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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

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    Double post
     
  2. Fish Plate

    Fish Plate New Member

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    How do you reach the conclusion that WRSA would have been responsible for raising the funds to restore it? Surely that would have been down to the group formed to purchase the locomotive? And the point I have been trying to make is what is the true cost of selling 4110 from under the feet of a dedicated group of footplate crew who were willing to put their hands very deep in their pockets, especially when they had been told they had first refusal? Especially as it turns out 4110 actually work the line in service; most preserved railways would give their back teeth to have on their roster a locomotive that actually worked on their line pre-preservation. I’m sorry but I stand back what I posted at the time and more recently; the railway has spectacularly shot itself in the foot selling 4110, and I’m sorry that you either are unable or unwilling to see that.
     
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  3. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

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    Given that 4110 was sold nearly a year ago now just what is the point in bringing the sale up again? - Its history!
     
  4. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    Looking forward to next week's xmas market on the station at minehead. Hoping although theres no trains running; that there will be something on shed to photograph.
     
  5. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

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    Seagulls :rolleyes:
     
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  6. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    I notice in the WSR's 2020 calendar the August Bank Holiday weekend, the Saturday and Sunday is the basic 4 steam services each way. I find that a little bit strange. I did that weekend this year and it was busy - 4 sets out!

    Also the yellow (peak) timetable the diesel service terminates at Watchet and waits for 34mins before heading back to Minehead, find it a bit odd that service doesn't extend to Williton like it does on blue (mid season) days.
     
  7. jma1009

    jma1009 Well-Known Member

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    Fish Plate and 60044 are quite correct in their criticism. Have a look, Mike, at the WSRA Articles of Association, which you ought to be aware of as Vice Chairman.

    I was somewhat further disturbed by the 14th October Board minutes of the WSRA that there now appears to be a dispute with the WSR PLC over the Quantock Belle coaching stock, and carriages might be sold off. A couple of surplus SR PMVs is one thing going to the IOWSR, but carriages part of the Quantock Belle fleet?!

    The Coombes Report nearly 4 years ago stated that the WSRA Board didn't have a grip on things... recent posts suggest the current WSRA Board don't have a grip on things either. (This is separate from concerns in respect of the current activities of the small WSR PLC Board).

    Cheers,
    Julian
     
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  8. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    B
    Blimy - you don't half have it in for the poor buggers that are trying to sort the turmoil on the WSR. All this negativity - do you have anything at all constructive to offer?

    As regards the sale of 4110, I can't see it as anything other than a win/win for all concerned, especially for the loco itself. There is now a clear restoration plan in place which should see the loco in steam in the next two to three years. Had it stayed at Minehead it would have been a decade or more before overhaul would likely have commenced. This way it could possibly visit the WSR as a working loco within five years. Whats the problem there?

    Peter
     
  9. Forestpines

    Forestpines Well-Known Member

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    That depends whether the WSR will have much money to spare for hiring in visitors in five years time
     
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  10. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

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    Julian,

    You and I have had many conversations about how you could become more actively involved in assisting the WSR. You know how to contact me if you actually want to assist the WSR?

    You are partly correct w.r.t the QB. WSRA were uncertain if the QB figured in the 2020 plans for the WSR. Private discussion, the timetable and other announcements have indicated that it will and we therefore have an on-going discussion about the winter works that will be needed to facilitate this. The WSRA will release some of those details via meeting minutes as and when we can.
    You'll appreciate that if the railway had decided not to run a dining train then the WSRA would have had to do something else with the stock?
    This, by the way, is exactly what Coombes told us we should do, that is to say have clear boundaries between what the WSR plc does and what the charity does, hence it was not the role of WSRA to "tell" the WSR plc about running a dining train and it was certainly not the role of WSRA to suggest it would run the dining train itself. That has been tried in the past and was one of the sources of conflict alluded to in Coombes.

    I do wonder how you got to "dispute" from what you read though?

