West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Given what happened with the Ex6 I suggest that the WSRA may not feel that it is in a position to rock the boat

 

Hi John,

I don't think that is quite correct - from what I recall of the Ex6 and the Reform Group - it was largely a WSRA matter that did not directly involve the WSR PLC at the time, as to getting rid of the Ex6.

I think there is quite a lot of evidence on here of some current WSRA board members, who were previously so vocal on here to drum up support to get rid of the Ex6, avoiding any controversy involving the WSR PLC on here for the last 12 months...

Perhaps the fear of 'rocking the boat' is to avoid them having their volunteer pass being taken off them - as happened to Andy Norman just over a year ago.

The fact is that ultimately the WSRA is impotent in respect of matters generally concerning the WSR PLC; it does not hold a majority shareholding, it owns one loco in service (and pointedly so does the S&D Trust), and has given over to the WSR PLC as per Coombes a lot of it's operations without getting much in return (such as more shares to give it a controlling interest in the WSR PLC).

So far as I can see the WSRA Trust has only a few cards to play - and it's ownership of Norton triangle is not exactly a trump card given the problems with reinstatement.

Cheers,

Julian

 

Alternatively, perhaps those previously vocal here now in positions of power are making more useful noises behind the scenes rather than ruining it by going public here too? Just a thought, ever the optimist...

 

I don't think so, given what has happened in the last few days over Washford and the S&D Trust, and negative posts by the current Acting Chairman of the WSRA, 'aldfort' on here, which is an anagram of 'oldfart', of what happened to Andy Norman. Bob Meanley weighed in too on here, which again was concluded to have been a PR disaster.

Both Robin and Mike Sherwood ('aldfort') have posted on here the last few days but without expressing any personal opinion or statement on behalf of the WSRA Trust as to the Notice to Quit served on the S&D Trust by WSR PLC Solicitors.

I don't consider myself that an Acting Chairman of the WSRA should have as his profile name on here an anagram of 'oldfart'... it doesn't exactly inspire confidence, does it?

Cheers,
Julian

 

In light of the unremitting scumbaggery which has characterised the governance of this benighted railway, I feel that the best option now, certainly in terms of public benefit and the communities along the route getting the most use out of it, would be for Somerset County Council to serve eviction notices on WSR PLC, bring in contractors to remove the track for scrap and convert the whole damn thing into an all-weather cycle path. At this rate, that's exactly where it's heading.

 

Hang on - didn't you get a ban from this site for the way you said one particular loco owner should be forced to overhaul their locos? It's a bit rich of you to now suggest another line should be forced to shut down.

How's your Cranleigh line restoration project going, anyway? That top-secret court case paid out yet?

 

According to Wikipedia's National Preservation entry (sourcing Steam Railway) "Among the criticism leveled at the website has been the perceived lack of understanding among members on many areas, often calling them "armchair enthusiasts" and keyboard warriors. This criticism is justifiably true and many of the posts are ill informed and pointless which has led to the forum being thought of as a pure talking shop". I can't think how we could possibly have gained that reputation.......

 

You tell us But bearing in mind that Wikipedia may be edited by anyone, and that the second statement of your quote is opinion that runs counter to Wikipedia's own content policies, I'm not sure that I regard that article as suggesting anything particular - an opinion reinforced by looking at the history of that article and some of the comments therein.

Now, with regard to the WSR, would you like to suggest why the discussion on here over weekend is "ill informed and pointless" and/or "a pure talking shop"?

 

Can we get this right... there is no such thing as the WSRA Trust. We have
1,. WSRA (the association)
2. WSSRT (the trust)
3. SDRT (the S&D)

Ian Coleby

 

Absolutely not. This is a matter between the two organisations concerned and it should remain that way.

 

This is an effort to bring a bit of cheer to this benighted forum. The WSSRT is making massive progress with the complete refurbishment of the gauge museum. A whole new series of display panels has been commissioned thanks to a lottery fund bid. These are now being printed and we are due to reopen on 11 April.
My favourite among the new displays is a complete and detailed map of the whole branch as it was in 1910. This map is almost 12m long and occupies a whole wall in the museum.
Thanks to a generous donation, we are also having the roll of honour reframed. Gathering some odd stares, I measured the existing ones at Exeter st David's and Taunton and a local joinery company has made up a new frame to match the GWR original. I visited them on Friday and was amazed at the quality of the work. Here are some pictures. It's going to look fantastic.

The whole museum has been repainted by a loyal band of volunteers and those who know the museum will know that it can be a cold and uninviting place when it's closed. That's all about to change thanks to their work.
Those of us here on the ground know that it's not all doom and gloom. It's a pity about the SDRT, but all in all there is huge sense of positivity around.
Ian Coleby

 

Top post. The only gloom and doom is created in the virtual world of this forum - out there in the real world it is, as you say, all very positive with a huge amount of work going on. Both behind the scenes and up front.

 

Pretty much sums it up....

 

The finer details, I agree. But when one of the organisations is seeking support for the heavy expenditure it requires, and is acting in a way that alienates potential supporters, then has supporters telling people on a forum that that forum is just a "pure talking shop" and therefore nothing to do with them seems somewhat unhelpful.

This admitted armchair observer who has an affection for the Minehead branch does not know which way to look. He is delighted to see the post from @ikcdab about the Gauge museum, while despairing at the seemingly petty behaviour of the plc in evicting - I'm sure legally, but not morally - a long term tenant which has by all accounts acted as part of the WSR family. I await the S&DRT's response with interest, and trust that they can rise above the sort of spiteful response that some on here have suggested. But I would like to see something from the WSR about what they do want to do with the site once the S&DRT have left, to help those outside see a positive development rather than just the spiteful act of a management struggling to deliver on it's promises.

 

I doubt there's much positivity at Washford

Keith

 

Then it should have been done behind closed doors between two people and in confidence.

 

This is Social Media folks - warts n'all but still better than many other Social Media platforms I could mention. I try not to set my expectations too high on any such forum although this one can score more highly than most in my humble opinion if you can cut through the banal and non-contributory and focus on decency, structured information and opinion sharing.
I sometimes imagine what would have been different if such things existed in the past? We might like to think that communication was different in 60s, 70's etc but I'm of the opinion things would have been at best, the same as they are in this age that we now live in.

 

And even colder when the doors are open And if the 'staff' loo is occupied then it's a long way across to those in the car-park.....:-(
But I always appreciate quality woodwork !