West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Didn't you know that you can easily clear out cookies?

 

Some of the facebook wsr 'pages' are closed groups so you do need a fb account, then you have to apply to the page to be accepted as a 'member' of the group before you can read anything in there. I did join a few but I've ignored the others, if they aren't 'public' I'm no longer interested. This was the latest one:-

 

That looks like heat expansion to me.

Turkey was the railway crossing a slip fault line:


The earth actually moved sideways over several yards. Needs more than a tamper to sort that one out.

 

Ian Coleby mentions,in post 11115, that there a lot of communications on line and in other media but they are uncoordinated. He is correct. Below is a list of WSR/WSRA web sites that anyone searching for information about the West Somerset Railway will find - and that does not include any that are on Facebook or any of the other groups that form part of the WSR.

http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/
http://www.wsr.org.uk/
https://wsraplus.wordpress.com/page/3/
https://www.wsra.org.uk/
http://www.wsra-railway-history.co.uk/news/

 

I think the main problem is that everyone has their own preferred method of getting information, be it Facebook, emails or whatever, some are happy to dig around on the internet a little, others expect to be spoon-fed. Using those links given above, Facebook and this forum, I think I keep up to date pretty well with what is happening, and I don't mind visiting several sites to get that news.

Can anyone give examples of a heritage line which does a good job of communication the latest news, which the WSR could study with a view to emulating?

 

We are trying very hard to up the standard and advise people. This was published to members yesterday and to you today as you played a major part in some of it.

 

GWSR departments make good use of the blogspot format, most departments have their own blogs, most of which are updated at least weekly. There's a page on our main website where all the links to the various blogs are displayed along with extracts from the latest few entries. It does take a dedicated individual or two per department to remember to take photos when they're around, and then spend an hour or so writing it all up in the evening.

 

Yep - good eh? There's a lot of WSR stuff out there for people to find and enjoy. Well done to all those hard working folks working on WSR websites, blogs, pages, that publish responsible content.

An internet search will invariably have the official website at the top of the list. Just how it should be. Most people who search for "West Somerset Railway" will quickly find what they are looking for.

Following a discussion with a WSR supporter I have started editing the links page on wsr.org.uk to include some of the social media pages and hope to upload the revised links page in a day or two.

Of course, in my dream world, the WSR would be run by a single organisation (a charitable trust) and its website would be the only main focus and act as a gatekeeper for any associated websites dealing with specifics. But first of all, that dream has to come true...

Steve

 

If only!

 

We are all very fortunate for all the hard work that goes into maintaining a website or blog. Having run a very modest website for a couple of years I am constantly amazed at how Steve keeps his site going year after year. Long may it continue.

 

A more sensible dream than some in railway preservation.

PH

 

I've been a member of Face Book for 4 years or more without any problems and I haven't heard of anyone having problems . Having said that I'm sure there will be a deluge of upset FB contributors who will put me right . As I see it as long as there is adequate security on your internet system then all should be ok . Fingers Xed .

 

Steve

I’ll let you into a secret (if you don’t tell anyone). It already is.

My understanding of the position is:

The WSRA owns 9% of the WSR plc shares. The WSSRT has 6%. Were they to amalgamate (How many charitable Trusts do we need?) they would have 15%.

50% of the WSR plc shares are entirely dormant (purchasers probably deceased).

So that 15% is in reality 30%.

The rest of the shares are held by individuals in (relatively) penny packets and only around 1% usually vote at an AGM.

So the combined Trusts holding ARE a controlling interest (and the WSRA probably is on its own).

Rather than alter the existing structure (very difficult), you would be better to campaign for the WSRA and WSSRT to amalgamate.

I have to say that I was really worried that the X6 would work this out, because they could have voted their way to control of the WSR plc. Fortunately, it appears they never worked this out.

‘Better together.’ Oh, hang on, hasn’t someone else used that slogan recently?

Robin

 

My dream is not about controlling the Plc. It is about the right structure for our Railway. The Plc do a fine job, in my view, operating the Railway, and that's what I'd like to see those same folks doing 100% but under the guidance of a body with a much wider remit. Difficult to change the existing structure? You bet. But better to do the right thing for the long term. It's just a dream.

Steve

 

Thats why I have a 38 inch waist...................

 

The Bluebell has a fortnighly email Newsletter that is sent out Sunday evening see the last one here http://campaign.r20.constantcontact...18574&ca=998135f0-fc52-4c41-8962-1aa448957e48

 

NZ? Oh drat, can't blame that one on brexit then

Turkey? Oh that's better... That one we can

Or could this one have the caption "Channel tunnel rail chaos as as the EU and UK still can't reach agreement"?

 

The Swanage and the Bluebell both have the structure you favour. The problem about the operating company being the ‘lead’ body is that day-to-Day stuff becomes the be all and end all of what we do. Plenty of present examples of that.

Amalgamation of our two charities would significantly change the balance in just the way you (and I) seek and would ensure that the focus on being a ‘heritage’ Railway is at the forefront of what we do as opposed to being pushed off into a corner as the WSR plc seems to propose presently.

Robin

 

"We trained hard ... but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization." Once attributed to Petronious but this has been questioned. Whoever wrote it the words still ring true. I am not against reorganisation per se but caution is needed.

 

Hear, hear!