West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Opportunity to make some money being wasted.

 

Yes, but....

Speaking as an 'at risk' (almost) ancient relic , just because everyone is rushing out like lemmings to the country/seaside/cliffs whatever does not necessarily mean that it is safe to do so. One day next week I shall go for a long walk in the country past one of my favourite pubs, now open again (hurrah!). But....it's small, with many 'nooks and crannies' that have been closed off 'cos of poor ventilation, pre-booking will be essential to avoid over-crowding, and even if looks nice and safe when I get there, how will it be by the time that lunch is in full swing and the place is full? Do I risk eating there or not? Who knows.....

Yes, IMHO the WSR must start attracting custom back again asap, but it will have to be in a safe and manageable form. Walk before you try to run. But yes, let's have trains that carry passengers from A to B and back again, even if it's only a pannier and 3 compartment coaches MD-BA.

 

You are right of course but I would go the other way with the trains personally. One engine in steam to keep costs down and as you say a bit at a time not a full 3 steam engine service,but I would go a 7F (because its the only one that can pull enough coaches) with 10/11 coaches on. Due to social distancing compartments or not you are not going to cover costs with 3 coaches, you need as many as the engine will take to get enough people in to cover costs.

Advanced booking only and say two round trips a day to give you some control over loading. Work with what the WSR has. The 7F is cheap to steam (sore point I know !!!) whereas a Pannier will cost a full steaming fee (because the WSR doesn't have one as a home engine) and there is no shortage of coaches. Perhaps also put the DMU on in between because that's cheap to run as well.

You could use 7828 or 9351 as home engines and so cheap to steam engines but they won't take 10 or more over the hills.

Its fair to say the customers might not appear but that's not a reason to not try, its likely a 7F and a DMU will be cheaper per day than a shunting weekend at MD with hired in burger vans, buses, Panniers and other one off costs, etc. and customers only paying an entrance fee not a full line fare especially when you add in the customers have to drive an extra 40 mile round trip to get to MD versus a BL round trip.

 

"The WSR Covid 19 Emergency Appeals had, as of the 29th June, raised £185,000" which includes The West Somerset Railway Association's Rail Renewal 2020 appeal of £31,534. The WSRA in March "has already opened a fund for infrastructure works, intended for use in the winter of 2020 / 2021. We have decided to promote that fund now and be prepared to fund infrastructure works in the coming weeks if suitable projects can be identified by the WSR plc". I guess that is why the WSR counts that restricted £30k as a Covid appeal, even though the WSRA rail appeal page doesn't mention Covid?

You don't need rumours, the figures are published. "Station Donations" £41,950 is I suspect what you're referring to, unless Cheque Donations and Share Purchases include money from the various groups based on WSR.

Parick




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Looking at the Bailey Report responses time line it is most disappointing to note WSR plc responded publicly a mere two hours after the PDG meeting finished. In that response they warmly welcomed the report's recommendations and pledged to discuss them with the various family charities by means of the PDG forum. This response came 34 days after they received JB's report and, by then, in the knowledge PDG was not due to meet again for a further three months. This simply does not make sense. The plc response must have existed before the PDG meeting, as there wasn't time to compile it in the short time between the meeting finishing and it's publication.

WSRA produced their considered response within a fortnight of Bailey's report and (presumably) circulated it to their fellow recipients three weeks before PDG met.

Did our plc rep leave the PDG meeting early to go and release his organisation's response? Something smells odd to me.

WSSRT then published a public response the day after PDG, 35 days after they received the report.

 

Trust. Such a little word, how hard to build and how easy to forfeit.

 

And once its broken, its very hard, if not impossible to get it back

 

In the same way as it does every year and always has done, however a percentage of it always goes to West Somerset and I don't think now will be any different, surely Covid hasn't changed that ?

The point is the fear that everybody would stay at home has not happened, the opposite in fact. Additionally these holiday makers are most likely not all retired people who are worried to come out and won't sit in a coach, they will most likely be families looking to spend money.

The PLC did say they were covering all possible scenarios whilst planning for and expecting the worst case scenario, clearly there are customers coming, it looks like the best case scenario and then some. So this must be a big relief to all and I'm assuming the WSR is ready to take advantage of this opportunity because it must have been one of the potential outcomes planned for.

 

It’s as much Covid as anything else because it will keep the P.Way Department busy during the winter.

The same is true for work to 4561 and coach painting that will keep staff employed on useful work.

Robin

 

I’ve had the privilege of meeting her. IMHO a very effective, inspiring individual.

Robin

 

Perhaps the limit of 25 years stemmed from the fact that the current lease from SCC was originally only intended to be for 25 years, like the one it replaced, and was only changed at the last minute to one of 99 years after the intervention of a councillor.

 

Presumably the Maunsell Locomotive Society can afford to say this because they didn't have to hand over all their spare cash a few months ago to a Chairman holding out his begging bowl.

 

The present head lease of 99 years commenced in 1989 and hasn't changed. WSR tried to extend this to a 150 year lease a few years back but SCC declined.

I don't think there was any formal agreement about sub-leases until December 2016 but don't know for sure.

 

Well, it's not really considered de rigeur ... plus there is the small matter of funds being ring-fenced for those - such as the Atlantic and the MLS - that use the Bluebell Railway Trust for fundraising.

Tom

 

It was events in 1989 that I was referring to. The change happened while the lease was being drawn up by SCC.

 

Open Letter Update:

For the information of everyone, attached are the cover letter and signed open letter which has just been emailed to the 3 chairmen of the WSR PLC, WSSRT and WSRA. We have also copied in the info / admin email addresses of each organisation.

For the purposes of National Preservation I have blacked out my address and email address from the cover letter.

We look forward to receiving individual response from the 3 organisations.

As is detailed in the cover letter, we have released the following information, this has been subject to review and refinement and should be considered to be the final definitive count.

Total Signatures: 543

Total number of names recognised by the group as current West Somerset Railway Volunteers and Staff: 287

Total number living within 50 miles of a West Somerset Railway Station: 404

Total number living within 100 miles of a West Somerset Railway Station: 455

Total signatories from the UK: 531

Total signatories from outside the UK: 12

The large majority of the 287 Volunteers and Staff members who have signed the open letter have selected the option to remain anonymous. We believe this in its own right is a good sign of the environment which currently exists within the West Somerset Railway.

 

Firstly, well done - I am a signatory

Secondly Councillor Rigby is looking for views on the restructuring

See http://www.wsr.org.uk/news.htm#2083

Would it be worth sending him a copy?

 

Just a note to say WSRA trustees are meeting to discuss the petition tomorrow.

 

Let us hope that at last change is here, that notice is taken of the people of the WSR (its true owners) and the current Management either turn the ship around from its current unsustainable direction or step aside, en-masse if needed.

Today its important that 'the people' are re-engaged and the WSR is opened again to ensure there is enough income to see it through the coming period of re-structure and fresh new thinking. We have to be realistic, just staying closed and continuing to rattle the donation tin at the same old people won't give us the £60k a month needed to save the WSR until the fare revenue can take over. Time for a new plan, time to do something different.

To show my support I have updated by signature strip below.