West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I do. I am not known for hiding them. And have been working hard to bring change to the WSRA (as have my fellow Trustees) and the Railway as a whole. And some other Railways. The results might be thought to be obvious.

Robin

 

Yes, but only because someone has told me I've just been mentioned by name. My last post was back in September 2018 after my hire of the Hawksworth saloon for a day.

I am no longer a volunteer and walked away back in April having fallen out with the Plc Chairman and Vice-Chairman and one of the WSRA Trustees over the recruitment of volunteers. Having been specifically asked to become involved in a Plc Recruitment Group by another Director, it was decided that the Plc did not have the capacity to take this on and the responsibility was being passed back to the WSRA. I could not accept the conditions and put the good of the railway before my 'ego' and walked away - also withdrawing my other work with the HR team (Redrafting the paid staff job descriptions and Review & Development paperwork), Secretary to PDG, clerking Plc Board and an offer to help with work in the BL museum in an educational role.

The last position I know of on PDG was that a January meeting was cancelled due to no items of business being submitted from any organisation. Ones for the Spring kept being postponed due to all the uncertainties and the Oake Manor meeting. The final decision I know of was to wait until after the ORR re-visit. I had left by then.

I suggest you ask the PDG Chairman - also Chairman of the WSRA - to make comment.

After 10 years service as a volunteer I was saddened to leave but felt very poorly treated - but others felt they could do better so I now leave it to them...….I wish the WSR well - the work of thousands of people over the past 40 years deserves to be a success.

 

Thank you Robin. Sadly I see a lot of the signs that suggest a lot is wrong.

 

Very sorry to hear that Mel. The WSR is poorer without your input. Thanks for explaining the circumstances.

 

It was said with tonge in cheek, sorry if it offended you I never meant it for that to happen, in fact I quite enjoy reading your post and feel sorry for the way you have been treated.

 

A positive bitch I would say.

 

Sadly this just illustrates my concerns about how theWSR PLC is being run. It is, frankly, outrageous. I know how well Mell has served the railway for many years. The railway can’t afford to treat volunteers, or anyone else so badly.

 

Back on the WSR, it seems likely that 4561 (and/or, it is to be hoped, 4160) may follow on. We will be trying to replicate the level of access.

Does that mean 4160 will return to the fold? What about the 'mates rates' share potential legal action? Or is that now seen as jousting at windmills?

 

It's being picky I know, but any chance the photos in the blog could be larger (or could click through to higher-res versions)? It's quite hard to see some of the detail referred to, particularly for shots (such as inside the smokebox) that are generally hidden when in traffic.

Tom

 

You need to take that up with WSRA webmaster directly.

 

4160 could return to the WSR, as I see it. It is only the WSRA - who do not operate the railway - that has problems regarding locomotive 4160. The PLC is not at loggerheads with 4160 Ltd. as they were pleased, it appears, that when Kinlet Hall & Thornbury Castle Ltd. purchased 09 diesel shunter 4107 and it was said that the shunter would stay on the WSR for the foreseeable future.

 

Still pending. Legal wheels seldom move quickly and for obvious reasons are not available to the public. However I believe matters to be in safe legal hands.

 

My original post was to offer publicly available information to 'Yorkshireman' following his posting.

I had not intended posting further. There are too many, IMHO, egos being paraded on this site
without my additions.

However with reference to your "knocking of the WSRA by ex WSRA Trustees, especially when they
are referring to years in which they were Trustees ?" please note I was a WSRA Trustee from
appointment on Dec 30 2015 to October 22 2016. ( note not in 2017 or 2018 ! )

I resigned having hopefully stabilised the finances, prepared the way for a newly elected body of
Trustees and a business plan for the next two years ( a copy given to all attendees at the 2016 October
AGM ) which was structured round two prerequisites ie grow the Membership, concentrate on fund
raising, At the risk of joining the ego inflators pity the WSRA did not apparently do so.

I suggest Robin you are the last one who should be attempting to besmirch the past
reputations of others.

Michael Rowe

 

As I’ve said in an earlier post, I’m not the only one who has been shown the door, indeed Mel (who I didn’t know until now had also left) and I together only make up a percentage.

In my opinion with my Business Consultants hat on it’s always the same when a new broom comes in to sort a business out, they either lead or dictate. Leaders lead and bring people with them, empowering and encouraging, playing all to their individual strengths to set and achieve the common goal, using inclusion and the efforts of many whilst leading by consent and communication.

Dictators on the other hand remove all in their way who disagree, never waver from their personal vision and say things like “this is a major issue and only I can save you, you need to follow me, it will be a rough ride and I’ll do some things you won’t like but it’s the only way and I will also remove some trouble makers who need to go”.

They then remove the opposition quickly and effectively whilst presenting ‘facts’ in other areas to deflect attention. They also remove all accountability so they can do what they want.

In my case (not of course related in any way to my purely theoretical example above!!) I was very surprised to also see the only groups who could have held people to account not only looked the other way when their staff were being removed, but actually helped. It raises the question, perhaps a particular Association has not come as far as it thinks it has if it still can’t even ask its partner to just follow the rules and HR Policies both set and signed up to, let alone effect the real structural changes needed? I also note Michael Rowe's comment he has just made above, for the second time I find myself agreeing with him about how far its come and how much of its remit it hasn't achieved.

If you look at history Hitler was very good at being a dictator (yes, it’s an extreme example so I won’t draw any parallels, but just focus on the strategy he took), with a good PR man and a willing Lieutenant or two he achieved much, the issue was when he was ousted, look what was left and how many got hurt along the way!

Again a question, do the shareholders and the stakeholders of a certain railway in the South West think they have a Leader or a Dictator? If they feel they have a Leader then they have no problems and all can go back to enjoying their hobby in peace and this forum can go back to talking about coach colours and shop opening times secure in the knowledge that the money to keep the wheels turning will arrive soon and everybody is happy and willing (and able) to do more volunteering.

 

Andy mentions deflections. It does seem to me that many posts here, over time, are in the 'deflection' category.

 

It seems to me that quite a few posts have become too personal for this public board. I am surprised that the mods have let some of them stay visible.
I am not advocating sweeping them under the carpet and I think some problems as described would have been better dealt with by pm's or face to face.
At a time of such a crisis, deflection from saving the WSR is not what is needed on a public board.

 

Does anyone have any idea when National Rail services from Taunton to Bishops Lydeard will start?

 

I rescpectfully disagree, most of the posts are factual and onjective.

There is self evidently structural and cultural problems, deeply rooted, within the WSRA and the PLC. Doing nothing and carrying on as before will lead the WSR reverting to todays situation,, with precious time lost.

 

I do not advocate doing nothing. Factual and objective the posts may be, but, some deal with matters (dismissals/criticisms) on a personal level and, respectfully, a public board is not the place to air them.

 

Tom

I will ask. I have access to all the photos, so if there are any you would like to see at higher res, just ask. Here is the Smokebox snap.