West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Thanks,

What was the 33 doing?

 

Test running between BL and NF

Ian R

 

Much of what you say has Merit. I'll just point out two things:
Team spirit is born out of mutual trust and shared objectives.
Increasing the salary bill of a largely volunteer organisation is never going to be an easy sell. Particularly to those who spend 8-10 hours doing heavy physical work in all winds and weathers for the love of the railway.
There are many styles of leadership which is, you will agree, an essential skill for the directors but I suspect on a Heritiage railway a dose of what our American friends would call "asses and elbows" will be pretty essential as well for anybody who seeks a seat on the board.

 

A 'Diane Abbot' moment, Mike? That looks like three points! But I agree with you on all counts.

We forget at our peril that the heritage railway business model is to sell volunteer labour to the public. A rising wage bill against static business activity would be a combination that should raise questions about the quality of management of such a business.

Robin

 

I would add "Enthusiasm" to this list with perhaps the most important aspect being careful oversight by the Members/Shareholders, rather than the apathy that existed during the time of WSRA troubles.

 

Geoff, I agree. My comments about skills and experience are necessary but not sufficient for success. You are right to add enthusiasm. I would add vision and communication skills (and a desire to communicate - not necessarily the same thing) to the list.

Are we now looking for impossible paragons of virtue, I wonder? We must let folk be a bit fallibly human, but that is where member / shareholder engagement may have a significant role to play, as a 'friendly uncle' to help those who have taken on the task for serving the railway community to remember why we are all here.

And we are surprised the bumblebee can fly?

Robin

 

Nice pictures but even nicer if you included a caption. Thanks.

 

Trust Appeals for help in acquiring Dunster station sign.



The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust, the heritage and educational Trust associated with the West Somerset Railway is seeking donations to assist in acquiring an original sign from Dunster station which dates from when the station opened in 1874. It was sold by British Railways to a private collector in 1971 when the line closed but is now being offered at a Railwayana Auction on 3rd March with a sale estimate of £300 to £500.

Trust Chairman Chis Austen said:

‘This is an important original item which the Trust would like to acquire to help with our task of telling the story of the West Somerset Railway.’

Anyone wishing to support the acquisition is asked to contact Trust member Robin Moira White, who is co-ordinating the effort. She can be contacted via e-mail: robin215white@btinternet.com or by telephone 01984 656 423. Please do not send your donation yet but pledge the sum you can offer and you will be called upon after the auction. Please also tell Robin if you are a UK taxpayer, as then 25% gift aid can be claimed from the government on your donation.

 

Why cannot the station sign be bought for Dunster station?

 

The most efficient way for the Railway family to acquire this is for the Trust to take the lead.

How it is then to be be displayed or used, whether on the Station or elsewhere, will then be a matter for the WSSRT Trustees, but I would be surprised if there was not a conversation with the Dunster Station team.

Alan Bond, the Dunster Station Master, was consulted on the proposed approach before the Trustees considered it last Thursday.

Robin

 

West Somerset Railway Military Train runs into inspection problems at the Russian border... Minsk, does the sign say?

See you all at the WSR 40’s weekend 15/16 September

 

Were there lots of Red Army in rural Somerset during World War II?

Tom

 

Not many Tom, I’m sure. The challenge is to come up with a suitable ‘what if’.

Mind you, the Bluebell has doubled as France (Charlotte Grey), Yorkshire (Downton), and s host of others ... and Minehead was Waterloo once in the past.

Robin

 

They balance numbers with all the German troops, Tom.

 

A celebrated sign-writer wandered through the Minehead mess room on Saturday carrying her brushes and a small platform. "It's Olga from the Volga ! I see you brought the Steppes." quipped one of the cleaning gang.

Ok, I guess you had to be there.

 

I laughed.

Before this discussion gets, in any way 'out of hand', the organisers have wisely ruled that there will be no Axis troops of any kind (whether Prisoners of War or otherwise) at the events in March or September. The attempt is to portray wartime Somerset. I detected an ambiguity in what they had said and, as I had been asked to bring 'Stan' my 1938 Standard 9 along, and I have something of an Eastern European connection, it was fun to bring 'Olga' along and Andy and Robin Wichard played along, generating some fun photographs, I think. Russian Infantry Leytenant 1944, for anyone who is interested. I doubt that she will make an appearance in September apart from 2000 feet and above...

Robin

 

A wise decision - most of the complaints about wartime weekends on other railways have stemmed in one way or another from allowing this; we don't do it either. Although the school evacuation experience does feature catching a German spy which is popular!

 

Agreed. I'm not a fan of the recreations, and am positively repelled by those that do permit Axis recreations - whether derived from 'Allo, 'Allo, or just "what if" scenarios.

 

The few 'wartime re-creations' that I have seen and the photographs of others do tend to show an imbalance of officers compared to other ranks.