West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Tis true......

 

All fair comment; but on the other hand we are keen to know what is happening on the WSR, why, and what if anything can be done to improve matters. Getting little snippets of fact (or alleged fact) without explanation can be as bad as silence.

For instance, on the recent matter of a S&T person leaving; with posts on FB not visible, either because one needs to be logged in with a FB ID or because they have been removed, all most of us here can see is that an apparently expert volunteer has been driven away through being called a liar. That seems of a piece with previous actions by the PLC management, but we can't really tell. What issue did that person comment on? Was the comment true or false? Will there be an outstanding safety issue when traffic resumes? (Questions rhetorical: no answers expected here!)

 

I happened to notice on the FB site that Alan Dorrington (Mr.53808) has posted this message:

Alan Dorrington. 25 July at 06:44
'My last turn was on 53808 Dec 30th, didn’t think it would be my last last turn !

Alan has proved to be an excellent ambassador for the WSR. He was always happy to talk about his experiences at the railway and especially that of 53808.
It will be very sad if this fine railwayman has decided to leave the WSR. <BJ>

 

It could also mean that it was his last turn because he's not expecting the loco to come back. Don't give people the chance to latch on to the theory that volunteers are leaving in their droves. That thought only exists on Nat Pres.

 

You might be reading too much into it, I suspect. I took that to mean his last (i.e. most recent) turn on 53808 was last December, but with the loco moving to the MHR he wasn't expecting to get on that loco again; not that he had done his last turn on any loco on the WSR.

I don't know him, and I might be wrong of course - but I'd say beware trying to over-interpret what people write in a somewhat ephemeral medium like social media, particularly in the current climate where it seems every utterance is being parsed looking for shades of meaning which might not be there.

Tom

 

True and I hope that you're correct. But as you mention we don't know for sure. <BJ>

 

He commented on the reasons for the work on the level crossing not being finished and available for use. A certain individual said that his comments were incorrect. However when this individual was then challenged to clarify what the correct position was, there was silence.

 

Also a post by a Robin Wichard who seems to believe that the answer to the WSR being regarded in heritage railway circles as a by-word for how not to do things is censorship, i.e. preventing people finding out those things that the WSR does that others wouldn't, and calls for the FB group to be made private as a way of stopping people making all those negative comments that are the cause of all the current problems. It worked for Ceausescu, after all, didn't it?

 

Couple of things! Interesting to read that the moderators don't like the way this thread is going, and I'm very sure absolutely nobody is looking for solutions on NP, but surely discussion is discussion and as long as it doesn't get personal or illegal, then it's OK. I've learnt quite a few facts over the last couple of days between NP and fb. Posts on the fb page have disappeared and a new administrator has emerged. I have left the page myself as I find it very disingenuous, it should have been set up as a closed group and although comments have been taken personally, I certainly did not read anything directed at anyone in particular that was not just an expressed opinion.
One thing I do know.
There are none so blind as those that will not see.

 

Robin Wichard is a local "history" buff who was key to the organising, with Andy Norman, of the very succesful "40s" weekend in 2018. He is not part of the WSR management team, and I certainly dont think that his intent with this post was censorship. Like a lot of us on here who are hoping that a much loved railway will get through this traumatic time, I suspect he is trying to avoid uninformed speculation adding fuel to an already raging fire.

 

I see the gang have returned this morning. Working to complete the relay maybe?

 

Do I read from that it would be possible to reopen between Williton and Lydeard?

If so what plans are in hand to take advantage of this possibility?

 

Aren’t the only operational steam locos at Minehead though? Is the track in a state to move them to BL at the moment?

 

IS there stock at BL, Otherwise there would need to be a loco and stock movement is the line able to move an engine and coaches past the engineering work sites, as a ecs working at the moment or is there a ban on any movements outside of MH ?

 

Its interesting to see the new admin team include the PLC chairman, vice chairman and 2 paid members of staff.

Censorship in Somerset taking hold further?

 

Foxcote Manor hasn't arrived yet, has it, so could the hauler unload it either at Williton, or BL

 

I believe it’s due to feature at this weekends event at Minehead though.

 

Yes ..... 4 man volunteer gang...........& next weekend ?.....