Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Appears to be a big organisation attitude being applied to a small one as @Jamessquared has indicated. See my comments 3 above. With predictable consequences. This is why we need some fresh blood with the 3 Trustee positions available at the AGM in May.

 

Given the demands of the Secretarial positions, particularly if voluntary, and the fact that the two organizations have different focuses (the CIC the running of the existing railway and the Trust the overall rebuilding of the line) would it not be better to separate the two roles and spread the work between two people ?

 

I think it's one that could be argued either way given the connections between the two organisations. I'd be more concerned to get the right person in each role, and have the continuity that would be required.

 

This job, like the accountancy bookkeeping role, comes occasionally and in intense rushes, some days together. And then there is the writing up of minutes from notes while the turns of phrase are fresh in the mind (unless you use a tape-recorder) and dealing with Trustees' instructions. So that comment I agree with.

 

Since the CIC company is controlled by the Trust (which owns over 75% of the shares) it would make sense to me to combine, or jointly undertake, as many admin tasks as possible for the Group of companies (as many other organisations do) and for the Railway always to speak and act with one voice. Ffestiniog, as always, is a good example with the Festiniog Railway Co. controlled by the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Trust but their respective actions & admin (and of various other subsidiary trading companies in the FfR Group) almost indistinguishable to anyone outside the office.

 

I agree, provided that the boundaries are clearly understood and demarcated. The issues with OSHI shareholdings and funding were in large part because those boundaries weren't obviously well defined or respected.

 

There are various legal obligations on companies which the Company Secretary is usually expected to action. That task really needs to be with someone who knows what he is doing. However, the Secretary will quite often require a person to deal with general correspondence, especially in a relatively small organisation and this role may well suit another person and can easily be segregated from the role of C.S. It's the same with minutes secretary. These things can easily be spread around three volunteers, making the task so much easier and more attractive to them.

 

A great weekend was had by all last week. The weather at Woody Bay was brilliant and the task of relaying the yard into its new configuration was very interesting. We moved some points around and set a new temporary curve at the start of the transhipment siding. Eventually, this siding will be moved towards the car park to make way for the carriage shelter.

 

A great effort lads

 

Based on the recent photos, the dock road access (point 5) will now be off the transhipment siding. So what will now provide the trapping of the headshunt/carriage siding to protect the Up Loop?

 

Luckily we have someone in Stuart Nelhams as General Manager who will surely have considered such issues.

 

No doubt, but - nice as the photos are - it would be interesting to know more background about the plans.

 

The full details of the planning application, including plans and elevations of the shelter, are available to view online:
https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/exmoor/application-details/24964

 

If you look at those plans, they show an unchanged track plan, which clearly no long is the case. Anyway, alterations to PW and signalling are unlikely to be subject to planning scrutiny anyway. If you remove the existing trap protection then there has to be a plan for an acceptable alternative. If you simply move the trap further away, then you need to recalculate the compensator locations etc. So hopefuly someone, somewhere knows the plan?

 

A small update showing progress on Van 23 and Coach 9 - March 2025 Carriage Report - The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway

 

If they make the siding sloppy to run away from the mainline then hopefully nothing will roll away on it. And they would have to have a sign by law to say no engines to be kept here just caridges

how is the extension going? When I was on the train and got to killertons lane a lady said oh is that it it only lasted 5 mins. The extension is much needed to avoid bad news

 

When the extension to Cricket Field lane is complete it will change that comment to “oh is that it, it only lasted 7 and a half minutes”.

 

Yes, we would all like to have an extension, but somehow, going to Cricket Field Lane does not hit the spot for me. what we do need is money and lots of it

 

Fixed that for you Colin.

 

What - do we have permission then now ????