    Cheers

    Mike
     
  11. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    No, the funds would have come through the WSRA (for the benefit of Gift Aid) but would have come from the people who were willing to pay to keep the loco on the WSR.

    Because it is part of the wider picture of the management alienating some of the railway's supporters.

    Could the volunteers who were ready to put up the cash (through the WSRA) not have started work very soon?
     
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  12. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    Maybe, but who knows where any of us will be in five years time. Have a bit of faith in the future.

    Peter
     
  13. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    To an outsider like me. the WSR makes Byzantium resemble Sweden! As @Mr Valentine says in another thread, Cranmore have shown impressive skills and if the priority is to return sensibly sized motive power to service in a reliably predictable period of time, then what has transpired regarding 4110 makes great sense. However, if priorityis to secure a supply for the WSR of sensibly sized motive power which does not bash the civil engineering around, the answer is a bit different.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 24, 2019
  14. 2020 timetables have now been published on the official Company website. This latest version is different to that recently sent to shareholders in that Pullman Dining Services starting at Minehead (red timetable) no longer feature. Probably an administrative cock-up rather than a change of plan. Let's hope the spelling of Pullman with a small 'p' doesn't prove to be indicative.

    Sadly neither versions' special events listing mentions the Real Ale & Cider Festival at Washford on 5th, 6th & 7th June. Somerset CAMRA will issue a press release promoting this WSR Special Event as soon as wording has been agreed with Gala Planning Team. Hopefully Commercial Department will also get wind of it soon.
     
  15. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    This is the part that makes me the saddest, and I suspect it's one that will still be regretted far in the future. Perhaps the WSR will some day be able to acquire another of the class, and trade.

    Noel
     
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  16. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

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    It would be nice to think so, although I can see, hopefully wrong another loco being sold to get some cash it, selling the family silver so to speak. :(
     
  17. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    5193 was based at Taunton for a brief time, perhaps she worked the line as well?

    regards

    Matt
     
  18. Mike, you will recall me expressing my concerns about the QB's future prospects during this year's WSRA AGM. The latest WSR Financial Statements reveal dining train income matched dining train expenditure almost pound for pound during the period covered. They do not reveal whether that expenditure includes a suitable sum for winter maintenance and very necessary refurbishment; it is to be hoped that it does.

    While I of course wish WSR to offer a dining train service, if it is to continue it needs to be done well. At the time WSR plc took over running the service I for one had high hopes and expectations, and for a while the ducks looked to be lining up. In the event there simply wasn't the resource, will or expertise available to maximise the exciting potential we thought we had. The operation needs strong and dedicated leadership and carefully thought-out targeted marketing to succeed. Three years ago those tasks were allocated to a department that was already overworked and under-resourced. A new approach and some significant investment in time and money is now required. I fear the current financial state may well preclude that for now.

    The advertised forthcoming (rival?) Pullman Dining Service is interesting. The Railway hasn't attempted that for a very long time, although we were poised to order blue and white uniforms and train staff in silver service not too long ago! Unfortunately you need a Pullman Car to provide that. As far as I know we don't have one, although a very nice one is sitting in open storage at a disused airfield near Evesham. Somehow I don't think current plans are likely to feature acquisition of such a vehicle, although I would absolutely love to be proved wrong! Plonking Pullman lettering on the side of worn-out Mk1s won't cut the mustard.

    Easter 2020 will mark the 40th anniversary of dining train operation on the WSR. I hope that will be celebrated in appropriate style.
     
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  19. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    Part of the sale deal was that it would visit the WSR when returned to steam. Maybe the DSR will have to pay transport costs as part of the arrange? Aka £0 for WSR to spend.
     
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  20. Forestpines

    Forestpines Well-Known Member

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    I recalled there had been some agreement to that effect, but didn't know if it was just an agreement that the loco will definitely visit at some point assuming the WSR pays the usual hire and transport fees; an agreement that the WSR will get it FOC on its first visit, or something somewhere in between the two
     

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