If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

West Somerset Railway - Removal of the PLC Chairman and related matters

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by rodders154, Aug 14, 2018.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,906
    Likes Received:
    3,704
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South Hams
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Maybe the WSR should reflect on the fact that most of Devon and Cornwall was changed from broad to standard gauge in just two days in May, 1892.
    While some progress seems to have been made on infrastructure, little in harmonious relationships within the hierarchy has changed. Even the third paragraph on the PLC Statement echoes Nero's actions at the big fire.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2018
    BrightonBaltic likes this.
  2. Roger Thompson

    Roger Thompson Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2014
    Messages:
    635
    Likes Received:
    1,894
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Warwickshire, formerly Somerset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The real danger is that many other loyal volunteers will do likewise. Less volunteers = less trains = less income.

    Sent from my Lenovo TAB 2 A10-70F using Tapatalk
     
  3. dunghill1

    dunghill1 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    Messages:
    65
    Likes Received:
    61
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    retired
    Location:
    williton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I did not realize Steve Martin was that old. He certainly wears well for what must be his age.
    I have looked quite hard at the drawing he is the only one I recognize.
    I suppose they brought a gang in from Swindon.
    Robin why are you nowhere to be seen
     
  4. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,165
    Did you mean to say "difficult to disagree with"?
     
  5. Jeff Price

    Jeff Price Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2013
    Messages:
    715
    Likes Received:
    1,409
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Yes that's what I meant to say, have amended original post Thanks
     
  6. Bean-counter

    Bean-counter Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2007
    Messages:
    5,844
    Likes Received:
    7,688
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Former NP Member
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    jnc, Trident63, Snifter and 1 other person like this.
  7. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2014
    Messages:
    11,247
    Likes Received:
    17,947
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Barrister
    Location:
    Stogumber
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Being ‘shouty’ and opinionated in the forefront of things is not always the best way to bring positive change.

    But I usually dress in black, so perhaps I am standing just inside the tunnel...!

    Robin
     
    Romsey, Yorkshireman and Trident63 like this.
  8. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2014
    Messages:
    1,628
    Likes Received:
    4,210
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Good to see that the WSSRT have not heeded any "advice" that they ought to be too busy with heritage matters.
     
    Bill Drewett, baldbazza and lochness8 like this.
  9. Trident63

    Trident63 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2013
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    85
    Occupation:
    Yes
    Location:
    Some where in the Bristol Channel...
    Thank You - and we (as a whole group) look forward to working with you.

    NB: Good luck with your part-time role on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. Having spent 15 years in Kent, involved with both the Channel Tunnel and HS1, that looks like a Class1 NIMBY-fight that you have on your hands
     
  10. Trident63

    Trident63 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2013
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    85
    Occupation:
    Yes
    Location:
    Some where in the Bristol Channel...
    Perhaps because some of us watch the machinations of the railway through various sources - this included - and prefer to watch, listen, like where appropriate and learn, over the apparent prefered method of in-fighting. This being only my 17 post in 5 years of membership - amazed at yet another fallout between what appear all to be good people who want the best (perhaps differently envisaged) for the railway - I'll let my record stand
     
    oddsocks likes this.
  11. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2014
    Messages:
    11,247
    Likes Received:
    17,947
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Barrister
    Location:
    Stogumber
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Kind of you to say.

    I have already been able to make a minor contribution to ‘bringing some balance to the force’ in Kent. I have never noticed that the water (or the cider) tastes markedly different in Somerset.

    Robin
     
    Yorkshireman and Trident63 like this.
  12. Trident63

    Trident63 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2013
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    85
    Occupation:
    Yes
    Location:
    Some where in the Bristol Channel...
    Because personally, the root of the current problems go back beyond any current personal individual disputes.

    The debate between is the WSR heritage railway or a tourist railway appears key to the long term strategic spilt - its like the same argument going on again and again. Robin's brave decision to focus on the operational reality/income and hence move forward in an operationally-sustainable direction was strategically right, but perhaps left other issues unresolved - the same issues that create ongoing fisures now (NB: I supported her in that decision, much as I may still lament the lack of a BLT Panier on heritage grounds)

    Personally, a sucessful and fiscally sustainable One Railway plan encompasses both issues into its vision. There are good examples of both happily living side by side within the hertitage railway market - why could they not be mirrored? Why struggle between visions - and have continual conflist - when both are needed to sustain and grow both visistors and entusiast volunteers.
     
  13. Bean-counter

    Bean-counter Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2007
    Messages:
    5,844
    Likes Received:
    7,688
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Former NP Member
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    A railway that values and celebrates its heritage will be an appealing prospect for volunteers and visitors alike and hence has a very good chance of being commercially successful.

    There should be no conflict overall but on individual matters, there is a need for balanced judgments, mutual respect and compromise between those in each 'camp'.

    Steven
     
  14. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2014
    Messages:
    11,247
    Likes Received:
    17,947
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Barrister
    Location:
    Stogumber
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    For the record, I would love to see, and would support, the coming of a large pannier to the line. They were part of the line’s history, and would be suitable in traffic terms.

    One of the opportunities lost amongst the hard choices when the WSR was being born was the opportunity for all the ex-LT panniers to have come to the line.

    But good things come to those who wait (and work quietly to make things happen).

    Robin
     
  15. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,165
    It's a pity there hasn't been a bit more working quietly recently, rather than the public sackings.
     
  16. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2014
    Messages:
    11,247
    Likes Received:
    17,947
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Barrister
    Location:
    Stogumber
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I have no comment beyond the WSRA’s public statement.

    Robin
     
  17. patriarch

    patriarch New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2009
    Messages:
    57
    Likes Received:
    192
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Stourton, Stourbridge
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    " The Board has established a working group ".....hell's bells...when is a plc board NOT a 'working group'.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2018
  18. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Presumably when it's busy sacking chairmen...
     
  19. simon

    simon Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2006
    Messages:
    11,567
    Likes Received:
    5,224
    I'm going to get an update from Dave before commenting.
     
  20. patriarch

    patriarch New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2009
    Messages:
    57
    Likes Received:
    192
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Stourton, Stourbridge
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Plenty of skills in spontaneous sackings, but insufficient skills in filling vacancies....hmmmmm.
     
    BrightonBaltic likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page