West Somerset Railway General Discussion

OK at Stogumber provided you don't mind a 20 minute uphill walk, but a bit difficult at Crowcombe as the village and pub are more than two miles from the station.

 

Changing the subject, just taken from the Blue Anchor web cam how lovely is that sunset !!!

Courtesy of: wsr.org.uk , wssrt & railcam

 

Steve (WSR Wizard) seems to have countered his argument I feel in his post. Subsequent posts seem to have little relevance to mine and the previous posts about the heritage policies of the railway. The value for money tack has little to do with the plans, strategies and policies - or lack of - discussed. However I realize there are sensitivities where the WSR is concerned.

 

The White Horse Inn at Stogumber serves the most excellent, made on the premises, steak and kidney puddings made with real suet. They are not served every day so phone ahead to check stock availablity. They are a favourite o a certain Ms White.

 

Still in Somerset, lovely loco. Always welcome back at Yeovil Junction at the Railway Centre.

 

Sounds like a real treat , if I have time I may pay a visit during my forth coming venture onto the WSR , or do you think I should make time Yorkshireman ?

 

The recent discussions wrt Heritage, the balance between commercial realities and the protection/maintainance of our inheritance have been I believe thought provoking. The requirement to focus on infrastructure rather more than motive power ( despite my personal enthusiasms) is IMHO a given. The thought also that it is relatively easy to repaint a loco, much more difficult to rebuild an inappropriately built/designed structure is particularly germane.

(I think by the way that whilst our length of line leads to greater interest, the very length and particularly the number of stations may have made for a greater challenge in terms of establishing a coherent Heritage strategy. We do not for instance have the simple option of one Terminal station in BR guise, one in 'Big Four' and one or two intermittent stations in pre 1923. )

I believe the WSR does, indeed as someone has said, require a firm and considered Heritage policy/statement. There are big questions to be answered. We generally (as I understand the position) aim to replicate a 1950s busy seaside ex GWR West Country branch line. Should this approach apply to nine of our stations (I am assuming that Washford retains its S&DJt persona, 1950s SR ?) or should we emulate other Heritage Railways and showcase the three phases of 20th Century steam operation ? ( Not forgetting that the WSR has via DEPG an impressive collection, particularly 'Hydraulics' of diesel locos)

Any policy requires many interested parties to be consulted and then for them enthusiastically to buy in to said policy. The concept of 'Cabinet' responsibility may not have been entirely supported by many of the WSR diaspora over recent years ( I suspect a similar comment could be made with regard to many other Heritage Railways ). The length of line and numbers of stations has probably significantly heightened the challenge. ( but I personally would definitely rather have the 22.5 miles and the challenge it represents than not.)

IMHO we need a Heritage Committee that reflects the many interested bodies. I think this potentially could lead to a rather large (even unwieldy) Committee. However can the stations (via their regular Statiommasters meetings) produce a single voice?. If so then the Heritage Committee could consist of a representative from the Stations, the Plc, WSRA, WSSRT, DEPG and S&DJt. They might then co-opt two persons as advisers. I have always believed meetings go downhill as the numbers exceed two but despite any reservations, six plus two specialist advisers probably represents a pragmatic approach.

The brief is easy to state, more difficult to deliver ie from appropriate use of the written and spoken word to the design of buildings, from Buffet cutlery to carriage livery etc . All of this whilst remembering that the passenger will inevitably always be 'King'. 'Cash is King'; the passenger is, and likely to remain our prime revenue source. But even should large sums of money come pouring in, from as yet not seen benefactors, then Heritage still surely would require busy vibrant trains ?

Michael Rowe

 

Well I do on occasions. You will not be disappointed.

 

That is definitely a point worth repeating. I agree with those that say 22.5 miles does make things harder. That's not the same as saying it makes things worse, just folk need to accept it makes things more of a challenge and bear it in mind.

Your mention of a heritage committee with representatives from all interested groups seems sensible, but highlights one of the disadvantages of having such a fragmented railway. Even if you're on the same page, the number of committees, representatives and meetings goes up rapidly, and I'm in full agreement with you that the usefulness of meetings goes down the more people you have in them! But I accept that changing that will be much harder than replacing some signs in the short run. Oh, and just to ward off being shouted down about a particular aspect, I'm not, and have never suggested scrapping station groups - the way the stations are kept on the WSR are by far the best thing about it.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

Recieved my new West Somerset Railway poster in the mail today, ordered from the shop in Minehead. A little bit of Somerset to enjoy up here in Yorkshire, along with the webcams.

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #113

Dunster Booking Office 1966 / 2017

The ticket rack may be in a different place and there may be some new technology in use but the scene is very much the same.

1966


2017

 

Grumpy lot aren't they!

I do hope the clock meets with universal approval....

 

Are the Edmondson tickets still the 'proper' ticket and means of accounting or has the West Somerset followed so many heritage railways down the 'the card ticket is for show, the real ticket is computer produced' route?

Steven

 

The Edmondson tickets are still the only tickets for pay-on-the-day passengers from all stations, tickets bought on the train from TTIs are printed out from the Tikkitek machines. Tickets bought in advance are print-at-home or display-on-your-phone varieties.

 

Thanks Ian - very interesting.

Do you still have the gentleman who collates takings and passenger information, including the weather on a particular day? I was shown one of your regular reports a few years back, which prompted me to ask for a note to be made of the weather on the Daily takings spreadsheet, much to the then Finance Controller's amusement!

Steven

 

Not directly relevant, but I've often wondered why no-one has thought to combine the 'best of both worlds' by replacing the overprinted serial number on an Edmonson type ticket with a computer readable bar code generated and printed at the ticket office. Knocking out a barcode is almost instantaneous nowadays and the traditional pillar thing wot goes 'ker-chunk' (sorry 'bout the technical terminology) could be represented by a print head designed for the job, which looks just like the thing wot goes 'ker-chunk' (and could very easily be made to sound like it too). Dunno if anyone considers it might be worth looking at as one of those 'ambience' intangibles.

I'd also stop any unscrupulous types passing off current issues to the gullible as rarities!

 

Looks good , I might get one to remind me of Somerset here in the Irish Sea .

 

[QUOTiE="Copper-capped, post: 1970931, member: 27631"]Grumpy lot aren't they!

I do hope the clock meets with universal approval....[/QUOTE]

On the I.O.M. where they have what must be the grandest of all ' heritage ' railway stations let alone narrow gauge railway stations they used to use Edmondson type tickets they now issue a paper till receipt , impressed not .The station has been ' modernised' and what a mess the have made INMHO , ok from the outside but inside dreadful . Long live black & white .

 

Did anyone notice the notice?