West Somerset Railway General Discussion

That was the quote I had in mind. But given present world events it wasnt quite what I wanted to say.

Robin

 

At 9pm on 14th April 1912, when Captain Smith went off watch, senior officers of Titanic expressed concern to one another that maintaining speed and course in the prevailing conditions was foolhardy. Would it have been prudent, at that point, to call Capt. Smith to order. If he refused to heed advice, then the First Officer might have given orders to stop all engines and wait out the night. Or do you wait until you've actually struck the iceberg to voice your concerns about the present course

 

One cannot see the future, that is certain, but if one were attempting to predict, one would look at the past actions, words and behaviour of the characters in the plot.
In the 40 year history of the S&DRT living at Washford, has the trust ever done anything to the detriment of the well-being of the WSR?
In its history, has the WSRA ever done anything to the detriment of the well-being of the WSR?
In the 20 months or so since he became chairman of the PLC, has Mr Jones-Pratt ever done anything to the detriment of the well-being of the WSR?

Is there anything to suggest that any of these individuals or organisations are likely to dramatically change their behaviour in the immediate future?

 

Ummm.......

 

As a WSRA Trustee, I would have to call attention to the replacement of the X6 a while ago and in the past year the return to traffic of 9351 (and the fundraising for that), the 6-figure contribution to the winter works, and the passing to the plc of trading activities w.e.f 1.1.20 as suggested by the Coombes Report.

So, yes, there is clear evidence that the present-day WSRA has dramatically changed its behaviour.

Robin

 

But Robin, what of the SDRT at Washford? Please!

I gather there was a generous amount of support for you personally, but how much longer will this continue if 7 weeks later there is no WSRA trustee statement on the SDRT at Washford?

We can't go on with all this 'in fighting' and acrimony! It must stop! These feuds and power struggles to gain control must cease and common sense prevail, for the good of the WSR as a whole, and incidentally the SDRT.

Cheers,

Julian

 

Don't you just love sensationalist mythology. Pray tell which senior officers expressed concern and to whom? Captain Smith discussed the situation with the only surviving senior officer, Lightoller, and they agreed between them that given how calm and clear the night was it was safe to proceed as they were. If this changed Smith instructed that he be told immediately. Captain Rostron of Carpathia had no hesitation in travelling at full speed through the same ice field, as the bergs on that night could be seen at one to two miles away, giving ample opertunity to avoid them. Other North Atlantic captains agreed at the inquiery that given the clear visibility that night they would very probably have acted as Smith did. But why let facts get in the way of a bit of fantasy.

Now wouldn't a discussion about the Titanic be far more interesting than hearing the same opinions about the WSR spouted by the same people over and over again. I don't think anything new about the management of the WSR has been said since the lockdown commenced despite two to three pages a day, every day, of complete waffle. Please, we know what everyone's opinion is, so you dont have to repeat it over and over again.

Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

Peter

 

Hello Peter and ross,

What a most interesting bit of thread drift!

I would perhaps remark that JJP is similar to Captain Lord of the SS Californian, staying in his chart room that night, ignoring the reports of Second Officer Stone and Gibson of 8 white rockets going off bursting into stars, of the disaster taking place, and Stone and Captain Lord both failing to respond appropriately and with no action till daybreak, while they stopped some 13 miles off from Titanic as she was sinking.

The parallels that could be drawn are endless!

Cheers,

Julian

 

That was very interesting. Thank you.
Barry

 

This.

 

And like so much of this thread such parallels are purely speculative and completely pointless

Peter

 

As someone who has regularly visited the WSR for many years and, like the many who view the WSR's incessant squabbling with alarm, I wish both sides would open their eyes to the seriousness of the situation. Whatever the rights and wrongs of WSR history, the most important thing is to SAVE THE WSR.

While "deckchairs on the Titanic" is a good analogy, a better one would be the fight on the boat in Patriot Games. Both antagonists were too preoccupied with killing each other to notice that the boat was heading towards rocks. Yes, one side prevailed over the other. BUT. The boat was destroyed.

Please. Stop this constant sniping. Please support the railway unconditionally. Please pull together (and that includes you JJP).

SAVE THE WSR. Then you can kill each other.

(I am breaking radio silence for this one post only. This thread became interesting for a while but some egos couldn't let it lie).

 

This point has been made before. It is pertinent, but relies on the assumption that if people just provide the means to the management, the WSR will avoid those rocks. While I dislike the parallels made, they do highlight one point - you have to trust the captain to avoid those rocks.

That's not about fighting over past wrongs, but about those involved today dealing with current wrongs. Until then, my wallet will remain closed.

 

OK. I think that that point is clearly understood. But do we need to told it over and over and over again....... Yawn!

If you have not got something new to add......................

Peter

 

The same is true of the other side of the argument. And I for one am not going to allow someone to assert that I must do x, y or z if I care for something and make it look as though anyone feeling differently does not care.

However, you'll also note that I "liked" @Colin Allcars' post, as he highlights the key thing that has to happen to unblock this.

 

I haven't seen the film you mention, so I don't know if the boat was destroyed and both combatants were killed or if the boat was destroyed and the victorious combatant survived, however, a closer nautical analogy would be a boat that is sinking. The skipper and some of the crew are urging everyone to keep baling the boat out, whilst some of the crew and all of the passengers are asking whether it wouldn't be better to plug the leak first. Those in favour of continued baling are telling those who wish to plug the leak that, if the boat sinks, it will be all their fault for not baling hard enough.

 

This one is about coronovirus but could also be the lady is the WSR and the tram is someone they don’t like

 

In other news, WSR thread posts reach new levels of vapidity...