West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I hope I am not overstepping the mark but as you can see from this and my previous post #18149 it is something that I feel is easily overlooked by railfans whose prime interest is the motive power, structure and operation of the line as well as those who have the day to day problems of running the railway and trying to keep it solvent.
I do wonder if it is a perceived lack of integration of the railway and the town that is in part an explanation of the rise of the Minehead Rail Link Group. At the risk of being told to put it on the other thread so that it can be ignored, the recent House of Lords Select Committee report on regenerating seaside towns includes recommendations for better transport links. It could well be that the direction of travel in these matters will sooner or later impact on the WSR.

 

This comment is a bit too much of an oversimplification of the rules. There are circumstances in which the information could be used...even if the individual has opted out of receiving further correspondence. As with most things in life "it all depends".....

 

You had a bargain then Ravingham Hall because I'm sure I paid more and I'd do it again some time soon .

 

Yes - I wasn't exactly going to delve into every untested area of GDPR given that much of it is unclear at present anyway.

However my main point is: "marketing" is specially singled out, separately from other classes of communication, as something that always requires explicit permission to do. Sending "would you like to rejoin?" emails probably would come under the heading of marketing.

I recall at least one railway organisation I'm a lapsed member of - the Dean Forest - was sufficiently on the ball enough to send me a pre-GDPR letter asking permission to retain my details for future post-GDPR contact.

Anyway, this all arose from a question from @jnc who being probably far smarter than me almost certainly now has enough information on the subject!

 

Marketing is important but the experience needs to be enough to bring people back and a problem with the WSR is it always seems to have trouble attracting people to the region.

Just getting there can be a challenge because the routes through Taunton and Bridgwater are so congested.


And unless you are staying at Butlins (which isn’t to everyone’s liking) Minehead doesn’t offer much in the way of family activities. In the evening the place can be downright dodgy so it doesn’t lend itself as a self-contained family destination, especially if you are travelling all the way down from London and beyond.

 

I subscribed to the newsletter for the Forest of Dean railway ( it being the closest to home ) some years ago when my interest in heritage railways was starting. To this day I have not heard a thing from them. I have therefore supported other railways and have not been back.

 

I agree with the general thrust of your comments. My family have been living and/or visiting West Somerset since 1976 and in all that time we struggled to find sufficient family attractions in the area. Our kids are now grown of course but the situation for those with youngsters remains much the same. That said, there have been and still are such places around. What is lacking is a energetic and competent group focussed on marketing the attractiveness (and attractions) of West Somerset. "Visit Somerset" (of which the WSR is, I believe, a member) does a fine job but mostly pushes its prime members (who also chip in most £sd) and it isn't local enough. Yes the WSR could "up" its marketing to really push the local attractions and area (much as the old GWR did) but it is a bit short of cash and hands, especially at the moment.

Steve

 

Sorry, I can't let that go unchallenged. That's a totally unjustified accusation, you can walk around town and along the seafront at night with no problem, if anything it's too quiet. The same as anywhere you might want to steer clear of the pubs at chucking out time.
Check out the figures for August last year, height of the season -
Minehead - https://www.police.uk/avon-and-somerset/AW051/crime/
Compare with other resorts
Margate - https://www.police.uk/kent/368635/crime/2018-08/
Paignton - https://www.police.uk/devon-and-cornwall/DEV.4026/crime/2018-08/
Dawlish - https://www.police.uk/devon-and-cornwall/DEV.4046/crime/2018-08/
Or other Butlins resorts
Skegness - https://www.police.uk/lincolnshire/NC50/crime/2018-08/
Bognor Regis - https://www.police.uk/sussex/WA1NH5/crime/2018-08/
Or London suburbia -
Sutton - https://www.police.uk/metropolitan/E05000564/crime/2018-08/
Pinner - https://www.police.uk/metropolitan/E05000297/crime/2018-08/
Edmonton - https://www.police.uk/metropolitan/E05000197/crime/2018-08/
Or try the West End of London
https://www.police.uk/metropolitan/00BK14N/crime/2018-08/

Click on 'Find Your Neighbourhood and put your home town in, click the drop down box and choose August 2018. See if where you live is as crime free as Minehead.

 

Point taken but I think you are being a bit defensive.

I said the place ‘can be’ not ‘always’.

On several occasions I have seen fights in the street, people sitting on the roadside snorting drugs and women yelling profanities at each other.

I do agree that it is usually at closing time and I also agree there are a lot worse places than Minehead.
And when I am by myself I can turn a blind eye but not when I am with my wife and daughter.

Unfortunately first impressions can last a lifetime hence I am now restricted to visiting the railway alone while the rest of the family go to Kingswear.

 

Well if you will go on the day of the WSRA AGM, you only have yourself to blame.

 

Nominated for 'Post Of The Week'.

 

That's caused a chuckle !!!

 

Yes I am being defensive. My son and his wife have a shop near the station and are dependent on tourists. Anything that discourages people from coming to the town affects their ability to make a living.

 

I've tried hard to think of any UK town, especially one on the coast where your concerns of unwanted behaviour 'could' not occur with Minehead being the least 'dodgy' one I can think of! I'd love to know where you might risk taking your wife and daughter where you're unlikely to see these things tough, always happy to learn these things.

 

Not sure about that one! I'll admit to being moderately clever, but so are a lot of the posters here.

Actually, not, but it would probably take a solicitor who's a GDPR specialist to really satiate my curiousity on the subject!

Noel

 

Hence my reference to their first impressions which are indeed unfair.

 

Steam Dreams trip to the WSR on 16th April has been cancelled.
From Steam Dreams:

It is with great disappointment that we have taken the difficult decision to cancel next week’s trip from Maidenhead to Bath and The West Somerset Railway. This is due to news received today of the continued unavailability of our rostered steam locomotive B1 61306 ‘Mayflower’.

Mayflower has developed an issue with her boiler and is in need of further remedial work. During her latest Fitness to Run examination, additional work has been identified that means the locomotive must be stopped for repairs to be carried out. Unfortunately, despite best efforts none of the reserve steam locomotives requested on our specification to Network Rail are available to be used. They are either undergoing the final stages of winter maintenance or have prior commitments and cannot substitute for Mayflower at this late stage.

 

With 6960 currently being overweight for the line, Pannier 7752 is due to arrive Minehead tomorrow from Tyesley on loan for the season.
Believe Panniers are restricted to load 6, but that is ideal for the Minehead duty.

 

45o76 seems to be very well informed!

And good news about 7752 - one of my favourites.

I suppose it is too much to ask whether Raveningham Hall 6960 being unable to be used on the WSR is costing the WSR any fees?

It would be nice to have a report on the problems with the permanent way causing all these restrictions and where.

If there was a press release saying so and so section of track needed urgent renewal, then I am sure cheque books would be opened.

Cheers,

Julian

 

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Rich Hiscox
Admin · 1 hr
Pleased to announce that 0-6-0 pannier tank 7752 courtesy of TYS locomotive works will be joining our WSR steam fleet for 2019 season, being unloaded at Minehead in the morning and put straight into the works for a few repairs before entering traffic shortly. So be sure to come on down and ride behind this wonderful little machine.