West Somerset Railway General Discussion

To get 9351 back into traffic as fast as possible, to keep hire charges for other locos low, quite a few of us will need to donate significant sums to restore tender 2206 – for example 10 individuals contributing £500 each, 20 others at £250 and a further 50 at £80. Lots of small donations may result in a slower restoration because more people will need to be aware of the situation.

 

I am not being deliberately obtuse and my apologies if this debate has added to your difficulties for which you are under the doctor, which I am sorry to hear about. I shall, therefore, not prolong the debate other than to say I suspect in some areas we may be in violent agreement! Of course, the short term must be secured and the options for so doing can be very limited and end up falling back on the every necessary imperative of 'get more bums on train seats'! There also needs to be a separate, longer-term plan which is only of any value as long as the business can be kept going until it bears fruit, and, indeed, will only bear fruit if potential funders believe there is a viable business capable of delivering the plan. Where I suspect we may differ, at least in part, is what that plan is, and, indeed, the extent to which the short term plan has changed (or perhaps could be changed) from what it was last year, which you seemed to feel was unsatisfactory.

I note considerable reductions in wages, but also gather that in some areas, these have been replaced by out-sourcing which may be cheaper but won't (probably) be free. I know far too little of the organisation to know whether crucial capabilities and knowledge have been lost, but loss of corporate memory can be a danger in these circumstances, just as much as people shunning change because they sense it would be an admission that how they previously did things was a failure!

Very best of wishes to you Michael for a speedy recovery.

Steven

 

Thanks.

 

As a current WSRA member I would have greater sympathy for this view if the WSRA offered a life membership option with e-coms to control future costs. That could generate funds NOW.

 

One way to make those subs go further and enable a bit more financial help to the railway might be to reduce the number of Journals from four editions per year to three. Several other organisations of which I am a member have done this and, frankly, I haven't noticed the difference, especially when so much is available on-line.

 

Thank you Andy.

 

Just spent a happy half hour waiting for a train

 

There couldn't be many better places to wait, the prettiest station on the line IMHO

Sent from my Lenovo TAB 2 A10-70F using Tapatalk

 

Social media is possibly best thought of a sort of virtual bar room in many ways. People exchange views and through the discussion form and change their views. It is a mistake to think of social media as a form of email or correspondence or indeed as some have tried to use it, an advertising channel. It can be used as a component in advertising, but it is emphatically a two way channel. As such there is an expectation that posters listen to each other. So yes there is an expectation that those in charge should read and listen to social media voices if they are in the same "room". Choosing not to be "in the room" has the peril that you won't hear something of advantage or be able to make your case or influence people's views, just like in the "real world".

Now just like the real bar room people will sometimes disagree and sometimes there will be obnoxious people and or views which need to be refuted disregarded or shot down, but the rules of normal courtesy with a room full of people you know only slightly if at all should be applied.

Leaving aside those who are simply out to be provocative or obnoxious, I think the answer to the question why would someone trash something they claim to support and reflecting on the overwhelming majority of posts on this very long thread ... in general the WSR is not being trashed, a group of people who care are having an open conversation about the situation, the history that led to it, and to some extent what can be done about it..... they would not be engaging in the conversation if they didnt care about the subject ... pretty much like the bar room.

Final thought ... there is of course a critical difference between social media and the bar room. In the social media world it is hard to deny your previous utterances, difficult to take them back and can be daunting to change your views. In addition you publish to the world and as such the law of libel applies. So, treat with care.

 

Same station different day

 

Also a visit to MD

And also a visit to MD
I do like a Manor.

 

How well is the Pannier performing?

 

I watched her arrive at Crocombe Heathfield from Bishops Lydiard this afternoon with six? And she sounded great on the gradient up to the station, lovely to hear and see.

 

Post removed pro temps

 

you should have challenged her I would and pointed out the railway was struggling and her presence was not helping its image

 

What's the significance of the disk with an "M" on it?

Tom

 

I don't know, she was under way before I realized, hopefully someone who does know will enlighten us shortly. Does the same apply to the red lamp ?

 

It's a throwback to steam days. I believe the Minehead branch trains from Taunton had an "M" disc and those for Barnstaple had a "B". Simple as that really - just to make sure they got routed up the correct branch at Norton Fitzwarren.

 

Here's a bit of fun I did a couple of years ago...