West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I gather it was the time which the journey took. Not everyone is enthused by moorland.

 

Tripartite WSR Fundraising group http://www.wsr.org.uk/fundraising-1.pdf - and @Robin Moira White chairing. Sensible rebooting ideas too. I hope it's a success.

The group (with Steve Williams representing the PLC) is recommending the PLC considers running trains this summer.

Patrick

 

Would seem rather perverse therefore to choose to go on that journey! A bit like visiting Buckingham Palace and then saying “to tell you the truth, I’m not really into royal palaces ...”

I remember doing the Taeri Gorge railway in NZ - the first few miles are not the greatest scenery, but there is a element of building anticipation for the journey ahead. (Not to mention the irritating fact that Dunedin resists all attempts at being moved any closer...)

My own feeling about length - ignoring the cost equation for a minute - is that you know what you are booking before getting on. If you book on a three hour round trip, you can’t complain if it takes three hours. You can legitimately complain if it takes four hours due to operational issues, or the carriages aren’t clean, or a myriad other things.

Tom

 

To misquote Booth and Cleese: "Well, may I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Yorkshire moorland train window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically -?"

Patrick

 

Not my thoughts as you will appreciate but it is easy to have too much of a good thing.

 

Railway enthusiasts do tend, I am afraid, to assume that non-enthusiasts will have the same priorities. Extend the run and you are stuck with a longer period aboard, regardless. Unless there is more than one set in service there will be no means of making the journey shorter and if you have not been before you can have no idea of what to expect. On one place visited, the scenery was ho-hum at best, the rolling stock grubby and the piece de resistance was a fairly prolonged water stop with a view of the local sewage works through the window. Needless to say I have not been back.

 

The Chair has been pretty much in control since the end of 2018.

Since then, a loco has been sold, another has an asset-backed loan against it (which I don't think shows on Companies House...), the S&DRT issued with the Notice to Quit, & non-payment on a contract with the WSRA.

It's an interesting blueprint, & even an outline of it doesn't seem to have been shared with anyone.

Our nearest supermarket has changed hands, & the new owners have given out plenty of info, even attended the local Forum & shared the plans, took in suggestions to pass upwards, etc.

Emergencies are about incident management. Yes, someone needs to take charge, but they need to delegate things to ensure they get done & the incident is managed.
"You, phone 999"
"Is anyone medically or first aid trained"
"You, go there & get the first aid kit"

If you busy yourself with the first aid, then your not phoning for help or getting the first aid kit.
If you busy yourself with phoning for help, then your not finding a first aider or getting the kit.

 

I spotted that, & it's good news.

It does show that now, when there's not much happening, is a good time to get on with structural changes.
Hopefully the next move/change doesn't take the 3+ years that this one has.

 

Sheep on the tracks?

 

To be fair to Paul's friend, it is easy to make the mistake of thinking that the North York Moors Railway will give you sweeping views across the North York Moors, when, in fact, the railway was constructed in a valley. I know at least one person who was unimpressed with their day out on the NYMR for this reason.

 

I'm sure sheep could sweep majestically given sufficient encouragement.

 

You overlook the customer bases of Exeter, Torbay, and coastal towns - about 250,000 inhabitants only about an hour's drive away - and also Plymouth, another 250K, an hour and a half or so. Not as big as Bristol but a good market all the same.

 

I am reminded of those who travel on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, then complain on TripAdvisor that it goes to neither place. I'm not sure then what they would have made of the Manchester & Milford!

Does those who travel on the "Great Western Railway" out of Paddington these days complain about the lack of steam engines with nice shiny chimneys?

 

Totally O.T., but they have ceased operations in the last week. Glad I did it back in 1993.....
Reference to WSR removed as to elaborate further would contravene the "play the ball rather than the man" rules.........

 

Yes, I do !

 

Pleased to see the HOBC today made its fourth visit of the week.

Steve

 

Thank you. This a serious attempt to change the fundraising game in Somerset. Rome wasn’t built in a day. No question is a stupid question, no comment unwelcome, and no offer of help will be ignored.

Robin

 

2 or 3 of us are working over there tomorrow too ....