Paul42's Recent Activity
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Paul42 liked alexl102's post in the thread Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway Updates.
Important to note regarding Embsay’s finances is that they are not cash rich. Historically money has been tight, and they've had an ongoing overdraft with the bank, loans from members etc. In the last few years, the board have done a brilliant...
May 1, 2026 at 11:14 AM -
Paul42 liked flying scotsman123's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.
Just for fun I asked AI what it thought of your proposal as a serious proposition. It wasn't having it, but tbf the response was quite good... As satire, it’s excellent. As governance design, it’s a very accurate parody of a particular failure...
Apr 30, 2026 at 6:14 PM -
Paul42 liked flying scotsman123's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.
Either you got AI to write that for you Tom, or you have too much time on your hands! [emoji23] Sent from my PGT-N19 using Tapatalk
Apr 30, 2026 at 3:23 PM -
Paul42 liked Jamessquared's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.
I think there is a very simple structural solution, and frankly I'm surprised that you haven't already seen it. Put briefly, you create a Lynton & Barnstaple Project Trustee Oversight Advisory Panel (the L&BPTO-AP) which would have a board...
Apr 30, 2026 at 2:12 PM -
Paul42 liked 21B's post in the thread North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion.
I agree. I have had similar experience. I argued that the principal customer of the railway was the volunteer. No, other board members cried, it’s th paying customer. But, the paying customer has no service if the volunteer isn’t there, was my...
Apr 30, 2026 at 10:13 AM -
Paul42 liked Steve's post in the thread North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion.
The East Lancs are holding a Thomas event this weekend. For one adult and two kids it is £49.68. On the NYMR it will be £70.95, both before any promo discount. On the ELR you get a 12 mile round trip to Ramsbottom with Thomas. On the NYMR you...
Apr 30, 2026 at 10:13 AM -
Paul42 liked 35B's post in the thread North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion.
And I think his observation about public benefit was correct, but taken to an absurd and organisation threatening extent by his contempt for the views of members. In that top down managerialist view of organisational structure*, the value of...
Apr 30, 2026 at 10:12 AM -
Paul42 liked Jamessquared's post in the thread North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion.
The problem with @Lineisclear 's view was that he would frequently seem to create logical fallacies around governance. For example, he'd start from the view point that a charity "exists to deliver a public good" (which is true), then go on to...
Apr 30, 2026 at 10:12 AM -
Paul42 liked Steve's post in the thread North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion.
A few years ago now, @Lineisclear poste on another forum something along the lines of; 'What is the NYMR there for?' I responded 'To enable the volunteer to enjoy their hobby.' @Lineisclear effectively poured scorn on that and quoted the...
Apr 30, 2026 at 10:12 AM -
Paul42 liked 21B's post in the thread North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion.
All heritage railways exist because enough people wanted them to. They continue (or not) for the same reason. Talking about profit and loss sort of misses that point. It is of course essential to know what your means are and live within them, but...
Apr 29, 2026 at 11:54 PM -
Paul42 liked 35B's post in the thread North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion.
Some would argue that, legally, this is what the NYMR Trust already is, and that the Trust/PLC set up is designed to achieve precisely that outcome. We can see how well that is working... The issue, which we've seen mentioned with NYMR and...
Apr 29, 2026 at 9:51 PM -
Paul42 liked 3ABescot's post in the thread Saphos Trains 2026.
And passing Stokesay and accelerating away from the Craven Arms water stop. [ATTACH]
Apr 29, 2026 at 4:49 PM
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Paul42 liked bluetrain's post in the thread North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion.
You are certainly right to warn of the perils of that course. If I remember rightly, the Llangollen had the advantage that the LRO and most of the line's assets belonged to the Trust, and not to the operating company which was put into...
Apr 29, 2026 at 4:49 PM -
Paul42 liked ghost's post in the thread North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion.
Serious question back to you: Let's say you find a way to oust the current management, who are you going to replace them with? Are there competent 'railway professionals' who are ready and willing to step in to the positions? You would need to...
Apr 29, 2026 at 3:54 PM
