S&D Railway Trust

The present lot of Plc management don't seem to have taken anything into account except their need for more money. Another thing they don't seem to have taken into account is that the SDRT site at Washford has very poor access. Unlike all the other sites on the railway, it can only be accessed off a busy main road across a level crossing on a working railway. That's bound to affect its rental value.

 

Costs that would be funded how? And what happens in the meantime, while any case progresses through the courts?

I can't help wondering, while hoping against hope to be wrong, whether the plc's approach is a pure exercise in machiavellian power politics, knowing that while the termination of the lease may be questionable, the costs and risks of contesting it would be at the limit of the S&DRT's capability, and that they may therefore go quietly rather than fight.

If so, those are as bad a set of business ethics as I've ever seen, and would be a disgrace not just to the perpetrators, but also to railway preservation as a whole.

 

In the meantime, of course, the S&DRT can not afford to just sit back and wait in hope, it will have to start serious planning for the event that they do have to leave. And if they do have to leave by the Feb 2021 date, then the actual process of dismantling and starting to ship stuff out is going to have to start many, many weeks beforehand so, even if the PLC can be persuaded to reverse this decision eventually, the demolition process may already have started.... Unlike the 2010 situation, there is not the 'luxury' of 10 years in which to get ready:-(

 

One would hope that any finances the S&DRT have, plus the preservation world rallying round and perhaps mates rates from a friendly barrister would take care of the costs. I stand to be corrected, but if a case is pending or in progress then I think any potential eviction is put on hold.

Keith

 

Two comments,

Firstly the S&DRT MAY be contractually required to leave a bare site so stripping everything out is a contractual requirement not a decision by the S&DRT

Secondly given the costs of moving and its impact on the future of the S&DRT, rather like the WSRA & 4160 the trustees may well be legally obliged to defend the eviction notice

 

My view is this - every line needs help and money, but I would always want to spend my money as ethically as possible. A line which behaves badly or has people who behave badly involved with it, isn't getting my money.

Let me give you another example, I used to work in kitchens, there were plenty of cooks and chefs who treated everyone else like crap. So if I see a TV chef (or hear of a chef) treating their staff like crap, then I am not going to go to their restaurants, watch their TV shows or buy their cook books.

To my mind, giving money to people/companies who behave badly is just condoning that behaviour and enabling it further. I want to impose a cost for their behaviour and my cost is me not giving them money.

 

That assumes they can get the money - but what about the costs in terms of time and effort in preparing a case? That's one hell of a distraction. As for any stay of eviction, others have highlighted the practical issues surrounding whether to stay or go.

 

I agree. My annual trip to Devon usually involves a stop in the area; it is very likely that I will not pause on the A358 or A39 this year.

 

I think there's a few us going to be doingthe same thing if we're in the area...

 

But if everyone were to do the same wouldn’t that harm the WSR, its prospects, and all the people who work there, be they employees or volunteers? Looked at that way it seems like a blunt instrument to me.

 

But the psychology of trust is critical in a business where the paying customers are discretionary; most of the staff are volunteers; and a considerable amount of the funding is altruistic.

Tom

 

I am correct in thinking that the restoration of the station was undertaken by the S&DRT members? Which might also have been a consideration when the site rental was established.
Like many others I am perturbed by the current situation. The WSR was on my retirement list as one of the places I intended to join and volunteer at during the summer when the weather gets too hot in Italy. I still have 10 years left before retirement so I hope peace will break out soon.

 

True. But it’s also true that there’s virtue in reserving/withholding judgement. One doubts if the last word has been heard on all this.

 

From what I know from speaking to several sources, you’re not far off Jamie!

What the PLC are attempting here, at least on the face of it, appears to be more on the side of bullying a tenant out of a long term lease rather than a legal eviction.

From reading up related law, my main concern is if the S&DRT decide that the relationship with the PLC is irreparable and leave Washford, then this is technically considered as mutual consent. The result being that the PLC achieve their aim, no matter how feel about the tactics employees, and thus the S&DRT are not entitled to compensation.

However should the S&DRT decide to challenge the eviction notice, then it’ll be interesting to see if the PLC’s threats hold water. It’ll also be interesting to see what the reaction of the PLC shareholders is, for or against the actions of the board!

I’ve put my money where my mouth is, signed up as a member of the S&DRT and offered any professional support and time that the trust can make use of.

 

So will many others be after reading the latest Steam Railway magazine. The S&DRT eviction is covered in a two page article. <BJ>

 

Its worth remembering that the owners of the land are still the SCC. The PLC doesn’t have any money to develope a blank canvass at Washford, as shown by the requests for donations for urgent repairs, therefore you have to ask yourself what the PLC are actually trying to achieve from this eviction?

 

I won't see SR until Easter (I'm in the US) - is there any mention of 'other influences' in the eviction notice article?

 

I suspect only if the SCC got involved and/or the WSSRT and WSRA get off the fence and stand up for their friends/colleagues in the S&DRT

Keith

 

May be a mini golf club or was it holiday chalets.........? !

 

The A39 passes by Washford Station, I hear that there is an excellent museum devoted to the S &D that might be worth a visit if you are in the area.

It is. Unfortunately it is a negative sum game, but it does have the potential for a positive outcome. Either you sit on your hands and the bad treatment and behaviour continues, or you act and those who work for the line pay for the bad behaviour of others. There is no perfect solution. However, I do think there is a tipping point and if it helps mobilise those within the organisations to confront and remove the offenders then that it will have achieved its aim.

It is ironic, because one of the common insults used by some in this thread at those who are critical of the WSR, is that they are keyboard warriors, in other words, people who do nothing, so this is an example of people doing something.

I have no power over the line other than whether I choose to give it money or not.

IMO, the current policies and approaches taken are more counter productive to the short, medium and long term survival of the WSR, than my decision to not give the WSR money. The decisions of the WSR are the cause, me not giving money is the effect.