to allow them to be sorted out quietly and out of the glare of publicity.