West Somerset Railway General Discussion

We reckon we can get away with some minor tweaks without too much worry; mainly reducing dwell times at intermediate stations by leaving the first station late, I think passengers who are traveling the full length of the line prefer to just go rather than just drop and start, and it makes breaks for crews easier as it's tacked onto the runaround time rather than in the middle of a run.

 

I believe 4410 arrived on the WSR about three years ago. It was given a cosmetic coat of paint. The original plan was, with the help of an appeal, to have the loco operational by 2022. I have not read of any work done on the loco since its arrival.

 

Nice to have Braunton back for August.

 

Positive coverage of WSR matters in the West Somerset Free Press:

 

The reference to Cash Reserves makes me wonder if the West Somerset is trying to operate without a winter Overdraft facility? I would suggest that if they are, I would suggest that this may be an unnecessary constraint on Cash Flow, and an example of being overly risk adverse (certainly on financial matters) and thus creating additional risks by failure to spend what is needed to address other issues. It also sounds as though they fallen into the old trap (been there, done that - and even when we should have known better!) of the Budget being based on 'Income will be what expenditure means it needs to be' if they are ahead of last year but down on Budget. If this is what they have done, I know it is very tempting but can also be more dangerous than having an Overdraft facility!

Of their 3 'action points', worryingly missing is 'increase fund raising'. Using a PLC structure means a big injection of cash from Share Issues, but these are increasingly time consuming and costly and hence have to be infrequent. Having a large membership can bring both a sizeable surplus on Membership and a ready audience for Appeals (potentially, the same is true of a Shareholders list but they have already paid a larger single sum and a PLC lacks the tax efficiency of Gift Aid etc.)

'Realising Assets' is all well and good but a 'one-off' 'sticking plaster' and I can readily think of sales of assets made in panics that cost a lot more to buy back in better times. A 'tidy-up' and scrap drive may produce something, and clearly a tidier Railway as well (which is good) but sums raised are likely to be small. Nevertheless, judging by pictures of Dunster, a permanent focus on tidiness is to be welcomed.

Winter cash flow is worse than just 'no income and the same expense' - it is more expense as winter work programmes are progressed, assuming that significant infrastructure, locomotive and carriage works are undertaken in the 'closed' season. If not, then the problem is two fold - the cash outflow isn't as bad as it should be and key assets are deteriorating. Advanced bookings income can ease Cash Flow, but with WSRplc not operating the premier dining service for which these are perhaps most likely to be received, may be limited in this case.

The Safety Advisor is worrying - I know at least one major railway which was ahead of the game (generating much internal comment) by appointing such a role as a paid person, but not long after, another line was, I understand, pretty much told to do the exactly same. The West Somerset Railway is a pretty major operator to lack such a role (I assume that there is no-one on the Staff as a Safety Manager?)

On the timetable, amending departure times to be a little later and reduced station dwell times would seem potentially possible - nobody will miss a train advertised as earlier, but may affect crossing patterns - or is what is actually happening with late running!

I am sorry to say that the overall picture would seem to be a worrying one for WSRplc shareholder and staff and they may well feel some definite signs of change are needed to show these challenges (far from unique - indeed arguably very similar to many lines) are being recognised and addressed.

What is not needed, however, is panic! Preserved Railways can all too readily attract 'Corporal Jones' types and that is exactly what is not needed when problems are identified.

Steven

 

How wonderfully off -track .

 

This is getting far too silly , sketch .

 

It is good to be able to smile in the face of adversity, but to return to more serious matters, the WSR (as whole, I'm not singling out the Plc) seems to have done very poorly for grant aid. Whilst this can sometimes be a mixed blessing, when it is available for "essential" projects it does at least free up revenue resources for use elsewhere (although even that is not enough to meet demands upon capital. I would have thought, therefore that the WSR Management should be looking at trying to make their planned CAPEX amenable to grant funding, and approaching funding bodies as an urgent priority.

 

If any one interested the Hastings demu is coming thru Taunton 2moro morning on a railtour to Paignton

 

Not that long !!!

 

We are in need of a push for our latest wagon project. This is the WSR's ex MoD Guards Van that is an authentic military Brake Van. Built in Eastleigh in 1942 this van will complete the railways military train. We need the timber to finish the sides, doors and one end panel. If you can make a donation however small it will help. We are at 57% of the total achieved by 13 supporters. 40 people donating £5 will see us there. If you can help we would be immensely grateful. https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/westsomersetrailwayassociation/goodsbrakevan

 

Certainly some months if you want good stuff.

 

Last time I travelled on a coach like that it was in the Black & White livery ( I believe they were from the same group ) going from Watchet to Corsham , home . I must have been 8 or 9 at the time so I was travelling with my aunt and uncle , what I remember about the trip was that it appeared to be dreadfully slow and as it was summer and we were sat on the off side of the coach and travelling in general in an easterly direction almost unbearably hot . If it had been down to me it would have GWR all the way . Hence my very nearly lifelong dislike of public transport on road .

 

I guess if nothing has been done in three years and they got a good offer for it no reason not to sell if any work was going to be started it would have been done by now.

 

Potentially QB's finest hour in it's 39 year history. Seats booked.

 

3 years is hardly a long time for a steam loco to be sat around waiting for its turn though! I do hope the WSR can turn things around, sounds like some big changes are needed somewhere...

 

Look at the bright side; they aren't sticking their heads in the sand and saying 'oh, it'll all turn out somehow': unlike at least one other railway we could name, they're dragging these all out into the light and trying to work out how to tackle them ...

Noel

 

WSRA AGM - 7 July 2018

Papers now available on WSRA website:

www.wsra.org.uk

In the ‘documents’ section.

Robin

 

Brilliant ! We should do this as a regular fixture.