West Somerset Railway General Discussion

But we do have enough money for lawyers to kick out the S&D, money for the freehold.

Again, the WSR sends around the begging bowl pleading poverty, whipping out an onion about how it can barely survive, while doing it's best to **** over any group that doesn't kow tow to Jones Pratt and his cronies on the board.

Why the hell would anyone give money to the WSR or the WSSRT or WRSA when they are either active participants in this behaviour through their support for the board, or complicit enablers who sit on their hands in silence and do nothing.

The silence from posters who often have something to say on everything is striking.

 

Saving up to pay for the freehold?

 

To be honest, referring to the WSSRT as "selling out" and as "self serving 'useful idiots'" is grossly insulting and ignores the fact that most of the WSSRT board are very long serving volunteers of the railway. I have volunteered on the WSR for 37 years and others have done longer, putting in countless hours of unpaid effort and commitment.
I note that you do not volunteer, so you may wish to reflect on your words whilst I continue to put together the latest journal at nil cost to the entire railway family.
Ian Coleby

 

I think someone has been playing too much Transport Tycoon on his computer.

 

One might wonder if the very long serving volunteers are the ones who might consider that they have the most to lose by "rocking the boat"

 

Maybe you ought to reflect on your actions while you put together that journal and think about what the support for the PLC is doing to the entire railway family.

I'd argue that the behaviour of the WSSRT is grossly insulting to other groups on the line and ignores their work and contribution over many years to the line.

But then this isn't about the family, it is about power at the WSR and that is your biggest concern. The comments about the WSR family are hollow coming from someone who stands on the sidelines or actively supports other members of the family being treated badly.

Your complaints are nothing more than the weasel words of someone who sees themselves as the victim and who never takes responsibility for their actions.

Volunteering counts for nothing if all your other actions are to the detriment of the line and the railway family.

You don't even have the honesty to justify your decisions. Not only disgraceful but also cowardly.

You want non volunteers to give you money, but when non volunteers ask why we should give you money when you behave as you do, you lose the ability to speak.

 

I entirely agree with the sentiment here and would dissociate myself from the comments of @Monkey Magic, however...

As a WSSRT trustee, if you aspire to one railway, which from past postings I believe you do, then that makes you part of the railway management.
As a charitable arm of the railway, one of the functions of that body, implicit or not, ought to be to act as a brake on a Plc board who is getting too commercial and forgetting what the railway is about, a heritage steam railway run for the enjoyment of the public and its volunteers. That is normally one of the reasons most railways have a set up of a Plc and a charity, the charity acts as a restraining force if necessary, usually only as a safeguard that's not used in practise because everyone pulls together.

So, generally, does the WSSRT support, for instance, 2 or 3 private individuals purchasing a large chunk of Plc shares at knockdown prices to gain total control of the railway? Does it support evicting a longstanding charity which added to the WSR's overall offering, and in the process destroying any credibility for the WSR to abide by commercial contracts? Does it support withdrawal of HR policies specifically to exclude particular members who have been extremely concerned at the two previously mentioned serious matters?

If the answer to those questions is yes, the WSSRT should justify why, as a guardian of the WSR's future it has a duty to explain why this is reasonable. If the answer is no, it should be moving heaven and earth to stop this, again as a guardian of the WSR's future.

All of the above equally applies to the WSRA too, and that of course is another problem. The old adage of "divide and conquer" is surplus to requirements here, as the first half has been the status quo since the year dot (for historical reasons I understand, but that's no excuse for it still enduring 40 years later).
I can understand that trustees who disagree might not think it was the most productive course of action to criticise on here, in a way that they did when they were merely "rank and file", but I just get a sense that nothing is going on behind the scenes either, given the number of things of concern occurring and the number of u-turns executed on them (zero).

 

Woah!

I think we need to call in the Mods on this one. Disagreement is one thing but this is way over the top. I would suggest that you calm down somewhat and reconsider your post. @ikcdab's post did not warrent this level of vitriol.

Peter

 

I am perfectly calm and I choose my words carefully and for a reason. I do not use language lightly or casually. If someone wants me to reflect on my words then they need to reflect on their actions and inaction.

Actions are louder than words.

 

Why? Just because someone does not choose to share their reflections with you or anyone else on Nat. Pres. does not mean that they do not give careful thought to these matters. We all know that much in the troubled world of railway preservation goes on away from the glare of Nat Pres scrutiny for very good reasons. Why not let Ian Coleby do what he feels necessary and trust that he is doing the right thing. He is under no obligation to account for his actions to us here on NP.

