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

My oversight, as I do consider the GWSR to be a major player - a splendid line and one that should be hugely proud of what it has and is achieving. My apologies for the oversight - the GWSR is actually the line I have visited most frequently in the past couple of years and I am seriously impressed by it.

Steven

 

8/3.pi.r.r.r I'm obviously wasting my breath on someone who has no understanding of how boards work

 

If these staff costs are mainly at Williton, working on restoration contracts...then there should be some profit attributable to such contracts in excess of those staff costs. If that results in a positive contribution to income that's fine... but how is a loss of > £50k explained? I don't see that £3/4 million turnover helps the WSR at all... it simply sustains the WSRA, even if it means depleting reserves.
Robin L.

 

Every director should have an appreciation of finance, be able to recognise a financial hole when they see one and be savvy enough to take ideas through to delivery. Not so long ago, I proposed (for at least the third time) that both shops should stock items that volunteers were buying in the high street. I cited the NYMR operation as an example of where this was working successfully. I was told to set up a separate commercial operation.

For the record, Ringo was the second best drummer in the Beatles. The more talented drummer was already playing bass.

 

A quick look at the WSRA accounts shows that the Charity has actually generated cash - the loss is down to the book entry writing down Fixed Assets - Depreciation. Normally, when looking at anything to do with preserved railways, Capital Expenditure in any given year is at least the same if not more than Depreciation, which is effectively the Profit & Loss write down of past expenditure. For the WSRA, this hasn't been the case - I suspect all part of the consolidation the Trustees are undertaking after past problems.

Again, you seem to start from the point that the only way that the West Somerset Railway benefits from anything is if money is given to the WSRplc. A Charity could, of course, only give for specified reasons, which either means a request from the recipient or a suggestion from the donor to which the recipient agrees - in both cases, with suitable conditions to protect the gift. Have any such requests been made/received?

The WSRA has raised £27k for the Locomotive Restoration Fund, which covers both the WSRA locomotives and WSRplc's 4110. The fact that much of this hasn't been spent doesn't mean that this won't 'benefit' the West Somerset Railway when it is (assuming it is spent wisely, of course!). The WSRA trading subsidiary has provided retail and catering services at BL, and the stock for the now WSRplc operation of the QB - yes, the financial benefit has been to WSRA but passengers and other customers of the West Somerset Railway have enjoyed the use of these facilities and, again, to say the there has been no benefit to the West Somerset Railway is effectively to state that the WSRA is NOT PART of the West Somerset Railway!

No wonder the Ex-6's policies and line were accepted by so many of their members for so long! And no wonder the West Somerset Railway faces such challenges as it seems to when its 'limbs' are so parochial!

(And we still have heard nothing to confirm that Ian's removal as Chairman wasn't in some way linked to his desire for 'One Railway' - the reasons that have been hinted at - speaking to the WSRA Officers and/or rejecting another Director's - not surprisingly unspecified - plans for tackling the challenges facing the Railway - at best seem very much based on personalities or grudges rather than a Board's legal duty to promote the success of the Company!)

Steven

 

Good point!

 

When you do look at this situation, you must wonder how will this all end up, one railway, but separate organisations, all with their own interests/ agendas, multiple organisational boards, no wonder there seems to be conflict , its as if its been set up to ensure confrontation , PLC WSRA, Station Groups,, Diesel Traction Group , Friends of Groups, whilst they might be like minded , the structure has so many conflicting areas, one thing for sure, if starting from afresh, you would seek to have a unified structure.

 

I have argued that both shops should have a common buying policy and there should be a high street element , but not a big one, and stock things that people who come to the Railway would expect to buy. To do that you need to do some research.

Some long time ago I raised the question of the Railway magazines which I normally buy at W H Smiths or similar every month and were out of stock on almost every time I wanted to buy them at Minehead. I now no longer bother with the shop! Something is wrong here but no amount of persuasion made them address the situation, not even to get more copies of Steam Railway which had sold out days after publication!. I know that WHS return excess stock at the end of the month and the WSR should be able to secure the same terms. There is even a case of holding back copies of old issues as I for one sometimes miss them and want to buy out of date issues.

I wonder how long it will be before both shops are under the same management?

 

Part and parcel of being a Responsible Board Director as Ken D will tell you!

 

Both the SVR and GWR have had major Banks Slips something I suggest that would almost certainly terminate the WSR as we wobble at the sniff of anything like it.

Don't forget the GWR had the double whammy of two Landslips and a completely bare track bed to rebuild and have come through to run 14 wonderful albeit flat 14 miles of railway

 

Let’s also not forget that the WSRA has fund raised a package worth circa £65k for 3 full time Engineering Trainee’s funded for a year via BESTT/HLF funding (my thanks to both organisations). This project is a WSRA/PLC joint effort with both sides working very, very closely together in the last few months in the run up to the start date just over 4 weeks ago.

This has resulted in 3 full time employees who will be helping the hard pressed Minehead team finish Odney and 9351, they could be involved with 44422, the start of 4110’s restoration once a plan is in place and also are helping out on a number of other things which we have been talking about internally. This project fully supported by both Boards, trains Engineers for the future, gives some local people a chance to learn and gain new skills and helps the WSR work toward reducing engine hire fees/costs next year. A great one railway project enabled by all working together.

Overall, whilst it’s not perfect and a few people make issues and we all have a way to go its far, far better than is being made out on here on occasions and far better than it was a couple of years ago. I speak as one working with both Boards on a number of things including this, so its no idle speculation on my part.

Additionally nobody has mentioned the £40k raised by the Steam Trust for the WSR recently either.

 

Perhaps that's the problem at the WSR? I wouldn't want to inflict the infrastructure problems that the SVR and GWSR had on anyone else, but they did have the effect of getting everyone working together with a common goal. The WSR doesn't seem to have any one major project which everyone can get behind, or, if it does, it's not being promoted as such.

 

I think you have a very valid point.

One of the things I have perceived regarding the WSR is a total lack of ambition - even the Williton loop extension was treated as a bit of a damp squib.

I would love to see the Kentsford Loop reinstated - much needed on Gala days and would be useful if there are more incoming rail tours or through trains

But it doesn't even feature on the wish list - in fact the forward plan is boring in the extreme!

 

The most recent serious slip on the SVR, at County Boundary, was I understand covered by the railway's insurers. Presumably the WSR has a similar policy in place?

 

Sorry to say that you are so wrong. The only serious dispute with the various groups that I am aware of was that with the Association. Generally speaking the others work harmoniously together and with the PLC Occasionally differences occur but are usually resovled without too much problem. o. The benefit is that the separate groups can do their own thing and specialise.

 

I hope the WSR is actually insured for slips or are they relying on the Landlord for coverage and rectification?

 

Interesting this one as the more people involved either in Groups or as individuals the more difficult it is to Identify and Apply Responsibility.

Very easy for people to hide in the fog and thereby avoid responsibility. I hope that there will a time shortly when we see Identified Targets and Ambitions Implemented along with suitable Accountability especially among Paid Employees

 

Beware targets taking priority over getting the actual job done, as happens all too often in some organisations. After I retired I used to say, not entirely in jest, that we had been heading for a state where we would be expected to spend the morning planning the day's work and the afternoon accounting for it.

 

Sorry to say that you are so wrong. The only serious dispute with the various groups was that with the Association. Generally speaking the others work harmoniously together and with the PLC Occasinnally disfferences occur but are usually resovled without too much problem. o. The benefit is that the separate groups ca\n do their own thing and spoecialise.