West Somerset Railway General Discussion

That's what I was thinking !

 

Sorry ,not keen on BR black either ,everyone to their own .

 

Steve , love the way you describe Minehead as the Country End , although I don't think BL as the Metropolitan End .

 

Some good news for a change.




West Somerset Railway
1 hr ·
We have a special surprise!!

At 14.30 today 7752 will double head with 7828 between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard.

7752 will also be on tomorrow's services at 10.05 and 14.30 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard, and 12.40 and 16.30 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead.

 

An answer to your question, maybe? (from WSR.org/Railcams a few seconds ago).

 

Just pulled into Blue Anchor station.

7752 seemed to be doing most of the work.

 

When I was at work I was given to understand that if a person was declared redundant their job role was deemed to no longer exist, because if it did they wouldn't be redundant. As a result if the company made someone redundant they couldn't employ someone else to fulfil that job role until six months had passed.
If the company wanted to get rid of someone and replace them with someone else immediately, they had to either sack the current job holder or get them to resign.
The rules may be different now.

 

Just seen 7752 depart from BL. It looks really splendid, so I'm looking forward to seeing it and having a ride behind it.
"Matchbox engines" have always been one of my favourite classes of GWR locos.

 

What if the redundant role was a paid post and the new role a voluntary one (I do not know whether that applies in this case)?

 

Very dodgy ground I should think

 

I guess that no one on here has actually seen the letter so we don't know if the person was made redundant. However if they were then the post no longer exists - that's what redundancy means. There are however many other options as to what may actually happened so plenty of scope or this to run and run. Glad I invested in more popcorn

 

I could be wrong but my understanding from @Andy Norman 's posts was that HR services are now being provided by an external consultancy firm.

 

Seems a curious use of money (I presume they're not doing it for free). I'd have thought a request to have a look at, say, the SVR's guidelines would provide a good basis given they also have quite a high number of paid staff.

 

Yes, so the question is, is a new external HR Manager sub-contracted from a large firm of Solicitors better value for the WSR than a directly employed locally living, three day a week/part time one, and did the cost savings outweigh the redundancy consulting period requirements. I know what I charge an hour as a Consultant and what I pay my solicitor and accountant. Whilst we can all agree that cost savings and re-structure is desperately needed and difficult decisions were made, was this value for money?

I don't know the answer on costs, but either the job is needed or it isn't and even if it is cheaper to sub-contract, is it best value? I do know however of the very good things the now departed employed lady did in her time, amongst other things she helped me greatly keep the BESTT Scheme on track when others messed it up and helped gain us the HPC Award, as with most people working on the WSR she gave much more than her few hours required. She was also not scared of saying 'no you can't do that, its not good governance and it breaks the rules', and I know she was saying it at around the time I departed ?

 

Some operations news, not sure if it's been posted and lost in the thread.

An extra turn for Class 37 no D6948 on the WSR.

The Railway have written about an extra turn for the popular visiting Class 37 Diesel Electric Locomotive no D6948:

This Sunday 19 May, our diesel service will be hauled by Class 37 no D6948. To maximise the mileage, we have added an extra 20 miles to our timetable for your enjoyment! ** Why not come along and join us..!!!

11:00 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead,
13:25 Minehead to Williton,
14:22 Williton to Minehead,
15:25 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard. 60 Miles of superb 'growler' sound..Bring it on......
Robin F

 

Excellent news from the WSR website. <BJ>

''The Friends of Minehead Station (FoMS) has stepped up to the mark during the last few months to play their part in helping to keep the much loved West Somerset Railway running''.
Since Christmas, FoMS has provided or will provide in the region of £100,000 to the WSR company for several much needed projects including:
Replacing rail along the line
Repairs to the bridge over the River Avill near Dunster Station
Repairs to and repainting of the very long canopy on Minehead Station
Overhaul of the Lorna Doone disabled carriage
https://www.west-somerset-railway.c...tion-keeps-the-west-somerset-railway-on-track

 

Very pleasing to hear.

I can't help but add that it puts certain other alleged "support groups" to shame. Sorry.

 

How ironic that this was posted by someone who recently put up a post on this thread which consisted, in its entirety, of "One railway!!! ".



Maybe it's time to just get rid of all the existing charities/volunteer groups associated with the WSR, and replace them all with a single brand new one; not only would that wipe the history slate clean, but it would completely remove the poisonous ability to say 'group A is doing more to help than group B'.

Noel

 

Tempting, but I suspect you’d still have the same people. And the poisons are fundamentally about people, not organisations.


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