West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Well it clearly works there! Anyway, happily it sounds like I don't need to bang this drum any more, people in positions actually able to do something about it are instead.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

Was not that the way it worked previously? Volunteers sign here then cough up your membership fee? Bad move, as said before on top of all the other costs for that to be mandatory will not be very encouraging to new recruits

 

I think Steve has said before it's never been the case? Given the WSR's volunteer retention rates a few years ago posted here, it would seem membership cost would be the least of the problems with attracting volunteers.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

Not quite right: all volunteers spend their own money, not just some. When I arrived on the WSR it did not occur to me that you could work on it without becoming a member of the supporters association. That had been my experience on the three other railways where I worked. I know others who work on the railway who had that expectation. The principle is that you draw people into membership before they necessarily want to become volunteers. That is why we have introduced a working volunteer membership subscription.

We have to be more imaginative in the way we go about things. Our vision for the railway is that the public should not notice the difference between the Plc and the Association. Most do not understand the distinction in any case, and we hope that in time the experience will be seamless between the two.

Paul

 

As I recall it was once de facto compulsory but this lapsed at some time. I suspect Robin or Faol will remember.

 

Indeed, until I started reading this thread it seemed inconceivable to me that you could volunteer at a railway without first being a member of the supporters' organisation. Clearly it is possible, though it raises the question of why would you want to? To my eyes at least, if you are prepared to identify with the ideals of an organisation sufficiently to wish to devote time to it, but not join the supporters' organisation, it says something quite profound about the organisation

In my head, there is a continuum of engagement with an organisation like a heritage railway. Most people's first contact will be as a visitor. If they like what they see, hopefully you can entice them to join the supporters' organisation. If they really like what they see there, hopefully they can be persuaded to volunteer, or donate, or both. Clearly some people jump straight from being a visitor to being a volunteer, but it feels like missing out on a whole tier of engagement.

Tom

 

Membership of the WSRA has never been compulsory for WSR volunteering.

But,of course, I wouldn’t conceive of NOT being a member.

Robin

 

I would suggest that any requirement volunteers for to join the WSRA should only apply to new ones.

 

You are quite right. That is what we hope to achieve.

Paul


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I would suggest that the operating company may wish to look as some form of assistance with uniform and that it is providing necessary PPE rather than viewing asking people to make the commitment of joining a membership body as an 'unnecessary cost'.

Of course, it is easier to justify when the membership body actually owns (or leases) the railway, but I would suggest that having working members not voting members of the owning company is bad for motivation and ensuring that Management take account of their views and experience.

Steven

 

There is more than one way of supporting the WSR, especially if you live at a distance or are unable to give free labour. The WSR PLC has a retail outlet, which can be accessed on-line. All profits go directly to them. The tricky part can be selecting the real PLC web site as search finds it mingled with three WSRA web sites.
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/souvenir-shop

 

Neither could I but making it mandatory for new volunteers would make it devisive. There are far more important matters to sort out than this!

 

Well, that's my Father Christmas list sorted .

 

A well-earned meal...

It’s not many evenings that you get to work NINE GWR signalboxes in five hours in an evening (even if eight of those are four boxes twice each). I have been ‘travelling signalman’ for a Murder Mystery Quantock Belle. So I have worked Bishops Lydeard, Crowcombe Heathfield, Williton, Blue Anchor, Minehead, Blue Anchor, Williton, Crowcombe Heathfield and Bishops Lydeard. And driven over 60 miles. Phew! Roast turkey and a point detection failure leading to the breaking of a sealed release at 21:30, Cmas pud at 00:30 and Home. Thanks are due to Dee for the food and to Sven for coping with my driving. Have you met Sven? He is Sweeeedish....

Up again at 08:00 tomorrow, but not safety critical...

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #152

Minehead Station: Edwardian / 2017

I wonder how many of these conveyances survive, and quite what they were waiting for!

Edwardian


2017

 

The loco crew are almost thawed out after running backwards in driving rain / sleet.

 

Luxury!

 

We need more Prairies !!!

 

Or even BR standards

gets coat

 

Pity that turning triangle is too far south service trains ....