West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Not really. I changed a clutch on a Hunslet once and John Bate decided I was the expert on them. Talylkyn days.

 

... and if I could remind the community here of what Robin said. WSRA members are always welcome to contact a trustee to seek further information about anything in the synopsis of the last trustee meeting. Fuller details are of course made public when the meeting minutes are approved and published after the following trustee meeting.
All trustee e-mail addresses are published on the WSRA web site.
I'll mention again the date of the WSRA AGM has been set. Those members who want to be closer to the action should consider standing for a trustee position. I for one would love to see the membership get a choice of trustees on the board but that requires a contested election to take place. That is a healthy thing for a membership organisation.
Any WSRA member who reads this thread is welcome to contact me by e-mail to discuss what being a trustee is all about.

 

Pleased to report that on Friday (the 18th January) I had an e-mail from WSR responding to my query to them dated 7th November.

I appreciate the belated response and I accept that they are very busy.

At least it confirms that the WSR are in possession of my e-mail address.

I live in the hope that the Railway will learn that to receive the continued support and goodwill of their stakeholders and shareholders they need to improve their lines of communication.

Stef.

 

Well said, Mike.

I would also widen the above to POTENTIAL members as well.

I joined the Association nearly 40 years ago (and have the bound journal volumes to prove it!). My life membership has proved a bargain. In recent years the WSRA did little to show relevance. Now the Trustees are working hard to change that and hopefully observers will see increasing evidence of that in months and years to come feel that they WANT to be part of the principal supporting organisation.

Robin

 

So at the time of posting there was no information about him on the wsr.org website which is where I get my Information from.

 

Nick has a point here!
"News"so rarely appears on the Official WSR page that I seldom refer to it. It is only that i keep up with NP and Steve's excellent website that I (a shareholder) know that there is anything wrong at WSR.
Incidentally I purchased my shares when the plc appealed for help to replace the mineral line bridge, i understand that a considerable amount of money was raised at the time. Surely if the plc had been honest and "upfront" when the ORR report came in (or when they discovered a big hole in their finances) money would have again been forthcoming from supporters. We could also have avoided page after page of "gossip", "rumour", "speculation" and wasted effort.
What was needed was a letter to all shareholders, and volunteers stating the honest assessment of how much money was needed to keep the Wonderful Scenic Railway in Somerset working and giving pleasure to so many people.

 

I'm sure many of us are mighty pleased that the WSRA issue a synopsis within a few days of each trustee meeting. Good work WSRA. I'm sure we will all find out more about the new trustee before too long. Helpful alerts, from official and unofficial soures, about new info are always welcome here, along with the official information releases (like the one just received about the winter working parties). I have long crowed about the value of "news churn". Long may it continue

Steve

 

At last a positive development but then the proof of the pudding is in the eating - as they say!

 

Steve should have been told at 1st base not via Nat Pres!!

If anything needs an Overhaul it is the Public Relations aspect of the West Somerset Railway - Steve Edge and .org can only assist when he is informed!!

 

I suspect if Nick approached the Chairman and explained his very valid interest he might be invited to attend. He will certainly not lose by asking.

 

Mike with all due respect We should not to ask Should we?

If you want me to renew my membership on February 1st you must up your game and communicate and however commendable it is for you to be 'available' for our questions communication is the responsibility of the communicator not the recipient

I think if you up your game the interest in becoming Trustees will improve.

 

I would hate to be critical of any WSRA member, particularly one I lunched with at the Gloucester and Warwickshire Broadway extension opening day last year (when I was there to signwrite a clock for Broadway Booking Hall) but I spent my Friday evening meeting on a WSRA matter, then yesterday out with the scrap train. During that work I took photographs of that work and of the 9351 move and both sent them to Steve Edge and posted the 9351 photo here on Nat Pres, which is why you were able to discuss it. I have spent two hours drafting Railway documents this morning and probably have another hour to do, after which I might get to watch some of the snooker. Other Trustees put in more time than I do as they are fortunate not to have a full time legal career to give occasional attention to.

And then we get a comment about upping our game. Sigh!

I see in recent posts the Trustees have been accused of hiding a Director appointment (which only required the poster to look at the published meeting minutes) and then criticised for not sending those minutes directly to Steve for his excellent website.

There is a lot to do, and no shortage of opportunities to help with the doing. And there will be more opportunities as the Railway wakes up from the end of March.

I will be working tirelessly for the Railway(s) I have known and loved for 40 years in 2019. Your help will be much appreciated.

Robin

 

A tad harsh @Triumph 2500S - the WSR 'family' does keep me supplied with info - and it is not too onerous a task for me to make regular checks (inc Nat Pres, FB etc). Things could be a lot, lot worse - as it has been in the past when absolutely nothing was published about for example trustee meetings. Keep it up WSRA!

Steve

 

We are working hard to try to keep people informed and we're sorry if some people feel left out. Jon Jones-Pratt, PLC Chairman, has asked that I post his invitation letter on this forum. We also need to make clear that we would welcome shareholders, active volunteers (holding a PLC Identity Card) and members of associated organisations such as the WSRA, the WSSRT, the DEPG and the S&D Trust. Please indicate your intended attendance in advance, as indicated in the letter, please.

Frank Courtney
Director
West Somerset Railway PLC

 

"And then we get a comment about upping our game. Sigh!" Yes and in that I was referring to 'Communication' and you know how good it is on the Gloucester Warwicks! If the WSR can attend to this aspect and get the PR right then all the very considerable work done elsewhere would be all the more worthwhile.

Something to consider, the WSRA expects the support in financing 4110 be transferred to it and complete silence about how that appeal is actually going or are to just assume that all the money to secure it is now in the bank?

Lunch at the pheasant was extremely agreeable along with the unexpected company.

 

I see that your shelving is in a similar state to mine.
Just some of the titles are different.

 

I’d love to help out with social media for railway but don’t live in minehead and have full time employment.

Wsr.org is a suberb an amazing resource of information for us enthusiasts.

 

I asked by the usual channels. I am not to sure who the person to ask is. The person on the web site has a name, no idea of what that person does. That person informed me that I was to not invited. Will post the email if wanted.
I could ask the Chairman...I represent a owning group on the WSR.

 

Start with the head man direct. If you don’t he may never hear about your request.