West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I’m told there was a request for more photos of spring flowers?

Your wish is ...





Robin

 

As a GWSR volunteer, I have just been advised by a message on our HOPS partition that, following the Prime Minister's announcement earlier this evening, all train operations will cease with immediate effect.

Sad, but inevitable.

Sent from my SM-T590 using Tapatalk

 

You want to take a leaf out of King Canute's book.

 

Should have known better really!

 

From Claire's Kitchen facebook page:

The Quantock Belle dining train in partnership with Claires Kitchen is feeling sad.
47 mins ·
It is with great sadness that i have chosen to not run the dining trains until further notice,i could not take the risk of all the wonderful volunteers that work with me on The Quantock Belle to take any risks of contracting Covid 19.For me financially a very tough decision to make as this is my only source of income apart from the trailer but an easy decision when peoples lives are at risk.

 

I wonder how long before the SSG is officially cancelled....???

 

Not long I would have thought.
I suspect that by the end of April restrictions on social gatherings and unnecessary travel will have become mandatory rather than advisory.

 

I’m sure you’re right Steve. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Railway faces another period of closure at a time when it’s already experiencing severe financial problems.

I am also a shareholder, and plan to purchase £100 worth of additional shares for each month that the crisis continues.

As someone once said, every little helps.

 

just seen ssg gala now cancelled, understandable

 

HOPS announcement that railway not opening this weekend and may not open for some time.

 

from Facebook:


West Somerset Railway
54 mins ·
It is with real regret that West Somerset Railway has decided it has to postpone the first running services of the season.

Our staff and volunteers were really looking forward to welcoming visitors back to the railway, and did want to open, but following the most recent Government advice, we have concluded we cannot operate the service.

We will open as soon as the present health concerns are sufficiently under control, and this will be under consistent review.

We will be offering a refund for cancelled services or transferring to a new booking for when we are running again.

We will be putting out an update every fortnight at least, so watch for further news.

 

Very sad looked superb but inevitable.

 

Full Marks for saying that there will be fortnightly updates

 

Time to convene or re-form the station groups to get each station in tip-top condition. This would not only keep volunteers interested in maintaining the railway for the future but would give them a focusing point for the season. RAMS could then concentrate on the major work involved around the railway .

 

It must be a very difficult time for the S&DRT volunteers at Washford. How can they possibly get motivated? <BJ>

 

I think you'll find the volunteers at most stations, if not all, have been making the most of there being no trains or visitors over the past few months to get their stations ready for the new season. Certainly at my station, Crowcombe, we are ready for when the station does start receiving visitors again.

 

Sorry, I thought that the FOCHS group had been disbanded. My mistake, just trying to think positive, similarly with Washford.

 

Turning a negative into a positive

The WSRA Trustees held their monthly meeting (by conference call) yesterday evening. We were joined by WSR plc Director Martin Brown who explained the hard (but right) choice that the WSR plc had taken to suspend services. The Trustees considered what the WSRA could do to help. There will shortly be another announcement about fundraising.

But one idea we discussed, that Trustee Di Ricketts-Tanner and I agreed to work on, was the thought of a number of on-line courses or lectures about railway matters: history of the line, operations, local geography, a tour of each station and its facilities by the station master, etc which we could produce and make available. They could be produced by a lecturer and a 'technician' and so should not too greatly breach 'social distancing'.

Note: These are in no way intended to take the place of formal training provided by the WSR plc to meet competency requirements.

Di is looking at practicalities but a few questions from me to forum members:

1. Are they a good idea for now and perhaps into the future?
2. What subjects would you like to see covered?
3. Any volunteers to be lecturers or 'technicians' (please PM me).
4. Should these be just for volunteers or the public?

 

The FOCHS group was disbanded several years ago. The maintenance and gardening work is carried out by a small number of volunteers. It's not essential for a station to have a Friends group for its upkeep.

 

I am sure you are right.