West Somerset Railway General Discussion

4165? Do you mean 4561?

 

Hired locos always seem less attractive than owned ones because you are paying out to use them when you do. Rightly or wrongly, it is usually considered to be more sensible to use your own loco at no immediate cost rather than pay to use someone else's. You are also more in control of things. Hired locos may also have poorer availability because the owners do not have the resources to return them back to traffic in the shortest possible time if there is a problem.
The NYMR until recently had some privately owned locos on what was termed a 'service' agreement, which might be a possibility. The Railway had no up front outlay in terms of purchase and overhaul costs. It received the loco after overhaul by the owner(s) and had free use of the it but was then responsible for all maintenance and, at the end of the hire period was responsible for returning the loco to an 'as received' condition; i.e. freshly overhauled. On the face of it, this is an attractive way forward with flexibility but there is the danger that, at the end of the 'ticket' the money is not available for the required overhaul. I'd venture to suggest that the NYMR has, in the past, had its fingers burned by such agreements because it did not put money aside or plan for the inevitable.
Whilst the ideal is probably for the railway to own all its locomotives (and other assets) this rarely happens in reality (some narrow gauge lines excepted) and the most likely is a mix of the two. That mix seems to work quite well. I always have worries about lines that hire in all their locos as it reduces their level of control and can easily put them in a weak position.

 

Yes! Amended.

 

Their is one Standard gauge that does own all of its Locos and assets, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway

 

Indeed, however they have been very fortunate in having been gifted five steam locos in recent years. Things might be different otherwise.

 

I wonder if this mixed ownership - different groups owning different locos, rolling stock etc, is perhaps a legacy of the way in which locos were preserved and preserved railways were established - ie different groups and individuals bought locos from BR, Industrial or scrapyards, and were then looking for places to restore and run them, while the railways were glad of locos to run. I guess often there was a fair amount of overlap between loco groups and railways in many cases with the same people being involved. I guess this works well as long as everyone is getting on and everyone is equally involved.

 

Fortunate in the sense of being regarded by the donors as being good custodians and with a corporate structure that protects the long term future of the donated locos with the railway. So “fortunate” in the sense of “reaping the benefits from being well governed” rather than in the sense “won the lottery”.

Tom

 

When I said hired engines I really meant hired third party engines - i.e. from owners who have no other substantial connection with the railway. I'd expect priority to be given to the owners of a loco owned by a group committed to the WSR. I know it didn't happen for the owners of 5542 or 3850, but hopefully times have changed.

 

"All for one and one for all" in effect. In addition, all land and building freeholds are owned debt free, including a small area of ancient woodland which is an S.S.S.I. and explained to visitors. Easier if you are a reasonable size.

 

There is no standard agreement. Each is different. That is an important consideration but now the priority is funding ownership.

 

A virtuous circle.

 

The point which has been made is that if hire fees are to be paid, then ensure they are paid to a supporting charity which owns the locos.

Is it coincidence that 5542/3850/7820 and 4160 were all owned by private limited companies and have left (after long associations with the line) whereas 4561 remains on the line under the umbrella of a charity. I think that’s partly why some are expressing concerns that a further private company for 4110 is not perhaps the right way to go.

Aside from this it’s great that 70k has been raised but potentially the sum would be greater by now if gift-aidable. (This obviously assumes all donors are taxpayers and would be happy to give to charity in preference to owning a personal stake)...

Regards

Matt

 

If considering a donation of this kind, I consider the availability of Gift Aid as a way of making my money go further, but am relatively relaxed as to whether a railway organisation is structured as a company or as a charity - both have their places. I make no comment on 5542/3850/7820, but will observe that the politics around 4160 are such that I suspect it would have moved regardless of legal form of ownership.

 

Well, remember, that's just to buy the thing - the restoration will be another small tanker-load.

And although the purchase has to be put together quickly, meaning they don't have time to arrange a channel that gets gift-aid, for the restoration funding, that will be slower, so hopefully they'll have time to work it out for that.

Noel

 

4110
Some of the money raised so far is in the form of pledges, rather than actual cash.
When these pledges are fulfilled, I wonder if they could be paid to the WSRA, thus attracting Gift Aid.
This may complicate the ultimate ownership, but is it legally possible?

 

Britain's state pension hotspots revealed: How more than a third of residents in West Somerset draw the payout



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/p...retirees-claiming-state-pension-revealed.html

Plenty of potential volunteers!

 

An interesting snippet from the West Somerset Free Press this week. This is the Crossing known as ‘Whisky Trail Crossing’ Since WW2, I believe.

 

WSF this weekend, oh yes....

Can’t wait to see 7828.

 

High Everyone,
Fantastic and encouraging news just received on 4110 FB site. We have passed £80,000. What an incredible effort. How about another big push to try and get to the £100K by the 1st of Jan? Please remember this is the fund to BUY the loco and as such it does not yet impact on restoring it to service. By owning it the group of owners can determine that she stays on the WSR. The only Taunton shedded loco to run on the branch where Granddads like me can say to our Grandchildren I saw this engine in Taunton Yard when I was young and look at her now. Come on if you haven't yet please get behind this purchase and ensure this loco remains on the WSR.

 

Hello beautiful