West Somerset Railway General Discussion

It seems to me though that as there are plans afoot to improve Bishops Lydyard station, that logically should include better, and hopefully profitable catering facilities.

 

How rude! Steve's informant merely understood you to be on GWR service not XC and offered advice based on that. I very much doubt needs to have their head examined. I'm sure they know the difference between restaurant, buffet and trolley.
Having apologised once for a misunderstanding I'm surprised Steve bothered to aplogise a second time when addressed in that manner.

Sent from my SM-A300FU using Tapatalk

 

Tracker said "To get to BL from here in Essex by car is at least 4hrs 30 leaving at 04:00 and travelling on the M25/M3/A303 where unless I always miss them, there are NO hot breakfasts. On arrival at BL I see someone in the cafe stocking the cold drinks fridge whilst there is a queue waiting for cups of tea and cold sandwiches or buns. "

The last time went along the A303 from the M3 junction to the junction with the A358, a couple of weeks ago, there were at least six outlets serving hot breakfests including one at the A303/A358 junction. Did you miss them all?

 

All I can say is many of these perceptions are very wide of the mark. Much of this comes from thinking that the views expressed on NP represent an accurate picture of the everyday reality of the WSR. It does not, and never will do. Much of this perception is because many, if not most, outsiders simply cannot grasp the difference between the troubles that beset the WSRA and the overall WSR family. Neither does it suit their belief that, by and large, these bad relations within the railway still exist. For many of them this does not suit their belief that their favourite railway is run so much better than the WSR. Likewise their belief that the WSR should incorporate wholesale change to be like the Much Twaddle Railway they fanaticly support. The reality is that there is no one size fits all system to run a heritage railway because they are so different. Just like the different WSR stations that each have their own volunteers that run them as they see fit and in different ways. IMHO that is one of the attractions in that there is a variety that each appeal to different people.

 

All you have done is to add weight to the comments of @flying scotsman123

PH

 

What a difference 3 days make.

The view from Station House, Stogumber:

Today


Sunday last


Robin

 

Nice piccies @Robin White ...... even though that's about as close to a 'lovely snow scene' as I like to get!

 

The WSR plc seems to be very backward when it comes to refuting the ludicrous claims of Mr Mendoza and his cronies.

 

They are not best countered by a head on approach. Direct refutation will simply open the debate up further and lend credibility to the claims. Better I think to work to demonstrate the real value of the railway in other ways. I am not well placed to know if this is being done or is being planned to be done.

 

Bloody Army - they have been and painted everything green

 

I don't start looking until after 7am, since nothing is open apart from M-way services, Wild Bean Cafe or Burger joints, and these are not places I want to eat at. Burger and chips at 7am isn't breakfast! I only recall seeing a Burger King at the A358 junction but on doing some checking I see there is also a Little Chef, which opens at 7am and I don't mind eating there. Thanks for pointing this out.
RobinL

 

Have you tried the Cartgate Picnic Area on the A303 just West of Yeovil? The restaurant there is open 24 hours a day and offers everything from full English breakfasts to roast dinners. If you chose to stop there you are only about 30 minutes from Bishops Lydeard.
We drop in there several times a year when travelling from the People's Republic of Kernow to the civilised world and would recommend it without hesitation.
Stef.

 

When I visit the WSR from London via M3/A303/A358, if I'm on my own then I normally stop at McDonalds at Sparkford (and don't have burger and chips). I would much rather arrive at BL earlier and give that money to a WSR-owned catering facility.

 

Deleted.

But your original post said "To get to BL from here in Essex by car is at least 4hrs 30 leaving at 04:00 and travelling on the M25/M3/A303 where unless I always miss them, there are NO hot breakfasts". That simply was not correct! It really negated the whole thrust of your argument. In fact, with a little bit of prior reseach you can find a wide range of establishments that serve breakfasts to suit all tastes and pockets. If you plan to saty overnight then there are a nuber of local pubs offering reasonably priced accomodation that also provide hot breakfasts including the Lethbridge Arms in BL a short walk from the station.

 

Why do you always have to be so hostile?

 

enjoy the gala everyone.

Is the wsr app still working or no longer supported? Can find in App Store. Thxs.

 

I have re-read by compatriot's post and do not see it as hostile. Just good honest northern forthrightness aiming to correct a misleading statement. My best friend in Crosland Moor [this comment is relevant] treats my mistakes with similar robustness, and he is still my best friend!

 

Pleased to hear that it's much more pleasant on the railway than it is being a "supporter" on this thread. (I do note Michael's comments that it's not really volunteers that contribute to this).

On what basis do you hold that view? I and many other outsiders followed events surrounding the WSRA troubles closely out of concern, and probably curiosity too (it did get a little like a soap opera at times!). So we're well aware that having rather cantankerous discussions about everything from social media policy, toilet roofs and catering has absolutely nothing to do with ex-WSRA trustees.

I'm afraid at this point you're beginning to look a little, well, you do insist it's just robust debate, so, ignorant here. If you bothered to peep over the top of the Somerset bunker you'd see there are threads for most major heritage railways. Most of the "outsiders" on this thread tend to read and contribute to a fair few of these threads, so might have at least a vague idea of what's going on at those railways. If the people who only contribute to this thread looked elsewhere they'd see that it is themselves who are fanatical about the WSR to the point that they cannot even contemplate the idea that change might be a good idea.

Of course there is no one size fits all, I agree with you on that. There are plenty of other structures out there to draw inspiration from.

Good grief, do we have to go over this yet again!? In all the nearly 600 pages of this thread plus any other postings on any of the other old threads, please find where I or any other "outsider" has proposed any significant change of the station groups. I have often said that the stations are the best part of the WSR. When you're short of arguments you always try and divert to this to try and muddy the waters. It's misrepresenting folks' positions which isn't really on.

Can I suggest you take a look at a few threads on this site for other heritage railways? Maybe that would help see where the rest of us are coming from when we see this thread as very different from all the rest, which makes it look like you're always bickering diluting any actual news about the railway and discussion of it which tends to fill other threads. If I have an issue with an aspect on "my" railway, NatPres is the last place I'd raise it, only after I'd exhausted all other options, as it reflects badly on the railway as a whole. Worth bearing in mind members of the heritage press read this site and they do use it as sources of information.

 

Most Yorkshire people I have known have not suffered from "forthrightness" at all. @michaelh is spot on.


PH

 

Premier Inns (and there are 3 in the Taunton area) normally serve a reasonable breakfast from 6.30am.