West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Thank you very much for the reply

 

Thank you for the steer on the figures and suffice to say, couldn't agree more with your analysis.

 

From previous talk of 53808 on here, it's clear that it's more than just another loco. It is totemic to the WSR. I understand it was the first "proper" loco restored to steam on the line and made the WSR feel like a "proper railway" when before all it really had was industrials. It seems it will remain totemic, for as the WSR falls behind and struggles to maintain in any meaningful way a sense of being a premier line, so goes the engine that cemented that status in the first place. I really feel for the volunteers, especially the long term ones like @Robin Moira White , I feel so gutted on your behalf at what's happening to your railway, I can't imagine how I'd feel if it were mine.
What feels most desperately sad about it all is that, unlike last time, there is no clear way forward. The only way I can see the current board either resigning or reversing these terrible decisions is when it is too late, and the damage done is not just apparent, but irreversible. Suddenly they'll find that so-called "keyboard warriors" are actually a lot more than that, they were the lifeblood of the railway, now walking away.
Feeling a bit morose about the future of the WSR tonight, but good luck nonetheless, I hope it will be around for many years to come, and I wish there was something I could do to help.

 

I would say the dice are now cast, and its now a time to await the outcome. I for one can not see the PLC reversing any decisions, and only time will tell. I'm gutted for the volunteers like Robin, who have given their time, labour, and money to what was once their line. It's clearly been taken from them by this board of yes men, with a chair, whose motives are to most of us, unclear. If it's about removing a non GWR presence, that is just childish, and very damaging. It shouldn't matter what region a loco worked on, they all should be valued,

But what now of the future? Railways rely on good will, from everyone, No person, should be above any railway's membership. You are put there as a matter of trust, not to pursue personal agendas. Those making these decisions need to realise that it's not their own personal plaything; it's other peoples' lifetime goals. It's other peoples' dreams they are destroying. Some people will say " its only a LOCOMOTIVE" but it's more about what has led to this. OK, the WSR's loss will be the MHR's gain, and I know my former friends will be very welcoming.

We had our own struggles, but unlike what's happening now with the WSR board, we came out the other side. Our problem was with a loco owner having too much power, over the motive power of the line, but we came through it, Everyone's now moved on, and whilst relationships have not healed completely, they did enough for the MHR to buy the Std 5 off him, and we have a very good reputation with our care of loaned engines.

 

I think you will find that the overhaul of 3850 is coming along well.

 

Although it would make a "living museum day" a bit less attractive with no locos to show

 

So why isn't the Railway hiring out the mogul, or Manor if its just about no work for the engines?
its much deeper than that,
It's years of wrong decisions made by many people, all of whom will say " we were trying to do whats best for the railway"
The structure is wrong, the relationships is wrong, and to be frank, people who are maybe not best suited to positions of responsibility being given responsibility, not just in the plc, but in the other organisations also.

 

I do agree with sentiments posted here. The effect on volunteers at the WSR with all this is just awful and they don't deserve all this. The SDRT are very good guys and have had too many shocks delivered on them in recent months by the WSR management. They own the 7F and have to take decisions to protect their asset when the WSR cannot guarantee its overhaul from the many years they have used it, indeed 145 days just last year!

 

the point I was making , was that, if it's just about no work for the engines, then yes, its right to allow it to go on loan, but why then, in that case are the PLC not hiring out one of theres to raise much needed revenue at a time when it's needed , I suspect that its not just in isolation, but part of the plan to purify the WSR into a pure GWR branch line .

 

I don't think "branch line" is quite what they have in mind

 

Double track main line? Now there's ambition...!

 

Martin,
Can you name one railway that is in need of a hire loco at the moment? Most railways are operating on a reduced timetable and several are not operating at all. 53808 may have gone to the MHR but I doubt that it was because of a need by the MHR, probably more of an offer by the locos owner and an acceptance by the railway (although that is a pure guess by me). It may get some use there but I doubt that it will be in preference to its own locos. Why pay for a hire loco when you can use your own at no immediate cost?

 

I am seeing a lot of "trackless trains" advertising at the moment and I cannot help but question why.

 

I'd have to dig way too deep into NatPres to find it, but someone on this forum said yesterday that, when 92212 was withdrawn, it left a hole in the MHR's locomotive strategy - with 53808 now fills.