West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I don’t know if you are referring to the MLRG’s aspirations but if so please note they are quite Impracticable for many reasons.

 

Robin,

According to Companies House, the wind of change is nearing gale force 8.

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01010188/filing-history

 

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55417/2019/05/03/advanced

6233?

 

Certainly, I was a member of the footplate crew from about 2014. Late 2017 I was asked by the WSRA to head up a bid to the HPC Community Engagement Fund, everything I did was with the knowledge and support of the WSRA, the HPC grant was gained in late 2018.

In the year to late 2018 I had raised circa £185,000. £96K HPC, £65k BESTT Scheme which consists of three full time Engineering Trainees for the Loco Department and circa £25k profit from the 1940’s Weekend in September 2018. The 1940’s Weekend in particular was a hard fight, having previously agreed to do it current PLC Board Members cancelled the event at the beginning of 2018 when I became involved. The person who originally wanted to run it was left high and dry and after a long and bloody internal battle right up to the last minute I was able with his help to stage it. It became in its first year the most successful external event the WSR has ever run and will continue in 2019 under the original organiser (a great guy) because it’s too good to get banned again this year.

I also set up the current WSRA Fund Raising Strategy and had it agreed by the PLC & WSRA Boards, found and recruited the 3 Engineering Trainees’, the paid Fund Raiser and The WSRA Trustee with the new Fund Raising Remit (I run a recruitment company as a day job). Developed and got agreed the Dunster Goods Yard Project in 2018 and worked with many internal and external groups to structure it so it was an external project so it didn’t take energy from an overstretched PLC.

Along the way I set up relationships with 20-25 other funders and community groups including the government backed one I mentioned, all wanted to work with the WSR and all see the WSR as an opportunity for them to make a difference with their involvement and money.

The relevant facts are:

1. Although I have lots of management & Director experience I had no experience in Fund Raising or Event Organisation. So if I can do it so can many others it just needs the drive.
2. The need was there and the 100% success rate I enjoyed is not down to me, it is down to the many internal and external partners who all wanted these things to happen. I just acted as the catalyst to bring all together with at the time support from both Boards. Robin Wichard is just one person worthy of note in this.
3. The £185k was from a standing start in 1 year with nothing in place only me as somebody who didn’t know how to do it. Hence the need for people to take this forward who do know what they are doing.
4. Every party I spoke to without exception saw the potential to work with the WSR in partnership for the Community and they were willing to pay money for that to happen. The fact that the WSR has for the last 40 years not fund raised to any extent actually works to advantage. They all said it’s a fresh new opportunity for their money, it hasn’t been funded to death by other people.
5. Every party I spoke to also said how on earth has a community project as big as the WSR actually survived for the last 40 years without funding, they were all amazed.
6. I’m of the firm belief that the £500,000 per year for infrastructure can be gained from fund raising, plus about another £500,000 for development work. That is not my view that is the view of the experts in this environment.

Ultimately this is not about me in any regard, I’ve gone now not to return, my only pain is the frustration of seeing all of this potential thrown away. My achievements only serve to prove the point that it is out there to be had and I’m only the last in a long line of people saying this, I just took it a bit further to partly prove the point. I was shown the door in January of this year because I stood by what I’ve said here and disagreed with the new Chairman, I’m now not even allowed to be on the footplate having been ‘suspended’ by the new PLC.

 

Quite outrageous. Others have been treated in the same way including myself.

 

You are right there Andy. I fear for the future in heritage terms for this Railway.

 

Its interesting to read the application for outline planning permission that has been submitted by the S&DRHT at Midsomer Norton.

Basically its all aimed at getting outline consent for things that external bodies might fund

 

Can anyone explain please why the diesel's have to run with a second man yet the DMU doesn't & are the WSRA going to publish this years AGM minutes?

DJB.

 

DMU’s do have a second member of staff on Board. They are the Guard.

If you can wait until tomorrow, you should have the WSRA AGM minutes.

Robin

 

But the diesels have a second man & a guard.

DJB.

