West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Back on ops matters i was just looking at the williton webcam and there seems to be a problem involving a ballast wagon !

 

Oops!
Did someone forget to check the doors before loading?

 

Oops, there's one for 'You've Been Framed'.

 

Looking at the activity on the offending wagon it would appear there is some problem with the doors.

 

Dogfish doors. Even their own mother couldn't love them.
Pat

 

Well, strictly speaking that only applies to the yard, as they do not own the station building or the old signal-box (just the contents).

 

Has Bob Meanley resigned as a Director?

 

I had a hotel booked fairly close by for the gala was planning to spend the Saturday and Sunday at the gala, and then book on the photocharter on the Monday if spaces were still available. But in light of how the railway is treating groups on the line, I have no desire in lining the the railways pockets. Sorry wsr you've lost a customer in me, a shame as I have many many happy memories at the line as a youngster.

In short, hotel cancelled, won't be buying rover tickets even though I'd be at the lineside, although I may drop a shovel off when passing next just so the wsr can keep digging themselfs deeper into this hole

Matt

 

It is. But we have to form judgements about the organisations we give our business and donations to. And sometimes, where an organisation's leadership's behaviour is beyond a certain point, the only choice is to refuse to engage with it.

 

If this was football the WSR plc would have been in front of the FA on a charge of bringing the game into disrepute. Is the HRA capable of this, or is it just a mutual back-slapping club?
Pat

 

I agree completely. And my fear is that those behind this notice know this, and are using that knowledge in what can only be described as bullying tactics.

 

It's a trade organisation, not a regulator. And when it did intervene in the WSRA disputes, it's effect was limited by the lack of consent to their intervention from the "Ex-6".

 

I'm not sure about that. The demise of the present PLC, and the setting up of a new entity of some sort to operate the railway, could allow a new set of relationships among the members of the WSR family. That might actually be the best long-term outcome, even despite the serious short-term disruption.

 

Are the daffodils out? Seems quiet on that front?

 

The HRA is not, nor ever has been a regulatory body.

It is an association. A talking shop, information exchange, and to a certain extent a mutual aid club.

Various government bodies require it to collect, and supply various data from members, and to disseminate government advice and instructions to those same members.

It grew from a combination of the A.R.P.S. and the Association of Minor Railways.

I joined the old A.R.P.S. as a private member, then life member, so am now a life private member of a trade association!

 

The blackthorns are looking quite pretty in Essex, both pinks and whites. Hawthorns appear to be just coming into leaf. Can't speak for Somerset.

 

If you had said that to me a year ago (as some did) I would have disagreed with you. Now I agree it might be the best thing for all concerned. If the PLC ceased trading the WSR would close because the Safety Case is held by the PLC, a 'PLC2' would then need to be formed and then gain a new safety case from the ORR. I don't know how long that would take, people have said to me at least a year (I would say as a pure guess say less time) in which case no safety case, no open railway. If of course a 'PLC2' wasn't formed because nobody wanted to, then the next step is a cycle path. Hence my comment permanently or temporary, I don't think believe a straight close one day and open the next is an option but I'd love to be proved wrong.

 

The toxicity will only be eliminated by removal of the poisonous element at the root/top of the WSR tree.

 

Thank you, Noel, it's good to read a considered opinion from a neutral source.