S&D Railway Trust

With 53808 moving to the MHR would there be room for a possible future home for the S&D Trust at the MHR? Could the museum at Washford be moved to either Ropley or Medstead? Just wondering what others think about this at the moment? The Trust would be very welcome on the MHR.

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Even today I would argue there are still those who think that, being at the WSR, the S&DRT are too far from a perceived 'spiritual home' on the actual line. Going even further away to the MHR could have a significant impact on their available volunteer base, although arguably it would be closer to home for some of them.

 

Right now anything is possible.

AIUI as well the SDRT has a lot of other assets as well as the S&D collection, thinking track , wagons building etc that I'm sure any willing railway with space would be happy to give them the space for.

Be an attractive proposition for both railway and SDRT .

 

Where is the space for a public-accessible, self-contained depot for the S&DRT at the MHR if they do end up leaving the WSR? I can't see one that isn't already in use. The best bet that I can see would be the former oil sidings at Cranmore on the ESR and I think it would give that line a real boost

 

I do wonder whether the move of 53808 will be the start of a broader re-location of S&DRT assets away from Washford in order to lessen dependence on the WSR. Even if current negotiations result in a compromise between WSR and S&DRT over the eviction notice, there will be a legacy of mistrust. Extensive discussion elsewhere in this forum suggests that, as long as the WSR PLC remains solvent, it is unlikely that critics can force any change to its management and direction.

On the other hand, if the WSR PLC becomes insolvent, then the train service through Washford could remain suspended for a very long time, during which the only visitors will have to come by road. Would the museum site be viable in that situation?

A big question is whether any alternative location has the space to take the whole of the current Washford collection. It may be that the collection would have to be split over 2 or 3 sites. The other big question is who would pay the costs of any re-locations. The S&DRT certainly has a strong moral claim for compensation from the WSR, but I have no idea whether that moral claim would translate to a legal entitlement, nor whether the WSR would actually have the money to pay.

 

We have to remember that the SDRT have been evicted by the WSR from Washford and so they WILL be leaving for another location of course.

 

Let's get it right shall we? They have been given notice of eviction, they haven't been evicted yet and if it goes to court that notice may be unenforceable.

Dave B

 

I understood from earlier discussions on the matter that unlike a Notice to Quit on residential property where the landlord has to go to court to get the tenant out, with commercial property its the tenant who has to go to court to contest it.

 

If the Plc becomes insolvent and ceases trading, then it is likely to be wound up by the many creditors and the SDRT's lease would then expire along with the company.

 

...but perhaps they could then get a lease for the site direct from SCC ?

 

As long as it happened before the notice to evict expires and the trust have to leave.
What would happen, if the trust got a court to stay the eviction , and the company then went insolvent? would the eviction still be valid?

 

You need to separate two matters. The first is the validity of the eviction, and the actions taken by WSR plc. The second is what would happen if the WSR plc went under, and what would happen in that event. I'm not sure what would happen to a lease contract in the event that the organisation giving the lease went bust - I assume it would be a matter for the administrator to deal with and in the context of a sub-lease, might depend on the view of SCC.

 

Correct. Until such time as the company is wound up and the assets if any dispersed.

The SCC might be minded to carry on with the arrangement until it decided what do with the railway.

 

As 'summerof67' is a director of S&DRT I take that statement as confirmation they WILL leave Washford come what may.

No AGM report yet. Perhaps something decisive is in the pipeline.

 

Hope that you find a suitable new home with freedom from toxicity.

 

Be a sad day when that happens, but my gut feeling is that if they do leave the WSR, It will be the right move for them, as clearly the new management don't want them there, and its a decision that will come back to bite them very hard ,

 

There is still the question of how a move would be paid for. Neither the PLC, which the last we heard wanted the S&DRT out, nor the Trust, which might or might not wish to leave, appears to have the cash to pay for moving the stock, let alone moving the buildings or contructing new ones.

 

that will be one for our learned fiends i think, especially if the trust have grounds to contest this and can seek damages and costs from the WSR plc. be rather fitting, if the parting gift to the WSR plc Is a court decision in favour of the Trust, awarding them punitive damages and costs.

 

That would be a bit of a hollow victory if the plc has nothing in the bank to pay those damages and costs from...

Keith