Peter

 

Trains? Perhaps someone is planning on using buses …..but then again where would he be able to build a depot to service them? <BJ>

 

I quite agree.

I am not a WSR Volunteer or shareholder/member of the supporting organisations. I am however a S&DRT member - predating the Washford Debacle.

Now this is simply an Internet Forum, what happens here can be dismissed, but

1. There is a statement by the PLC in the public domain calling the S&DRT a 'cuckoo in the nest' something that in my view brings the railway into disrepute
2. The PLC has committed itself to legal action either to evict the S&DRT or by the S&DRT to protect itself from eviction at a time when (Pre Covid 19) the finances of the line are allegedly parlous, and then we have
3. Coronavirus. Without the Washford debacle I suggest that the future of WSR doesnt look good, however this one incident I suggest might either involve the PLC in the expense of litigation or alienate potential supporters. A simple announcement could bring an end to the matter.

Now as the largest single shareholders in the PLC & as organisations that exist to support the long term future of 'The WSR' it seems to me that at the very least a statement of some sort might be an idea. At the moment for the WSRA & the WSSRT to remain silent seems - strange?

 

Ian Coleby is trustee of an organisation that wants people to give it money. If someone or an organisation wants money they need to be able to explain and justify their actions with that money. If they support actions such as the eviction of the S&DRT but are not prepared to explain why then why should they be given money?

Do you support the eviction? if you do, why? If you don't why are you giving money to the PLC board which condones their behaviour?

It is hollow to invoke the 'railway family' while doing nothing or supporting the mistreatment of one of those members of the family.

It is hollow to invoke the hours of hard work, while allowing the denigration of the hard work put in by volunteers at Washford.

It is hard to trust that someone is doing the right thing when they don't explain their actions.

 

As someone who detests the position that the WSR appears to be in, and has declared myself unwilling to give as a result for very similar reasons, I have some sympathy for Ian and others more closely entwined with the railway. The reality is that the railway is run by the WSR plc, and they control the condition of the assets and what can happen - it can't be done any other way. At that point, they really only have Hobson's choice - to go to war with the current plc board, or to support the railway even if they aren't happy with the conduct of the board.

Irrespective of whether I agree with their stance, I have sympathy for the dilemma.

 

The thing is though, "going off on one" can significantly detract from the points raised, and sometimes those who defend those actions then not only dismiss you as a ranting keyboard warrior, but chuck everyone else making the same criticism in perhaps a little more held-back fashion into the same pot too. I've never found it necessary to get personal, the actions speak for themselves. stick to them and an argument against them is surely difficult to make. Introduce personalities and it muddies everything.

 

But supporting the board while holding your nose is just enabling the board.

By saying nothing and doing nothing, it allows the board to get away with this.

There is also a difference between holding your nose and actually supporting the eviction as well.

 

There are differences, I agree. But life isn't always completely black and white, so I'll both remain completely clear about my position, and refrain from damning those who disagree with it.

 

Absolutely, but if you want money from those who may potentially disagree with you then you need to explain your position.

And as difficult as things can be, there are times when people and organisation need to make a stand. There comes a point where saying 'it is difficult' becomes a fig leaf to hide behind to justify inertia, or tacit support for the board. I may not agree with the posters who openly support the board, but I do respect that they are honest in their opinions. Even if no one has explained once, how evicting the S&DRT benefits the WSR in the short, medium or long term.

 

More than 24hrs have passed since I sent this to both the WSRA and Steam Trust, simple questions and yet no answer. Just what are they trying to hide!

Yes I’ve had two replies from the WSRA chairman both decaring all 3 boards are working together at the moment but this does not answer the questions posed! The WSRA chairman in one email said and I quote it could simply be explained away as a “cock up”!

 

As I have said before I do not really understand the ins and outs of what seems a very strange organisation. But thought I would look at the appeal page to see how it was worded, bearing in mind all the debate on here.
I was very surprised to see as list of donors with the amount given against it, (is this an attempt to shame lower donors in to giving more?). I would have thought this was not normal for an appeal and at a random check the SVR and Swanage Railways only give a current total amount, and although the Bluebell does also have a donors list (incl if gift aided) but it seems to have many more in the "Anonymous" category.
Maybe a donors and amount is is usual for appeals but I can not say I have noticed it before.