West Somerset Railway General Discussion

https://www.crosvillevintage.co.uk/our-vintage-collection/vintage-buses/1976-bristol-vrt/

https://www.crosvillevintage.co.uk/about-us/

Crosville Vintage Ltd is part of the JJP Holdings South West Ltd Group.

 

The event in my eyes was a very successful and seeing so so many people on the platform, credit to everyone who put the effort into the event, from my eyes seeing how many people came out to support the railway and the enjoyment and the experience people were having, yet again well done everyone

#KEYBOARDWARRIORS
#HATERSBEHATING

 

The responsibility of the driver of the bus should make sure all was in order when taking over the vehicle and if it was known to have a defective gauge then provision should have been made to top up the fuel tank - sufficient for the days operation. Presumably other buses could have been replacements if necessary.
I had an uncle who was a transport manager in north Staffordshire. A prospective employee, after proving he had a current licence was told to drive the vehicle around the large yard. If he did not do checks - tyres, radiator water lever, fuel level and one or two other important things before mounting the cab to drive the vehicle he was told he was not suitable. Look elsewhere.

 

A lot of people in that other place who dismiss critical folk as "keyboard warriors" are actually committed volunteers, both on the WSR and from further afield with considerable experience with heritage railways. Whilst there is no doubt plenty of nonsense on this thread, to dismiss all the concerns raised here over the months as coming from so-called keyboard warriors is burying heads in sand.
I think the principle problems can be summed up with the umbrella concern of the WSR's current inability to stick to contracts. The HR policy being withdrawn for certain members is a breach of contract between employer and employee (volunteer). Then there are the more obvious ones in the form of the Washford site lease, the 7F overhaul etc.
Then there is the WSR's unique inability amongst premier lines to be able to run any kind of train service this year. It sticks out like a sore thumb.
Now you can shout keyboard warrior all you like if it makes you feel better, but those are real issues of real concern for the WSR, which have remained unanswered.

PS "Hashtags" # don't do anything on NatPres...

 

If that’s what you want to think. Some of us are in stunned disbelief at the position that the WSR has degenerated into over the last few months, and the way that it has made enemy upon enemy in that time. I’d like the weekend to have been a success*, but despair that it tripped over a problem.

* - I use the term “success” loosely, bearing in mind the reports from elsewhere of other major preserved railways succeeding not just in holding a static event but actually starting to run passenger carrying services for which there is clear demand.


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Just joined nat pres, 13 and a half years ago...

 

You seem to have been a forum member for a very long time before drawing this conclusion. Having reached it, I anticipate that now you will shortly be leaving.

 

As an aside, @Steve Edge , this is why the same arguments keep coming up and going round and round, because someone "new" periodically comes along and says we're all wrong, load of keyboard warriors etc. and we then feel compelled to interact and put the case, possibly desperately hoping that we're all wrong and there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for all this worrying behaviour!

 

S

stalking me now

 

No, just doing what I ought to have done and looked at your profile - as you may do for any of ours.


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You dont even need to do that, it says your joined date to the left of your comments if your posting via the website

 

You are correct.... & it is big NR size new ballast !!

 

I never disputed the basis for Brian's 'story' and I apologise for not responding diretly but I was not in possesion of all the facts at that time. I did however question the reasoning and motivation behind the post ... I believe it was an attempt to mock the weekends operations and subsequently gave my thoughts on my first post. In the same way that a mechanical failure isn't ideal, neither is having a disgruntled ex-volunteer taking pot shots at the railway via an online forum. Both are bad press and neither are conducive to a happy and prosperous organisation.

As per my post this afternoon I am in no way advocating 'the management line' you mention, nor do I target "any voices" who speak to the contrary. I do however have issue with those who harbour hidden agendas and take shots at those on the ground volunteering their time for a railway they believe in. Brian's post may seem innocent enough, but let's be frank... he's not been one to miss an opportunity to make jibes at anything WSR related lately.

I don't feel my message was really that unclear and I can't help but feel as though you're trying to split hairs somewhat to try and undermine my point.

It's actually interesting to note that anyone who questions the posts on this forum is automatically branded a PLC supporter and part of the 'problem'. Take it from me, you could not be further from the truth.

I haven't been involved with any formal arrangements regarding the bus 'hire so I will declare myself out of that converstion before I'm accused of "ducking" again. I prefer only to speak on topics where I am in possesion of the facts. Brian Fraser - please take note !

 

Or use a Mk. 1 fuel gauge - a length of something (broom handle even?) to dip the tank.

 

Very valid point

 

Cripes!

Oh for a ballast regulator.

Robin

 

What do you mean "Oh for a Ballast Regulator?"
They have plenty, they are known as shovels.

 

It just seems to me that everything WSR is like a script from a carry on movie, everything that can go wrong does, is it just bad luck, or every bad decision made by the railway, more to the point the organisation, impacting one after the other? As I said in my post, this is a time when the line needs all the good will and help it can get, but how is it going about that ?
Rubbishing others who might be questioning decisions you don't wish to see aired,
Pulling apart, instead of joining together fighting each other, when you should be combining your attempts to stay afloat.
If it hasn't already reached the point, it soon will where those you need to help, by donating, or volunteering will just say, I've had enough, and will decide not to do either, then there is only one outcome, there will be no WSR.

 

Do you mean one of these?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=15&v=_43qBuhPRpk&feature=emb_logo

Good aren't they.