West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Yes, they left for a NR job & some furloughed & working elsewhere till November.....one is running our volunteer weekend gang.....unpaid !

 

It's called scrutiny. Maybe not everybody involved with the WSR is used to it.

 

I did say in a earlier post, after the only information given to our volunteer gang, was there was about a month's work for us, to be finished off in 3 separate places, this figure was expanded by others on here !.....who know nothing about things we do maybe ?...2 day jobs turn into 4 day jobs often ........these sites have to be finalised, cleared of remains etc & signed off fit to run by PLC PW .......our small team have been out on the works 2 days last weekend, see earlier pics.....& will be out again this weekend, doing whatever's called for again ?

 

Sorry, no not at this stage.......we dont even know yet !

 

But well done to the volunteers for making a start on the backlog.

Ed

 

"Sidmouth" has already answered this but to expand a bit : Anybody can leave, die, or be taken ill at any time. "Succession planning" is a basic requirement in nearly all jobs in order to prevent this very situation. Given that this has, apparently, not been done in these cases then, rather than leaving the railway inoperable, how about asking for help from other preserved lines or even the general community ? There must be suitably qualified weed sprayers around in such a rural county. Even if payment was required how many days work would it take ? It seems a monumental waste of resources to have our volunteers hand-weeding !
Similarly with the track replacement, having followed the building of the Broadway extension, the bulk of the work was done by a volunteer team, some of whom will have been certified for operating lifting equipment. (@Breva, or FS123 will no doubt correct me if I am wrong !) Surely among the thousand or so of WSR volunteers there must be people with the same skills ? If certification of the work is required then again cannot the necessary specialists be borrowed from other lines for the few days required ?

 

That's how I feel too - I merely stated my view sans rant

Steve

 

Dunno - I'm just a WSR supporter. I think the problem with people leaving is that there's no-one in post doing the task of seeking replacements. As people come off furlough (as is now beginning to happen, I see) then these tasks will, I hope, be dealt with. I'd heard a figure of £10K for spraying weeds, although I've no idea if that is right. That's money the Plc does not have. I think the vols doing the weeding are actually very happy to be doing something that helps tidy the place. I'm not happy about it either but you either pay the unfurloughed staff to get on with pw and a million other things, or you spend the money on a weedkilling contract. Your last point is a good one, but, during the furlough period, there was (still is?) no-one to do that contacting. It seems to be the whole furlough thing has been both a help and a hindrance.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve. I'm astounded if there is nobody in post to manage the filling of vacancies at present, surely this could be given priority and handled by the GM or a Board member ? And, again, why not make use of those volunteers who have appropriate background ? However lockdown and its repercussions seem to be causing all sorts of problems and I guess we just have to make do as best we can, but it is very noticeable that most of the larger railways are able to mount some running and seem to be able to do so at a profit, albeit a small one !

 

There have been many posts here about the finances received in respect of the WSR and its groups groups, also mention of ongoing trackwork and lack of oversight. It should be realised that one of the specialities of the line appears to be:-

 

The latest issue of "The Platform" helpfully gave a run down of the current plc board and what their individual responsibilities are - the "Director with responsibility for engineering and infrastructure" is Mr Meanley.

Tom

 

Its not on BOLD ! This is ........

 

Well, if it's coming across as a rant then I do apologise. I tried to keep the original question factual and logical but haven't received a satisfactory explanation (in my view). Possibly the 8 others who have liked posts #28344 and #28346 might also agree.

It is borne out of frustration, that I cannot deny. That is perhaps, in part, due to the inability of some people to acknowledge very basic logical flaws and then the patronising responses which try to explain things away.

Anyway, Viva La WSR Emergency Fundraising Efforts, and let's just hope the donors or potential donors don't question where their money is going.

 

You're not alone in seeming to be delusional. I can also see the difference between what the WSSRT say the Peall donation is to be used for and what the Plc say they received from it.

Think someone has been taking lessons from the Government in mixed messaging.

Dave B

 

Probably just the way it is worded, but if somebody is on Furlough, then I didn't think they could volunteer (for their own Company)?

 

It seems to me that the lack of effective communication and leadership skills from all areas of the WSR is creating suspicion, supposition, fear and despair.
Here is an example of how it should be done:-




Bear in mind this is targeted specifically at returning loco volunteers - where to go (and not go) and what procedures to follow. Nevertheless - it is professional, clear, honest and personable. In short, it is leadership!

 

Have you got any canal societies in your area?

Some of my society's volunteers were trained up and certified by the Canal & River Trust on the use and application of weed control agents along the waterway which, I would suggest, is a more environmentally delicate area than a railway trackbed.

 

Stephen Victor Williams is a returnee from the previous board, surely?

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01010188/officers?page=2