West Somerset Railway General Discussion

One thing that I believe is a major contribution to the success of any heritage railway is having 'secondary'* attractions on site. Knowing there is additional 'stuff' to look at encourages more people to visit and spend more time at that railway (and time to get thirsty and hungary ).
So its a real shame to see any railway getting rid of an excellent example of such an attraction.

* No disrespect to the SDRT guys and I certainly don't mean to imply that they are in any way second rate.

 

Is there a connection between this announcement and the announcement that Paul Whitehouse has resigned as WSRA Chairman and Trustee "with immediate effect".? It seems that the much welcomed Partnership Development Group which was set up following the WSRA "troubles" has been consigned to history.

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The Facebook page for Midsomer Norton says that formal lines of communication have been well established and that they will support the trust through their transition period.

 

The S & D moving out of Washford may turn out to be the best for both parties, S & D can move onto home turf and progress beyond a static exhibition, WSR can utilise the capacity which is restricted elsewhere on the line. Too much negativity about.

 

I may be misunderstanding your post Andy, but are you saying that the S&DRT are seen as trouble makers on the WSR?

Apologies if that's not what you meant.

Keith

 

Ummm...where do the S&DRT get the funds from to buy land, transport stock, build/restore station facilities, lay track, build rolling stock storage, install signalling and jump through the myriad of hoops regarding railway operation?

No indication as to what the WSR intend to use the site for, but several suggestions that a PW depot could be on the cards - not sure how that would help capacity or make the WSR more attractive to the paying customer?

Too much simplistic thinking about.

Keith

 

I notice the SDRT have stated they are obtaining legal advice on receiving the notice from the WSR's solicitors. I hope for everyone's sakes that the WSR are properly executing a break clause or similar within the terms of the lease, otherwise things could indeed get nasty in both short and long terms.

 

Hmm yes I was thinking something similar no one wins apart from our friends in the legal profession.

 

Having been one person to suggest a p/way base, I should caveat it with the comment that it simply seemed an operationally plausible use for the site - my comment wasn’t from inside info. Others on the thread have given reasons why it might be less practical than it looks at first glance.

The Facebook thread linked to earlier isn’t displaying a lot of love for the WSR over this, it has to be said, with sentiment squarely behind the SDRT.

Tom

 

The 25 year lease was only signed in 2018, so it seems unlikely that there would be a mutually agreed break point in the lease so soon.

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It depends on the terms of the agreement. However I’m sure the SD trust wouldn’t cut their nose off to spite their face, and lose the steady income which helps pay the upkeep of the 7F.

Perhaps in future though, if the S&D trust receive an attractive offer from another railway, their loyalty to keeping 53808 at the WSR might not be so strong.

A great shame they are leaving Washford though. Speaking as a family man, the WSR is a very long railway. Being able to break the journey at Wsshford and let the children look around and let off steam makes the trip much easier.

 

I think anyone who doesn't tug their forelock to the chairman or drink the kool aid is seen as a trouble maker to be drummed out.

I hadn't realised one railway actually meant that the aim was to get rid of everyone until only one person would be on the railway.

 

(Deleted)

 

True, but the people who see the thread are likely to see it because they're pro-Trust anyway. There's an awful lot of "let's move the 7F to Midsomer Norton!" comments suggesting that firstly they haven't read the whole thing and understood it, and secondly that they like the thought of seeing a large, magnificent loco shuffling up and down 600yds of track at walking pace.

 

Hi Keith

Thanks for picking me up on that point, a valid comment which I should explain and be clear about my opinion of the S&DRT. The S&DRT are a great bunch of people from my experience, they have contributed to the WSR over many, many years and my limited dealings with them have all been very positive. I would even go as far as to say they are a cornerstone of the WSR. Why anybody would want rid of them, their museum, stock, their development and upkeep of Washford and the 7F (its all very well saying that it won’t be affected, but let’s see!!) which is the only loco on the line currently that can haul charter trains and is very much a known commodity and major part of the WSR’s daily services is totally beyond me. I also don’t buy into the ‘we need more land’ thing the WSR has lots of spare land available and I suggested two other solutions for P/Way (so Dunster could be the station it deserves to be) which were easier and cheaper than Washford in 2018.

So in my opinion the S&DRT are the perfect partner to not only be on the WSR but to be a part of the WSR (yes what did happen to the PDG !!!). And that’s even before you start on the reputational damage regarding the continuing scrapping of long term agreements. Even if their agreement was up for renewal now I for one would renew it in a heartbeat. I would also say similar things of other people/locos/groups who have left in recent times.

My point was the comment about ‘removing trouble makers’ has been a theme from the start which all internally knew and all agreed too because an AGM in December said so, hence I’m not sure why so many WSR people are unhappy with this turn of events.

It’s then how you define a ‘trouble maker’. The Shareholders of the WSR have allowed one person to define who a trouble maker is and act on their behalf and that’s my point. As the saying goes: One person’s Terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter. So I come back to Michael's well used word ‘genuflect’ which if you don't do may possibly result in a definition of trouble maker in recent times.

I hope that makes sense.

 

Mmmm, anyone else smell a rat! makes me wonder if the S&D are the first of a clearout of supporting groups plus the WSRA chairman suddenly heading for the hills, wonder if the S&D are the thin end of the wedge!

 

Agreed but the people who follow the WSR thread on Nat-Pres are likely to see it because they're pro-WSR folk.
From where I'm sitting there's not a lot of support at present for the eviction of the SDRT from Washford. <BJ>

 

Indeed, Will the last person to leave please switch out the light !!!!

 

Whatever the reason for the WSRA's Chairnan's resignation, does it not afford the opportunity to
put the 4160 issue to bed ?

I am sure that I speak for many when I say " I would love to see No.4160 spend its next ten year
operating stint on the WSR". IMHO the best ( ie the most appropriate whether operationally,
historically or economically ) loco to have worked on the Railway.

Michael Rowe

 

Thanks Andy, I didn't think you would've earmarked the S&DRT as troublemakers. Apologies for reading your post that way.

Keith