West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Yes, you are basically correct - group efforts, not just parts of the NYMR but also associated groups such as the LNERCA and A4 Society, agreed what fund raising they could do, where and when and I think this and certainly 'NYMR Appeals' are managed through the Fund Raising Committee. Some are basically run by the Committee and particularly the Fund Raising Officer (e.g. water supply at Grosmont MPD, lineside fencing etc.) while others have their own groups running them and organising and staffing fund raising events (The 367 Dame Vera Lynn Appeal). Major appeals such as Bridges and Wheels were managed centrally (probably the time the present Fund Raising structure was born), with wide input from all areas.

The issue of 'don't bother the passengers too many times' was and I presume still is very much in peoples' minds when planning what Appeals and how they would be promoted.

Fund raising efforts are generally directed to specific purposes rather than an event for 'general' funds - this is seen as more 'appealing' and successful. Cash for Coal was probably the nearest to a 'general' appeal - collection evelopes instead of a larger fare rise when fuel prices went up even more.

Allowing unconnected charities to collect on a Registered Charity's premises is actually quite a complex area!

The above could be a bit out of date as I haven't been involved for over a year now.

Steven

 

Alternatively, one could emphasise the interesting geology of the area, as my now wife once did while doing geology fieldwork on the beach at Watchet. She got rather bored with people asking what she was doing, and when an American asked her, she pointed out that the valley and harbour are a transcurrent reverse fault.

Much confusion on tourist's face.

"Kind of like the San Andreas"

A very worried face

"But don't worry, it hasn't moved in millions of years"

Sigh of relief.

 

The subject of on-train appeals/collections on the NYMR took a bit of time to sort out and settle down. The LNERCA were first off the mark, but were quickly followed by other groups once they realised how much could be made. In the LNERCA's case we were selling specially made DVDs produced by a member, but a suggestion that a donation would be a welcome alternative usually had most people producing a pound or two. Later, as more groups followed suit we reached agreement to restrict our activities to the teak train with them covering the other sets - that was how we tried to not bother people too many times but it was quite hard to maintain that discipline. It was all worked out without any help from the then GM although we did try to involve him. By and large we have found that when people are seated within the products of our fundraising they are moved to be generous!

 

Stogumber Lighting Chsnges

Phase 1 of the lighting changes at Stogumber station was carried out today. The new lamp was installed on the corner of the station building to light the car park. This was the lamp for which Minehead Loco manufactured the bracket. The two non-Railway lamps have been disconnected (left hand in the shot).

Phase 2 of the work is to dig out the two non-Railway lamps and install the new GWR pattern lamp on the crossing down side. This is due to be carried out on Sat 25 November and some more help with the labour would be appreciated.

Robin Moira White

 

Much better , though the Beware of Trains is rather in your face , but then it is doing it's job .

 

The 'Beware of Train' dates from the time you stepped through the gate and immediately on to the track between the cattle dock and the goods shed.

I wonder if it is really needed today.

Robin

 

Probably no application for them Robin, but I wondered if you (or others) have seen these lamps? They're actually LED bulbs.

 

Thanks for that Mr Howards. I also found this on the tube of you.

 

Agreed.
Perhaps it could be replaced with "BEWARE of CREAM TEAS" or "STOGUMBER"
& a smaller "BEWARE of TRAINS" sign closer to the track.

.... all in due time, of course....

 

We already have one of those awful modern things on galvanised posts either side of the crossing....

No one could describe them as small.

Robin

 

I rest my case...............

 

Deleted.

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #121

Dunster 1965 / 2017

Looking west towards Minehead. The alteration of the double track to Minehead into two independent single lines would not occur until the following year.

Points of reference are the station name Board and the lamp hut.

Copyright CL Caddy / Robin White

1965


2017

 

Not sure whether this Minehead station totem up for auction today is of any interest? https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0066/lot-5dc59ebf-2925-4009-b8c5-a82200b6982f


As an aside its a whole sale full of ex railway signs etc so might be worth a quick look to see if any worth acquiring if they'd be more sympathetic than others currently in use.

 

Thanks for the notice. (Very helpful if WSR relevant items come up to be told of them.)

The WSSRT has an example on display at Blue Anchor, so I am not sure this (relatively poor condition?) example would be of interest for the 'official' collection but I am sure there will be a WSR supporter or two who might think of making a bid.

Now, if it were a 'Stogumber' totem....

Robin

 

Be careful! I am not saying this object is doubtful but railwayana is getting such inflated prices that fakery seems to be on the increase. Better to get some honest replicas made up. Certainly never buy anything unseen.

Having said that, an organisation I am connected with did break this rule by buying an object offered from abroad. However, the "vibes" (including the price) seemed right and all proved well. Not advisable without a great deal of caution though.

Someone has gone to the trouble of establishing a Facebook page regarding fake railwayana at auctions and on the internet. Worth a look.

PH

 

To be fair Paul, in this instance its part of a bigger collection of varied railwayana that in the most part had been collected locally to the previous owner (hence the predominance of signs like Dilton Marsh, Devizes and Westbury). I came across this on the local news this morning so was having a nose to see if there was anything in there I "needed" - fortunately not so no delicate negotiations needed!

 

I don't suppose there is a serious collector of railwayana who has not been "had" at some time or another.

PH

 

Some while ago, I was involved in discussions about a train staff that had come up for auction that related to a particular bit of a current preserved railway. After some discussion (with people far more expert than me) the decision was made not to bid, as we couldn't reconcile the labelling of the staff and certain features it had, notably an attached Annett's Key. My suspicion is that it was probably a genuine staff and Annett's Key, but had been relabelled (the labels are brass stampings with the names of the block posts at each end) with different labels to increase its value by adding more notable stations.

Tom

 

These are links to FB groups about railwayana:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/358042124543551/

https://www.facebook.com/GW.Railwayana.Auctions/

I'm not a 'collector' by any definition!