West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Brrr is my reaction to those excellent pictures!

 

In that case we need a precise definition of "Operations". As I see it its meaning could range from just operating the trains themselves to how the railway operates in totality including fundraising, public relations, cost of movements for gala, future and past events, future restoration projects, all the associated organisations, and so on.

I'm sure Robin would help draft a watertight definition.

Finally. All threads on the internet drift and this one is no exception.

 

As always, it's a balancing act. Some thread drift leads to new and often fascinating threads (that on loco coal being a prime recent example - it turned out to be an excellent and highly informative digression IMO).

Of course, if our moderators just moved offending posts to a dedicated thread instead of sitting back slurping tea and complaining**.......

Whazzat? ..... Oh righty-ho. Well, it was nice getting to know you all!

**Which, as a prime example of sheer hypocrisy, is precisely what I'm currently doing myself!

Thinks: Should I post this .... Oh bol***s! I think I just hit the Reply to Thr

 

I have no idea on transport costs but 12k per railway would represent 36k for the three railway round robin trip.

 

My comment about Robin was meant to be tongue in cheek. However my point (which the moderator choose to ignore) remains that since "operations" is undefined then there is no genuine cause for complaint regarding recent drifts in the discussions.

 

Nice to see you back on-line.

DJB.

 

Well, that fell on lots of deaf ears didn't it!

Stef.

 

Just an WSR interlude when nothing much is happening on the line. Similar to August newspaper reporting.

 

Well, I took my two youngest riding today. While they were at a riding centre near BL, my oldest & I saw the Driver Experience train then walked the Mineral Railway from Watchet to Washford and back. Very nice it was to.

It seems like Rome, all roads lead to Stogumber - and I never realised how big it was.

 

It’s a great place to live. I can get to any of the 5 Signal boxes in less than 17 minutes. It has to be understood that the WSR road system of today is largely a Victorian creation. Before that, Stogumber was on the way from Taunton to Watchet and Minehead.

Robin

 

From my visit though I do think that more could be done to promote Watchet as a destination & The Mineral Railway Walk

 

There’s a lot to do.

As a small part of the jigsaw, a group of us got together at Minehead today to test load some military vehicles and take some shots to be used to promote the 50’s weekend in September. This was @Andy Norman ’s show and I am sure he will circulate some photos shortly.

But try these as a taster.

Robin
(Back to self-aggrandisement tomorrow, signwriting stock at Minehead)

 

Ooh lucky you!

 

The problem is not unique to heritage railway organisations. In my experience individuals get elected to the management of voluntary organisations because they are well known for their interest and knowledge of the club’s objectives and not for their management expertise. At small club level this may be OK but once an organisation grows to the size of a small business genuine professional expertise is needed. That is what IMHO what happened to the WSRA plus a very unusual combination of individuals determined to seize control. That combined with the apathy of a large number of members led to the disaster we all know only too well. The situation at the WSR PLC is somewhat different. I looked at the current board and was surprised to see that none listed their post nominals. It would be nice to know what they are. How is the outsider to know what expertise they have?

 

Forgive me, Yorkshireman, but this seems a slightly curious request! My understanding of the meaning of the term "post nominal" is that in essence it means the letters after ones name. Would I be right in thinking what you are really seeking is more of a CV? After all, the degrees and other letters I could use (but rarely do) were gained nearly fifty years ago and don't give any indication of whether I have much relevant expertise for my current post. On the other hand my CV might give more of a clue. On this aspect you will be aware that all PLC Directors and WSRA Trustees publish a short biography when they seek election. In the case of Directors that are co-opted, then a mini biography is given in the press statement, as was the case earlier this week. I freely admit that, for reasons I have no knowledge of, my own biography was not published - so far as I am aware - when I was co-opted, although it will be when (or perhaps if) I seek election at the next AGM. In the meantime if any shareholder cares to private message me, I would be delighted to provide a copy. But, whilst we would be happy to provide it to a shareholder, as for providing the information to an "outsider", as you put it, then they may have to work a bit harder to find it out. Though in these days of Google and Linked-In etc, it is hardly a challenge.

Frank

 

You read too much into what I said. In my experience in is common practice for the letters indicating professional qualifications to be shown these circumstances, nothing more, nothing less. If board members have relevant qualifications then why keep them secret? In any case a degree indicates that holder has a certain amount of dedication to obtain it regardless of the subject. I simply don’t understand the reluctance to make them public.

 

I would only expect any relevent qualifications to be shown, and then only sparingly; using an entire list of degrees, professional memberships etc could be seen as crass IMHO.

Staffordian Red swimming badge

 

Department of Transport Licensed Boatman (lapsed) Survival at Sea Certificate