S&D Railway Trust

The S. & D. 7Fs were known for cylinder lubrication issues, "unearthly groaning noises emanating from the cylinders" have been referred to (some of you will know from where this is taken).

Tribology remains an area where the steam locomotive needs more development, to be fair there were developments it is just a case of people deciding that the at best barely adequate was good enough and so systems and methods remained in use for decades after they should have been replaced. Just something else to add to the list really.

 

Just recieved

Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust

Dear John

Chairman's message to members

Washford lease



On the evening of Thursday 20 January, solicitors acting for respectively, the West Somerset Railway plc and the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust Ltd, concluded negotiations which had been in progress for well over a year. On Thursday, we officially relinquished our occupation of the station building and signal box at Washford. A new arrangement for the yard at Washford came into play which means that we will continue using the site up until 30 November 2023.

This is in order to completely evacuate the site, removing the remainder of any museum items, track, the shed, and all that is within it. It will be a Herculean task, requiring all the human resources we can muster. We have the spring edition of the Pines Express magazine being published next month so I will then give more information on what this may entail. One thing is certain; the influx of new members over the last two years has benefited us, not only in moral support but also cash. The next phase will require extra financial support, but I will also be seeking additional practical involvement in a number of areas.

I could easily use words like end of the beginning, chapters in a story and all of these have a bearing on where we find ourselves. I am content to express my gratitude to all those who have brought us to this point in, sometimes, difficult physical and time-constrained circumstances. They are the Directors, Officers, and volunteers of the Trust who, though too numerous to mention by name here, represent a only a small proportion of the membership.

Ian Young

 

Best wishes for the future.
Hope it all goes well.

 

What an absolutely colossal waste of time, effort and money for both sides. So after the panic to get out ASAP, the WSR have conceded and allowed the SDRT another couple of years to clear the site? Obviously the need for the site isn't that urgent then.

 

Nothing to really celebrate there but at least the legal wrangling is over. And we now know the shed is going too, that took up quite a few pages of discussion. What an utter waste of time and money for both parties.

 

I won’t like that as it seems a little wrong, I will however agree with you.
What a bloody waste.

 

And there were those from the WSR posting on here who seemed to think the track and shed would be left behind for their own use.

At least the SDRT now have the time to remove their assets. But yes what a huge waste. What have the WSR gained from this?

 

At least now the situation is now clear, the trust is leaving the WSR completely how does this impact on the agreement the trust had with the PLC over the overhaul of 53808, ?will the Trust's legal team be in discussions with the PLC over a suitable payment to the Trust to resolve this matter ?

 

Whilst sharing the dismay of others for the deeply unimpressive manner in which things have been (mis)handled over the past couple of years, even this late in the day, I'm relieved a modicum of sanity and civility has finally emerged.

Good to see a silver lining in the post from @johnofwessex in the statement the influx of new members over the last two years has benefited us, not only in moral support but also cash

I'd like to join others in wishing the trust every success in a more assured future.

 

Without a doubt one of the most futile and self destructive episodes in Railway preservation history. The WSR has lost a loco, supporters, a valuable support group, a museum and station group.

The PLC came out with all that BS about how they needed Washford urgently and that has been shown to be just that - BS.

So for all this, and all the money and energy wasted the WSR gains a brown field in 2 years. Well done PLC *golf clap*

I've no doubt the lackeys and apologists will spring to the defence of the PLC claiming that it was either part of the plan all along, or that the leadership have plans for it, but that they are super secret special plans that only those in the know can know.

What a total waste, for absolutely nothing,

 

It'll be closer to four by the end. They received the notice to quit in February 2020 and only wrapping up at the end of 2023.

 

They lost a out-of-ticket Peckett lol, and yes you are right, the S&DJRT were paying next to nothing on rent on Washford!

 

Maybe in simple monetary terms perhaps but...look what they brought to the WSR over the years in terms of a large and very useful loco, a Museum, care and maintenance of a station and passengers/visitors, not to mention all the blood, sweat and tears expended at little or no expense to the Plc. In contrast, now we have a closed station at which trains do not stop, little or nothing to attract visitors, and shortly a derelict waste land in the former yard; hopefully a situation to be rectified in due course, but of course at ongoing expense to the Plc.

The phrase 'scorched earth policy' comes to mind, tho' usually that is not done with the consent of the land-owner

Sic transit gloria.....:-(

 

Gentlemen ..... we all know what happened, past tense. Dunno 'bout you folks, but my TARDIS doesn't exist. What useful purpose is served by continuing the slanging match any longer? For Bob's sake, if owt hasn't already been said, several times, chances are, it really isn't worth saying.

The announcement, in my view, represents an opportunity to draw a line under a less than glorious episode, stow the handbags and re-engage forward gear. Shall we take that opportunity?

 

It does matter going forward. The WSR have lost a loco, a support group, and museum as well as alienating potential donors, all of which may or may not come back to bite the WSR's management on the arse. (How is that appeal going?) Secondly, the S&DRT have expended huge amounts of energy and funds on moving everything from Washford and will continue to have to do so for the next two years. Going forward, the repercussions of the stupidity of WSR Senior Management and their supporters and enablers is going to continue to cost both organisations.

And for what - a brown field.

 

Howard,

Can I suggest gently that your above post was beneath you and a simplistic reply on this thread. I totally agree with 'Monkey Magic' on all this.

You cannot underestimate the effect of the Notice to Quit on the SDRT and it's board and members. And the financial consequences.

 

What I think we can say is that the impact on the S&DRT is to some extent quantifiable, and may have worked to its advantage.

What is not clear is the impact the decision will have on the long term future of the WSR and I dont think it has done them any favours and is not quantifiable.

 

What is not quantifiable is whether the WSR will undertake it's contractual commitment to overhaul to contractual spec 53808. This jewel on the crown of the SDRT.

What is not quantifiable is the enormous stress and workload created upon the board of the SDRT, and it's active volunteers.

May I just add that 'negotiations concluded' over Washford is also not a statement that there is now a new 'signed sealed and delivered' lease in place supplanting the previous long lease, nor does it make any comment on matters pertaining to 53808.

Potentially, the SDRT is susceptible to similar problems in the future with the Mid Hants/Watercress Line. I trust not, but who would have thought or even predicted what would have happened with the WSR say 3 years ago - then the sudden and unexpected 'Notice to Quit'.