 

The diesel locos can run single manned as long as AWS is operational. Currently the only loco with working AWS is D6566/33048.

Ian R.

 

And DMU’s don’t have to couple and uncouple.

Robin

 

Do they also need the drivers safety device (e.g. dead mans handle / vigilance pedal) to be working

 

On the railway at which I work diesels can be single manned as long as there is a working dsd and the loco is hauling a vacuum brake fitted train with a guard on board. When running light engine there must be a second man in the cab, this can be a Guard.

 

Many thanks for the insight.

It seems there is, maybe because of geographic isolation, there is a mindset in both the Association and the PLC that has to change. As you say the Coombes Review highlighted this as have several others. Perhaps the recent close shave with insolvency will knock a few heads together.

 

[QUOTE="Andy Norman"

"Ultimately this is not about me in any regard.[/QUOTE]"

Mr Norman. I wish I could believe you. At the risk of being a scroat, this and previous
lengthy postings suggest it is all about you.

Whilst past internecine strife on the WSR has been less than helpful , indeed will have contributed
to the current impasse, in so much as many may have 'taken their eyes off the ball' , it is only
one facet of many.

Egos, both bruised and large, and the resultant personal agendas, have not helped.

Michael Rowe

 

"

Mr Norman. I wish I could believe you. At the risk of being a scroat, this and previous
lengthy postings suggest it is all about you.

Whilst past internecine strife on the WSR has been less than helpful , indeed will have contributed
to the current impasse, in so much as many may have 'taken their eyes off the ball' , it is only
one facet of many.

Egos, both bruised and large, and the resultant personal agendas, have not helped.

Michael Rowe[/QUOTE]
From far off, I'd just observe that while this might perhaps have been better left in private, @Andy Norman makes what look to this outsider like a number of significant and substantive points that deserve rather a more respectful reaction than that.

 

"

Mr Norman. I wish I could believe you. At the risk of being a scroat, this and previous
lengthy postings suggest it is all about you.

Whilst past internecine strife on the WSR has been less than helpful , indeed will have contributed
to the current impasse, in so much as many may have 'taken their eyes off the ball' , it is only
one facet of many.

Egos, both bruised and large, and the resultant personal agendas, have not helped.

Michael Rowe[/QUOTE]

Michael. thanks for your comment, no offense taken. You and I have disagreed on many things over the last few years but I find myself agreeing with you here. Indeed the current and remaining issues within the WSR are all about self-interest, ego’s and personal agenda’s. Its why a certain Board is an invitation only closed shop (happy to define that if you wish) and both Boards are (with one exception) made up of “White Anglo-Saxon Males of a certain age, all of whom have been around the WSR for many years moving from pillar to post knocking lumps out of each other” (Not my words, a quote from one funder who won’t invest in the WSR because it is not diverse, inclusive and in their opinion lacks good governance).

As for my long posts, I am genuinely sorry, it’s a bad habit I have always had and can’t kick. If I’m going to say something I like to justify what I say and use facts to support my opinions rather than a few throw away one liners. Still judging by the number of likes I get, I’m not offending everyone !

 

Quote: 35B

From far off, I'd just observe that while this might perhaps have been better left in private, @Andy Norman makes what look to this outsider like a number of significant and substantive points that deserve rather a more respectful reaction than that.[/QUOTE]

Reply: Andy Norman

Thanks. Tried the internal route, formally, informally and to all parties. Nobody wanted to listen and I was removed from my hobby on the WSR for my opinion. I feel strongly about the future of the WSR, anybody is very welcome to tell me I’m wrong, I’d love to be proved so (short enough for you Michael Rowe !)

 

Reply: Andy Norman

Thanks. Tried the internal route, formally, informally and to all parties. Nobody wanted to listen and I was removed from my hobby on the WSR for my opinion. I feel strongly about the future of the WSR, anybody is very welcome to tell me I’m wrong, I’d love to be proved so (short enough for you Michael Rowe !)[/QUOTE]
And I would love you to be proved wrong too.