West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Since no explanation has ever been forthcoming that is not an unreasonably conclusion.

I consider the plc to have been remiss by continuing to allow journalists access to this information without providing a detailed explanation to shareholders. I've heard nothing from the plc since last year's agm.

Since there has been no explanation behind last year's expulsion I can only regard the whole affair suspect. How am I expected to have faith in the new board appointees when I cannot trust those who appointed them? In many ways this echoes how the WSRA was run until recently.

 

Hopefully to monitor that there is little/no corrosion; not much good in monitoring one with significant corrosion - that would be unsafe, and should be withdrawn.

Noel

 

I doubt it.

 

Yes and no, I think. Yes, there was no dispute between the PLC and WSRA as organizations, but certain activities with regard to the management personnel of the PLC triggered changes in the management personnel at the WSRA. If one were being precise, that's not a "WSRA / WSR plc fight", rather I would characterize it as a dispute between two factions within the WSR 'family', which involved both the PLC and WSRA. Still, it was unfortunate, and surely distracted from dealing with the PLC's very real problems - which was I think the OP's point.

Hopefully that's all done with now, and both organizations (along with the rest of the 'family') can now focus together on the continued health of the WSR.

Noel

 

There was an interview with JJP and A de Mendoza on BBC Devon tv this evening. I missed the early part bu the headline was something like "red tape causes trouble for steam railway". Trains between Taunton and Minehead were mentioned as was HMG, but parliament seems to be engaged in its own warfare without joining anyone else's . Hopefully someone else did see this report.
Mr. Mendoza seemed quite upbeat and mentioned more talks. I suspect the PLC are interested in more income for the line and of course this was a factor plus the charters, mentioned here some while ago. If charters can access the WSR from the mainline so can others despite what is often mentioned here.
Available soon, it says.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0003hrw

 

The comments about the WSR's financial position in the Heritage Railway article do likely provide the answer to something discussed here a couple of moths back, regarding the senior people who were laid off. I'm too lazy to search the thread for it, but in summary it was 'senior people do cost a lot, but when they go out the door a lot of knowledge goes with them, a costly loss'. Well, now we probably know the reason why this painful step was taken - the PLC's very poor financial situation.

Too bad the PLC couldn't explain this then, but there may have been good reason; e.g. they might not have gotten as good a price for 4110 if the true situation were widely known.

Noel

 

A rather embarrassing state of affairs for the WSR to find itself in. Luckily the reporter didn't ask any searching questions but from the public's viewpoint the message was that the railway had been in an unsafe condition, the staff lacked competence and it almost went bust. Not an ideal USP. I suspect that an investigative journalist would have done a demolition job but what's done is done and the only way is up.

 

Thank you for the update. I also found it interesting. I have commented before that the line is going to change in many ways - it has to to survive.
Also interesting that it was shown on BBC DEVON! I wonder if the BBC in Somerset was interested?

 

It's up now, the WSR bit starts at 12:15 and was quite interesting, thanks for drawing attention to it.

 

A Typo?

 

Yes, will fix, thanks!

Noel

 

It is the same piece that was broadcast on BBC Points West a few days back.

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

 

Shown in Cornwall tonight too


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Some steam is better than no steam I paid a visit to the IOW Railway a few years ago and was disappointed their Austerity loco was on duty . First visit since the 1960 s and hoping to see familiar locos . Still enjoyed myself though .

 

Looks to me like it was on BBC South West's 'Spotlight' programme which covers the South West including parts of Somerset, especially in the Vale of Taunton Deane. When living in Bishops Lydeard, we couldn't get a signal from the Mendip transmitter so got the Plymouth stuff instead. The bonus was the wonderfully zany Westward TV complete with the incomparable Gus Honeybun.

Steve

 

Just in case 'furriners' don't know about Gus:

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now

Minehead Turntable 1988 - 2017

Thought by many to be a white (or red rusty) elephant, Minehead turntable, recovered from Pwllheli in 1975 was stored for many years at Minehead perched precariously on a pair of coach bogies and was extended and returned to service in 2008.

It is definitely the place to spectate locos and has witnessed some remarkable scenes such as the leader of Somerset County Council breaking into a sweat!

Nigel Mann / Robin White / various

 

I really like your selection of mainly preservation era "Then & Now" photos of the West Somerset, Robin. Perhaps it's a spur to starting a new thread of preservation era then & now photos.........

 

Thank you, kind of you to say.

I’m hoping it is the spur to a bit more ‘looking on the bright side’ and rolling up of metaphorical sleeves to help.

If you had lived my life, I wouldn’t still be here without that approach.

Robin

 

Your welcome Robin. So as a spur I'm about to start a "preservation era" Then & Now thread in the photographic section.