West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I think it was virtually agreed between the WSRA and SDR, with both being quite keen. However the WSR has concerns about the track wear the 2-8-0 would cause, which is why it fell through.

Presumably 3850 had caused some track problems while it was there?

 

Can we (and, more importantly, the powers that be in all the various bits of the WSR) please not lose sight of Tom's proposal in post #15830.

 

Some nice “outside the box” thinking. The only drawback I can see from the Plc’s point of view is that a grant for loco restoration is effectively “restricted funds” whereas I guess what the Plc need right now is a fighting general fund to cover all manner of costs such as payroll or winter repairs.

On the other hand there is an interesting possibility, assuming 9351 is top of the list in the core fleet for restoration. Understand from this thread it’s off to Williton for repairs, so would that mean WSRA gives the grant to the Plc for loco repairs and then Plc contracts West Somerset Restorations for the repairs, so the WSRA efffctivley gets the money back....?

Now that’s what I’d call cross railway co-operation....

Regards

Matt

 

That is a bizarre interpretation and quite incorrect assumptions about what I think. I simply don’t see why volunteering for one legal entity should be dependent on compulsory membership of another one. Your assumption that the choice is divisive is simply untrue. Volunteers can belong to the WSRA or any other organisation if they wish. Despite the ne’r do wells incessant claims that the WSR PLC and the WSRA are bitterly divided is untrue. Long gone are days when the EX 6+1 were trying to wreck the WSR andwthere are whilst there are inevitable differences relations between the two are generally good.

 

Where did I make any interpretation of what you said or make any assumption on what you think?

 

Does this actually achieve the result the Plc wants right now though? They are talking about needing funds right now but for what we don't actually know. Whilst what you propose would undoubtedly work for a restoration situation isn't it committing the Plc to spend that cash on loco restoration when they could actually need it for something completely different?
EDIT (catching up ) I see Matt has already picked up on this ...

 

Exactly, this proposal makes no sense to me. The WSR is in a financial mess and urgently needs this £100k to ensure its survival. If it simply wanted to raise £100k for loco restoration, it would keep 4110 itself and launch a restoration appeal.

Or am I missing something?

 

I do wonder if this is a stage managed saga.
The PLC badly needs money it has been said. They decide to sell 4110.
Three bidders (as far as I know) have made offers. They do not, it seems, want to take the highest bid (strange when your back is to the wall) but prefer one of the other two (WSRA) bids.
4110 Ltd. are encouraged and/or expected to raise the money (albeit in pledges at the moment) as it is believed the WSRA, due to toxicity of the past and reluctance by some supporters to trust them, would not be so successful in raising the money. Plus the WSRA want to hang on to what money they have, particularly as they are still in another legal battle which, despite confidence, they are not totally certain they can win.
End of Act 1.

 

Yes yet another mushroom scenario - when will the WSR learn that it must communicate with its Financial Base as well as its Supporters and Volunteers?

If JJP is reading this I hope this is high on his list of Priorities?

 

"I do wonder if this is a stage managed saga. "

and your suggestion as to what the end result is likely to be then?

 

I think we shall have to wait to the results of the meeting on February 2nd before we find out what is actually happening and no doubt 4110 will figure at some point in that discussion

 

It will also be interesting to see Aldforts regular updates on how the WSRA 4110 fund is progressing and how much of the pledged £120,000 arrives.

 

Read my post above.

There has never been a ‘WSRA bid’.

When the WSRA thought the mechanism was to be a sale to 4110Ltd we offered a mechanism to increase the value of donations by the WSRA holding shares and obtaining gift aid.

When the WSR plc made it clear they were unwilling to sell to 4110 Ltd we offered (indeed still offer) an alternative mechanism for the loco to be retained on the Railway.

I didn’t fight for three years to remove the X6 only then to engage in deviousness and nastiness as they did.

Robin

 

I think we're getting into the realm of conspiracy theories here.

 

Good points. I contacted the folks at 4110 Ltd, WSRA and Plc. Received a helpful reply from each within hours and frankly, I am now far better informed through that route than anything I have read on the 4110 topic here on Nat Pres, where posts often slump into nonsensical assumptions. Go speak to those at the sharp end.

Keep the thread open - there are lots of other positive and informative "WSR" things to discuss.

Steve

 

As regards 4110 are those people behind the scheme to purchase the loco members and supporters of the railway? if so where's the problem ? we I think are loosing site of what matters here, what matters is does the fund have the ability and expertise in fund raising to ensure a rolling restoration programme and does it have across railway support ? My view is this that the WSRA still has to rebuild trust with the greater railway family, who because of what others did, view it as to be treated with caution, possibly at arms length, its only natural to be cautious, if the organisation previously did not support the same thing the members did, the railway, The ideal solution long term has to be a single owning charity that is an umbrella organisation for all WSR engines and funds through donations and operating fees the motive power of the railway and hopefully the various owning groups can move towards that, and in time a single unified body will emerge .

 

If, every time someone posted on here (me included) they had to make a £2 donation to the WSR, they's be £31,000 better off by now and getting more cash by the hour!

 

One of the key things is what happens if it is bought ( refinanced really, bearing in mind it is still owned by the railway). If 9351 is off to WN, and there seems to be no enthusiasm to do anything with the 4F, the focus for the volunteers at MD should be to rip into 4110 while the enthusiasm is there. It might also help to encourage new vols. There is some winter maintenance on the fleet to do, of course, but then? If the loco goes off to store at WN, that's it I fear, the enthusiasm won't suddenly transfer to 4561. There's a lot of work that can be done before there is a need to spend large amounts of cash, and having it on show in the shed at the gala would help the fundraising process.

Rob

 

You will have to await Act II.
At present it is "who shot John", but the finale will be, I guess, fat lady time.