West Somerset Railway General Discussion

The thing is, the DSR has a nice, reasonably vibrant resort at each end that sustain its business model by providing extra attractions, as does the DSR itself with its boat and bus services. I think one would be hard pressed to describe Minehead as "vibrant", let alone Bishops Lydiard. The WSR needs a "string of pearls" approach to its operations.

 

Also the Swanage Railway will be having their Diesel Gala on the same weekend 24 to 26 of April. Me I like Steam & Diesel so it’s case deciding on where I shall spend my time and money.

 

The problem with the WSR trying to become a new DSR is that they have three times as much railway to maintain, but can’t charge remotely close to three times the fare. The numbers simply don’t stack up without a significant, recurring, subsidy from beyond the fare box. That inevitably means they have to cultivate supporters and well wishers.

Tom

 

Indeed, and likewise, as 60044 points out Minehead is no Dartmouth. There are would seem to be some fairly gaping holes in the plan.

 

Maybe this is the source of the disagreement - from now on all WSR locos must be named, and the SDJRT turned down the unmissable opportunity to name the 7F "Jon The Infallible Engine"

 

and the likely loss, sooner or later, of 53808 would be disastrous. This solid workhorse has given yeoman service to the WSR, and is an historical item of national interest.

 

Yes, once lawyers are involved, there are no winners except our Learned Friends.

 

Frankly, I used to regard you as a rather embittered person, but the facts are all falling into line with what you have been saying. The arrogant statement by Mark Smith that because the S&DRT had not given enough support (beyond providing a venue for a beer festival and giving WSR plc the proceeds - surely not a small amount), it was being booted out, despite having only in 2018 concluded a 25 year lease, is astonishing. Not just bad PR, it is bad behaviour too. And I'm not even a member of S&DRT; heaven knows how they must feel.

 

Turning the finances around and organising a top quality gala suggests something is going right though ?

 

Yes, I think it is.
But at one of the places I worked there was a sign on the wall which said:
"Get it right, no one remembers. Get it wrong, no one forgets."
Sadly this is often so true.

 

Have the finances really been turned around though? We'll only know that when the full 12 months are up. I suspect that the 660K "surplus" will have quickly evaporated over the closed season. The real marker of improved performance will be rising passenger numbers, and they fell this year. The railway is probably only still open because of the donations to the track fund and soon there will be a competing appeal - the S&D Relocation Appeal Fund. Who would bet that at least some of the potential donors will make a choice between the two?

Whatever the needs of the WSR Plc I don't think anyone would disagree that this matter has been handled in the most inept and damaging (to all concerned) way possible.

 

Better take a good look at the BL shop - at present a superb range of specialist books. his may not be so for long, with the plc taking it over.

Sadly the Titfield Thunderbolt ideal is dead, if it was ever realistic to expect it to last. But does the new ethos need to be so brutal?

The Minehead Branch was not the S&D, but Washford represented Somerset's railway history. I hope they find a way to stay.

 

Don't forget that facilities at Washford were also made available to the wagon restoration group. There's a great sense of community amongst the ordinary volunteers and severe damage has been done. The phones have been buzzing all weekend and the recurring theme is "touch one, touch all". Who's to be next, the Gauge Museum perhaps ?

 

I hope that isn't right. Kate & her team have done an outstanding job for years.
The two shops are really quite different - they should complement each other, not compete.

 

I must admit that I was looking at depositing a small item in The Gauge Museum, but for now I think I will keep hold of it.

 

I will simply repeat what is on the record and leave it at that but there are clearly strong links at 'Grass Roots' between WSR Employees & Volunteers and The S&DRT

 

I almost feel like we've gone from 'ha ha, your end of the ship is sinking' to 'I'm going to sink your end of the ship'! I really feel like banging my head on the wall.

Has anyone managed to find out what is planned for Washford once the SDRT leaves?

Noel

 

Thank you for your comment and honesty, I appreciate you taking the trouble, perhaps you can now see the emotional journey I’ve been on in the last year. I was actually very conscious that I may come across that way at the time and I watered down my comments regarding some of the things that have happened, honestly you have not heard the half of it !

You are of course not alone, indeed the Shareholders and Stakeholders have allowed this to come to pass and I can only hope that others are also as honest as you and say, perhaps we got this wrong in allowing this one person railway and stand up to be counted now before any more damage is done. I of course had the advantage of being in the unfortunate position of being able to lift the rock and look under it before others were able to, trust me this is the thin end of the wedge.

It’s now up to the people of the WSR to decide what they want to do next, stand up and say no or agree with the current direction and carry on, the choice is theirs. There is (or was) a plan developed to move the WSR forward in a positive way. I’ve mentioned it in previous posts back a year ago now when I was removed. If you take out my comments about me being exiled from the WSR and look at my views on grant funding, inclusion, community engagement, etc. it sets out a blue print. It involves engagement, inclusion and buy in from the community and all involved with the WSR. These were not just my views, they were the views of experts who would have helped us both directly and indirectly with resources & money.

Changing into a modern ‘heritage leisure’ attraction which attracts new customers and external grant funding by being fit for purpose whilst still retaining the original true railway heritage, is I believe possible, I don’t think they are exclusive and I believe you can have both.

I do truly believe the people who have resisted change because they want only a 1950’s GWR Branchline and nothing else can still have their vision whilst also welcoming new and positive involvement from the wider community who will bring people and money with them. It will just take strength, compromise and inclusion. The alternative is to continue the exclusion, alienation and further burying of heads in the sand which will mean the few volunteers left at the railway which costs £3.5 million a year to run will have to split the cost between themselves each year to continue to have their vision, there is no fairy god mother to pay it for them.

I think the time is drawing near for people to stand up and be counted or sit back, say nothing and be happy with what comes next, because as it stands the PLC Board have the remit from the Shareholders to do what they are doing. For me the removal or retention of the S&DRT is a turning point one way or another, if it goes ahead the next steps will happen and it becomes more difficult to change course.

 

It is noticeable that the WSRA and the WSST have been very quiet on this subject. Considering the noise that the WSRA created on here during the ex 6 saga, it's almost as though they approve of what's happening...

Keith

 

Very good question, your logic may indicate perhaps some of them do, I couldn't of course possibly comment on the bigger picture (if of course there is one, which again I couldn't comment on).