West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Yes!

Sent from my SM-J600FN using Tapatalk

 

Well the chairman's statement about the level of cash was certainly injudicious if that is being taken to mean that it is burning a whole in their pocket. But re 4110, it is possible that it was Lloyds Bank calling the shots as they had a fixed charge over the loco.

 

I think I disagree with pretty much all of this except in respect of what you seem to be implying here:
“Currently, the WSRA has no board members on the WSR PLC board as representatives of what ought to be a supporting organisation, and same with the WSSRT.”

I would wish that recent progress with cooperation might be strengthened and cemented into place by formal “cross representation(s)“ at Board level.

 

I think you have an over-developed imagination.

Robin

 

Its the ghostly spirit of a former trustee, come back to haunt the occupant of Stogumer station

 

When I was at school, good grasp of grammar and spelling was demanded of me; that does not mean that I am a successful businessman!

 

Even presuming the ideal structure to be identfied and agreed, which is far from trivial but can start from Coombes, there may be no way to get exactly there from the present structure, so it may still be necessary to have a non-ideal structure, but at least improved from the present one. I have no words of wisdom to offer on whether that should be pursued urgently to help restore the whole railway to health, or whether it should be deferred until the worst of the "up to your arse in alligators" has been dealt with.

 

A dozen Santas only? Perhaps that is the case from Minehead, you obviously didn't see the 50+ 'Santa's Winter Wonderland' from Bishops Lydeard!

https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/detail/santas-winter-wonderland-from-bishops-lydeard

 

That episode pre-dated the bank loan by some considerable period. If you recall, the loan process was underway at the time of the stakeholders meeting (but not mentioned). the 4110 group should have been given the opportunity to match any genuine higher bid.

Why a loco that ran on the line in service should have been let go by someone who just happened to own a similar loco (albeit a red route one) is anyone's guess ! Pure coincidence, I'm sure.

 

Isn't Photoshop wonderful?

 

I see 4110 is going to the East Somerset for a contract restoration. ESR will operate it for two years before it returns to Torbay.

 

Looks like the +1 to me.

 

I am not sure which loan you are referring to but a fixed and floating charge in favour of Lloyds Bank was registered on 8 December 2017, to secure I think inter alia a loan to purchase property at Bishops Lydeard(?). 4110 was sold at the beginning of this year I believe.

 

I see two hooded black-clad sinister figures and a ghostly woman in white holding a small child!

 

Suggest you look back at posts made by Faol some weeks and months ago for what actually happened. You'll find it was not a difference of a couple of thousand. The situation was far more complicated.
I could also mention that the WSR has two locomotives currently in the restoration queue. One being worked on and one next in the queue currently on static display at Swindon. I'd estimate that a third locomotive restoration would be a decade away had it been retained.

 

I'd suggest that this is an area of weakness on the part of the WSR, particularly in the case of the WSR. Most of the bigger railways source their fleets in a number of ways: locos owned or on long term hire to the railway operating body locos hired from individuals or groups based on the railway undertaking their own overhauls and maintenance, and visitors from external sources. On the WSR there is an absence of railway-based hire engines and yet these effectively subsidise the railway by bringing in extra volunteers (and usually cash, since steaming fees rarely fully cover long term operating costs. The WSR seems to have lost the 5542, 4160 and Dinmore Manor teams to more receptive alternative bases, but 4110 could have been the nucleus of a new start, and as such would not necessarily have impinged or been restricted by other overhaul programmes.

 

And Robin thought my imagination was over-developed

 

As I said looking back over previous posts would provide the answer.
The funds for the restoration of 4110 would have had to come from WSRA and it was the third loco in the queue for funds.
I make no comment as to your assertions about partnerships with loco owning groups. I know the maths are complex and part of the answer is probably in your assertion that hire fees don't cover restoration costs. Space and resource on a railway is also clearly a factor.