West Somerset Railway General Discussion

You might - but I was visiting in 1995 & 1996. The point about the walk remains - and I was far more prone to walk then than today!

 

Do I get the impression that the Volunteers and the staff PW gangs work independently of each other?
Or is that a mistaken impression?

 

Accurate.

 

I'm sorry, but that reads to me as "What the WSR is doing at the moment isn't working financially, but it it is important that we continue doing it, and not let ourselves be distracted by other courses of action".

 

Parkinson's Law?

 

My understanding is that the Infrastucture Manager plans all PW work. The volunteer gang often work as a volunteer-only gang although sometimes they are joined by Plc staff, especially if lifting by machine is required. But they are asked to assist the Plc gang from time to time.

Steve

 

Why not?

Frank

 

Maybe there's a way to kill two birds with one stone here - have the WSRA raise funds (getting the charitable tax relief by using that channel), and then use the money to buy PLC shares (giving the latter funds for infrastructure work). Or do the official goals/terms of the WSRA prevent that sort of thing?

Noel

 

Not to mention also having a much better safety aspect. What are the three most common accidents? Slips, Trips and Falls. I wonder what the likelihood of any of those happening in that yard might be? Might be time for a workplace risk assessment...

EDIT: As I've read down I see @michaelh beat me to the safety aspect...

 

They appear to be quite serious and are raising money for a feasibility study. More than be said for some other hare brained schemes like the MH to TA commuter link. A common factor of all these schemes big and small, seldom mention the probable cost. They just assume someone else will pay. A high woof, woof, woof factor.

 

I think you will find that the charities legislation make this problematic. Maybe Robin will give a definitive answer?

 

'Dunster Goods' - open by March 2019

So how could this be achieved (and the permanent way in more appropriate accommodation)? Well, I'm sure this would need to be tweaked, but something like:


Jan 2018 Establish project team under suitable WSR plc Director


By: April 2018

Identify suitable alternative site for P.Way base (likely Norton) and achieve 'buy-in' to scheme by WSR plc Board, WSRA Board, Rally Committee, WSSRT.

(from this time on commence removal / disposal of materials at Dunster, where appropriate to new site)


May to August 2018

(1) Plan new facilties at 'Norton' including 'mess room / shower' portacabin and 'office' portacabin. N.B. close involvement with Rally Committee to ensure that facilties can be dual used as fixed base for Rally (week before / week after Rally) in future years.

(2) promote overall scheme.


August 2018

Rally profit 'hypothecated' to new facilities at Norton.

Donations also sought - as part of overall 'Dunster Goods' theme - via appropriate charitable body. WSRA? WSSRT?



September / October / November 2018

Install / commission new facilities at Norton


December 2018

Permanent Way move into new facilities before Jan/ Feb work period


Jan / Feb 2019

(1) Final site clearance at Dunster,

(2) Further phases; cattle dock, goods shed refurb, goods office refurb, individual vehicles, audio guide, restoration facilities identified and project plan refined.


March 2019

(1) 'Dunster Goods' Phase 1 to open for March Gala 2019 using targeted goods vehicles, horse shunting etc.


2019 Season

Open daily, if only by way of leaflet guide collected from Dunster station, and initial vehicles opened by station staff as part of opening up.

Project manned on all high season and other significant days. Events, e.g., horse shunting, on targeted days.


Or something like that....

 

It is hard / impossible to justify that in terms of the charitable objects of the WSRA.

Robin

 

WSR plc Website - loco pages

Thank you for the assistance with the 9351 text.

Here is the proposed entry for 6960,

Comments gratefully received.

Robin

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #126

Washford 1937 / 2017

So as we step onto the platform and look east towards Watchet, the view includes the Railway Hotel to the right a prairie and a handsome signal in 1937. The tablet exchanging apparatus is also present.

The 2017 view is a little barer.

1937


2017

 

Thank you Robin.

 

All very well but how about some provisional costings? Without knowing them how can an informed decision be made?

 

Of course you could have an appeal, that's the way it usually works, want something done, hope others will pay for it.

 

I do have provisional costings for all stages (remember, my Dad was a Quantity Surveyor) but it would not be appropriate to 'go public' with them without proper discussion with the users, land owner, lesse, Rally committee etc. Suffice to say that it would be a fraction of the costs expended on ' Blackmore Housr at Bishops Lydeard and I have some sponsorship ideas to further reduce the costs.

Experience in Railway heritage is that if you have an attractive, well managed heritage project, funding is not the problem.

To make this work, we would need 'buy-in' from all aspects, departments and functions of the Railway. It would produce tangible benefits over a relatively short timescale in a number of areas at a fraction of the vist of, for example, a locomotive restoration. It would help dispel the negative perceptions that some parts of the Railway have accreted. And set a tone for future fundraising / projects.

I hesitate to use the phrase, knowing that Jeff Price is reading this, but:

Win - win - win - win?

Robin

 

Just not good enough. Supporters need to know if it is realistic, pie in the sky or something in between. Compare it with the MH to TA commuter route. Lots of ideas but when asked about funding there is no answer. Likewise the Parknglide scheme. Without some indication of the likely funding, and the source thereof along with the costs,, no scheme has any credibility, regardless of how sincere the proponents of it may be. I would be happy to support a credible scheme but at the moment it is not.