West Somerset Railway General Discussion

The way this board are going they'll probably offer her the volunteer retention role soon....

 

but would she accept such a poison chalice?

 

On the evidence of that Facebook, welcome it


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There are diesels available to the WSR I gather, so they may have to rely on them to maintain a service in the future.
I looked at the Minehead webcam today for the first time. It looked as exciting as a childs OO gauge layout. Maybe the weather put folk off? Tomorrow it should be better.

 

I hate to say it and I hope I'm wrong, but the move of the 7f on top of everything else looks like it could be a death blow for the railway, at least in it's current iteration.

 

£800 per day, yes please, we'd take that....! I'd suggest £5-700 being more sensible depending what it is and who is responsible for what, length of contract, minimum number of days per annum etc. I think it was reported 88 did circa 140 days last year which is above average by quite a way for most engines.

A hired in loco can actually work out quite well long term IF you have the facilities to overhaul on site. Most have a dedicated support group of volunteers providing labour at overhaul and maintenance time along with shareholders who contribute towards their steed/s.

More typically I'd expect the average hired engine to be earning circa 40 to 60k per year. It wouldn't be out of the ordinary to be spending atleast 10% of that with the operating railway each year on maintenance. After (hopefully) 10 years and assuming you can overhaul on site there is potential for a big six figure sum going back in to the railway. All without the risk to the railway to fund unexpected high cost items, new cylinders, wheels, extensive copper firebox repairs and the like with supporters usually making up the shortfall. If the loco was railway owned then all such expenditure falls to the railway itself with the hope of support from appeals etc. which is fine, but could be a detraction from other useful appeals elsewhere on the line.

Granted shorter term hires are poorer value certainly but beggars can't be choosers.

Nothing is ever simple and there is never an ideal. But good strong relationships with a mix of owned and long term hires isn't the worst place in the world to be imho.


Mike

 

What engines are actually left at WSR now?

 

4110 and 7027 were never operational and longer term projects anyway. 4160 will not be a permanent feature at the SDR (who hire out all their locos on rotation). 44422 was in poor condition and 6695 never a resident there previously. 6412 was sold as deemed to be too small and 5542 limited wanted more steaming days. 53809 was resident for 2 years but that covered 7828 being out of traffic. 3850 is out of service with the owning group yet to overhaul it. 80136 was long term long but left in 2007. 5553 (which you haven't mentioned) is being overhauled at Peak Rail but will probably go out on loan I would imagine. 6960 - again another loco you've failed to mention - was swapped with 7802 which went bang.
The only major loco to leave is 53808 but it seems that could be a temporary arrangement.

 

7828 & 9351

 

The railway is more than one locomotive. Having it there or not will not matter for the railway surviving. There's plenty of locos out there begging for more work due to a loss in steaming fees this year and I doubt next year will see a return to usual levels of services as a cautious approach financially on many railways. 4612 & 6435 at Bodmin are examples of engines that are available for hire.

 

No I didn’t mean what locos are there currently. I mean what locos in total?

If the SD trust are still being removed, 88 won’t be coming back. Utterly tragic for the WSR and I feel sorry for all of you.

 

http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-locos.htm

I think that this stage, lack of locomotives is a small problem considering they aren't planning on running trains anyway. This can be addressed at a later date.

 

Given whats happened to 53808,44422,6695 , Whats to say the diesel group won't be told to do one in the future.

Gets Pratt his precious engineering base half way along the line.

 

Swindon Shed?

 

6695 never moved a wheel though as a resident so hardly worth counting.
The SVR probably have too many engines now for their own requirements and the requirements of loco groups in terms of finances.

 

Ever wonder why a percentage of people, Don't want o give money, time or a combination of the two into the railway,

when you get statements like that,

I'm guessing they are in a position of power to tell people if they don't like it leave.

This is the problem with the railway, first it was the ex 6's fault, they removed them, still more issues so Conibeare carried the can next still more issues,

So the problems and the troubles go deeper then that, based on some of the bile spat out on there for daring to speak up, that they don't agree with something.

 

Thats why they will find longer term hire locos hard to come by, Most people wouldn't touch the place with a 10ft pole.