West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Such a bizarre situation.

 

This froideur between the plc and the Association is not helping anyone - they need each other. The WSR has made such amazing progress since the dark days of the early 80s, it would be a shame to fall out now.

 

Its going to be flipping war isn't?

 

I think it already is, to be honest. I'm a WSRA member but I've never been to a WSRA AGM - yet. I will be making the effort to attend the next one, which is the weekend after next. It will be interesting to see what is said, what questions are asked and how they are answered.

 

I don't want to sound rude but how is being one of the top railways in the country, acting like its on the playground. They were formed to run a railway, not to reenact the English Civil War....

This sort of thing winds me up, its not the way to run railway preservation.

 

You won't get any argument from me. The sooner both sides can be persuaded to grow up and bury their differences the better. Whether there is a willingness on either side to do this is another question.

 

It will all be very diplomatic!!!
Most railways have had this sort of problem over the years,some we hear about and some we don't.
I'm not taking sides as we do not know all the facts and are never likely to know either.
It would be nice to have just one organisation controlling all facets of a railway.But a charity cannot be involved in certain commercial activities and that's why we have PLCs.

 

A couple of points on the above comments. I can assure folks that the WSR Plc are, quite rightly, in absolute control of all operations concerning the running of the railway; and in broad terms, the WSRA, like many charities, is perfectly entitled to support its aims through use of appropriate commercial activities.

I understand the arguments, for and against, on both sides which magnifies the disappointment and frustration for me.

But. A glimmer of hope! I believe there are moves afoot to bring these troubles to an end, perhaps through some kind of mediation. There will need to be compromise on both sides, and rightly so in my view. All WSR supporters must surely be waiting for a new beginning...

Steve

 

News from WSR plc: "The new locomotive servicing pit extension at Minehead is in progress. This work will allow easy access to two locomotives at the same time and improve working conditions for locomotive crews. Work is likely to take 4 weeks to completion, during which time special arrangements for the normal daily servicing of locomotives is in place. The work is being jointly funded, 50% by the WSR plc with 50% match funding from the ‘Rural Development Programme for England’ . The grant has been made available by the ‘Western Somerset Local Action Group’."

Picture

Steve

 

Copied from WSR plc. website
"
The West Somerset Railway was disappointed to learn from Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited that the overhaul of number 7820 will not be completed in time for it to take part in the WSR’s Autumn Steam Gala between October 3rd and 6th.

However a replacement with strong Cambrian section connections has been obtained in the form of 7822 "Foxcote Manor” courtesy of its owners the Foxcote Manor Society. Built at Swindon in 1950 the engine was originally allocated to Oswestry and was withdrawn from Shrewsbury in 1965. It spent 9 years in Woodhams Yard at Barry before being purchased for preservation. Initially it returned to Oswestry but has subsequently spent most of its time as a crucial part of the steam fleet at the Llangollen Railway, continuing its service on former Western Region metals in Mid Wales."

 

As mediator myself, I shall wait to see how this develops

 

It would certainly be nice to see an outbreak of cooperation. No heritage railway can afford this sort of squabbling.

 

Deleted

 

For those WSRA members interested this is a statement that was not allowed to be read out at the WSRA AGM.

 

It does seem rather confrontational? Wonder how all this will end.Its not doing anything for the moral of lovers of the WSR.

 

I'm afraid that's what it seems to have descended to.

Having attended the AGM, I have come away disillusioned and I really don't know whether I want to continue to remain a WSRA member or not.

 

That's a shame daveb - can you explain why you feel that way?

What have the WSRA done that makes you question your membership?

Do you have any thoughts on how the Plc have acted?

It'd be really useful to hear from you.

Steve

 

Perhaps because only questions from WSRA members are allowed at the AGM? And this is clearly from the Plc which is not a member of the WSRA. Funny how when the WSRA follow correct protocol it is seen as wrong.

Some people from both sides, who are clearly more responsible than Morgan and who are clearly greater supporters of the railway than Morgan, are trying (despite this amazingly unhelpful interruption) to broker some peace in West Somerset.

Please give those guys a chance. Hang on in there with us and, with a bit less aggression from some people, we might see some progress. I assume WSR supporters do want progress?

Steve

 

Hi Steve, if you read the statement again David Morgan is a WSRA Member and therefore entitled to ask. We do want progress and Robin White has an excellent idea which I will be following. Because of the strict rules on the wsrvolunteers site I cannot post them here but I understand they will be on your old group tomorrow.

This hopefully will be the start of the new future of the WSRA & the PLC

Rodders

 

I couldn't agree more with your last statement.

I'm pleased to read what you said, Rodders. I am not a member of "my old site" or your wsrvolunteers site but I am in touch with developments, thanks.

Yes Morgan is entitled to ask but Morgan wrote his letter on WSR Plc headed notepaper thus it is an official Plc document. If he'd had the sense to write it on plain paper, the AGM might have heard his questions, and we would not need this discussion.

Steve