West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Yes. I’ve read it and it provides no useful guidance which is what was asked.

 

That's odd, the version I saw after following the link to it didn't have the header, the letter started with the title. Curious.

 

As regards the rights and wrongs, Clearly there are some who would love to see the spotlight on their actions diverted away , so that they can continue their devious schemes in the dark, Without having to account for them. I view operations as being a general WSR thread, what else can it be? the eviction is a separate subject, but will have other links to other actions of the management, so there will be some cross over.

 

WSRA Trustee nomination process is now open. See WSRA web site for details.

 

Guilty as charged m'lud :-(

I plead mitigating circumstances:- one post referred to visiting specific WSR locations, the other related specifically to Washford. But, as the man used to say on the TV, "I will say this only once..."

 

It is always important to be careful about crediting gender correctly...

 

{Well, my attempt to follow my own suggestion failed; so, since there is no other WSR thread, I'll try this one now. Apologies to those who want to see posts about WSR operations here...}

I was one of those who weren't quite quick enough, but I'm curious to see what it actually said. (Another lesson in the Streisand Effect, for whoever sent it out originally?); Can someone who saved a copy oblige? Thanks...

Noel

 

here

 

Another one gone

Presumably without 'Due Process'

The situation saddens me, it does no good to the wider heritage railway community that long standing volunteers are being shown the door for no reason other than not being flavour ob the month with the board.

I am in a situation where volunteering in a heritage railway is starting to look like a possibility, do I want to do so in a sector where these things go on.

Many years ago we had disagreements & rows a plenty in one organisation I volunteered for. Some people got very upset but nobody got expelled or sacked.

 

These are often people who have served the railway for many years, and clearly, only yes men are now welcome , i'm not sure how history will view this chapter of the West Somerset Railway , but i don't think it will be seen as a good time,

 

Hopefully the WSR is simply a one off. After reading about other railways within a couple of hours drive from my home I'm sorry to say that I wouldn't even consider becoming a volunteer in west Somerset. A hobby such as ours should be thoroughly enjoyable. I wouldn't want to volunteer at a preserved railway where I felt the need to be looking over my shoulder all the time or worrying that I'd be kicked out for speaking my mind. <BJ>

 

I've been thinking that for months, if not years.

 

It goes back further than that, the ancient Roman philosophy was based on the concept of 'divide and rule'. What's different ?

 

It would unfortunately be very much your loss not to volunteer on the WSR. The picture painted by a few on here bears no resemblance to the everyday experience I find by volunteering on the WSR and I would go so far as to say that it is by far the friendliest line of the four on which I have spent varying amounts of time in nearly 50 years of volunteering. Several lines are closer to me including the GWSR, DFR, AVR and others but frankly they pale and I prefer to go the extra distance to a line which is attractive in length, destination, gradients, simply more "real" and is staffed by friendly volunteers. No heritage railway is perfect, all have political issues from time to time. The coverage the railway gets on this and other threads is frankly unbalanced and most of the time overlooks the considerable value of this particular line. Please note that I state a personal opinion and will not be entering into any ding dong of pointless posts replying.

 

I was speaking to a volunteer who visited the Gwili pre lockdown in February and he told me that he volunteered on the WSR as he found it to be one of the friendliest lines (he also volunteers at a number of other sites).

So yes, I personally agree with @1472 and don’t think what is on this thread is representative of the railway as a whole.

regards

Matt

 

Sorry but I feel that that the WSR, until recently one of my favourite preserved railways, has been poisoned by managerial decisions.
How could I possibly volunteer knowing that an established group that I have respected for many years had been so unfairly evicted.
Therefore sadly, I won't be taking the chance. <BJ>

 

Many of us agree with this, Matt. There are over 700 active volunteers on the WSR and sadly, from time to time, in an organisation this size a small number will decide that they want to criticise the organisation in public. Whilst individuals are, in a free society, able to put their point of view into the public domain, any responsible company (which includes the WSR) is not going to enter into a public debate as to the rights and wrongs of the specific personal situation as the company see it. This however, as we have all seen, leaves the way open for all sorts of individuals to pile in and support the individual, whoever that may be, knowing half the story. (Sometimes these contributions are accompanied by demands that, if the company disagree, then it should put forward it's own position, on whatever is being discussed, on this forum.).

But the short response is that if you want to find out what it's like to volunteer on the West Somerset come and try it - after we get through the present Covid situation. You will be very welcome and you may find you end up here longer than you expect! Back in 1984 I didn't anticipate being involved for long either...and although I may be accused of many things, keeping quiet is not one of them!

Frank

 

It seems to me as a disinterested party that the WSR plc have initiated and participated in a public debate that rather undermines your claim that they are responsible.