West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Traveling towards London is "up"

 

I sat down at breakfast this morning, with the 'papers' including our local, 'the West Somerset Free Press'. ( 'Free' as a
result of when it was first published some 150 years past: it was 'free' of political patronage, not at no
charge.)

Last week's edition carried as its front page main article the 'track' fund raising appeal by the
West Somerset Railway Association and the WSR Steam Trust. After such good publicity it appeared to be
a pity that this week the letters page contained the above referenced letter complete with words
such as "moany" and "angry", plus a call to MLRG to help produce a brochure, when the timetable for the
TN-BL shuttle is yet to be finalised. ( I am a member of the small WSR team entrusted with assisting
the implementation of the shuttle ).

Whilst the letter in the 'Free Press' is clearly attributed to the writer, the general public may well
interpret it as WSR policy. 'Twas better from a WSR standpoint it had not been written methinks.

Michael Rowe

 

Generally, yes. In certain circumstances, and this may be one, it can be useful to establish in the public mind that, despite claiming to speak for many, a group actually lacks that legitimacy. The risk, however, is of dragging all into the gutter.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Quite.
Steve's web site, for all its merits, is mainly for supporters/railfans. However, those whom the MRLG assume might travel on the line, using a shuttle service, are not railfans but the public. I believe the first web page they may well look up is the official WSR PLC one.

 

I think while the tone may not be to everyones taste, it puts the ball well into the MRLG's court to do something

 

Why?
I think their very existence is 'having done something'. As they will not be in control of running trains. when and where, I believe they are simply awaiting definite announcements it seems before, they make any statements. Noting the good news mentioned in Michael's post I feel that no good was served by yet more acrimony between factions concerning the WSR. The people who should reply, maybe they have in person, rather than newsprint, is the PLC and GWR.

 

7802 piloting 7828 on 1630 MD-BL today.
7828 required at BL tomorrow for FE, and 7802 for 1015 service train.

 

The first thing MLRG should do is start by contributing to the rail fund.

 

The organisation and people that Robin's letter is directed at will know exactly who he is and wont mistake it as being the PLC's policy. The best way to deal with the MLRG is multiple lines of attack and Robin's is powerful.

 

With what Peter? Their crowdfunding appeal closed just before last Christmas. They collected £270.66.

 

When does 7752 leaving and return WSR

 

Why would you want to attack MLRG ? ( As has been pointed out their attempt to raise £40K for a
preliminary project assessment failed totally, less than 1% of the desired total ! ) Attacking
the weak is never I suggest a good idea ?

Similarly I appreciate as you say that the "organisation and people.....know exactly who she is"
but I was concerned the letter was published in our local newspaper. Many of whose readers may not
"know exactly who she is" and therefore consider the letter represents the Railway's views.

The PLC currently has very obvious priorities; falling out with members of the local
commmunity unnecessarily is not I consider one of them.

Michael Rowe

 

Might I suggest that what might be helpful is an organisation whose role is to maximize the economic benefits of the railway to the community?

 

It would appear that you have the gift of being able to accurately predict the future...!!!

 

I fully agree but that needs to be a two way street.
It's why, last year, we obtained grant funding to run a community engagement project which is already paying dividends in terms of engaging, and therefore benefitting the wider community.
The problem with all of these things seems to me that bad news is so much more fun than good news on an internet forum. Critical comment so much more readily made than any word of praise. That will not stop us doing all the things we do and benefitting members of the community.

 

Ah! I guess that must be down to the new kind of tea leaves.

 

Sigh!

I see Mike, as usual, wants to have a pop at me and can’t be bothered to tell the whole story. You could read his post and, if you don’t realise what my letter commented on, not realise that it had nothing to do with the track appeal.

It would seem that it is not only on the other side of the Atlantic, or in political party elections, that facts are irrelevant to having a good moan about someone you don’t like.

I’ll publish my letter and the piece it commented on, later today and you will be able to judge for yourselves. My letter actually calls for and suggests positive actions that MRLG might take in co-operation with the WSR.

As it happens, a local politician or two have commented to me that some push back on the nonsense put out by MRLG, has been helpful. If Nonsense goes unchallenged, folk can come to believe it is true. A bit like posts on Nat Pres...

Robin

 

You don't seem to have realised this, but @Yorkshireman did already post a link to your letter above, as published on the paper's website.

In other words, we already know what your letter said and have already been able to judge for ourselves. Hence our comments on it.

 

Robin
Your original letter was available to anyone interested through Post 19634 in this thread. You and Michael clearly have different views on the best approach here but is it not possible to agree that there are two points of view on this matter, and move on?
Frank