West Somerset Railway General Discussion

One wonders why a haulier would ever need more than one short and one long version. Well done sir for solving the crime and I expect that a cheque for £10,000 will be with you shortly. Is there any way that it could be made out to the S&D Trust, Washford ?

 

I thought the moderators of this forum had made absolutely clear that it was not appropriate to discuss the merits or otherwise of any individual, a clarification with which I agree. All aspiring members of the PLC board are subject to a due diligence process.

Frank

 

Lmao, I did wonder why someone was conspicuous by their absence when that came back, I'd have been all over both trailers looking for the serial number and anything else that could identify them!! Even more comical when I saw who the haulers were, I nearly choked on my coffee when they went past the window

 

My contacts at Bellingcat who are rather good at identifying trailers tell me that there are two very similar trailers so the crime has not been solved.

 

Well done for answering the question both fully and very tactfully with respect to the Forum rules. I hope that is the end of that particular line of questioning?

 

No it does not!

What I was alluding to, was that many members of this forum keep asking "why isn't the railway open?". There is a full page in the newsletter, which explains the reasons as they were at the time of publication. Please read it closely. An update will be given in the next newsletter. But readers of this forum have to remember that all heritage railways are not the same, and that the West Somerset has faced a combination of very challenging factors. Any suggestion that the directors are sitting on their hands is very wide of the mark, but you would hardly expect them to give a daily report of progress.

Frank

 

How much of a process? How much due diligence was done? And this isn't about individuals, this is about the process and about the sense of good management practice at the head of a struggling organisation with deep seated, long term and pressing problems.

Saying you did it, and doing it well are two different things. Doing things badly have consequences.

Moreover, there could well be learning experiences for the WSR here. For example, a discussion might actually bring about insights from other lines that could be adopted by the WSR and may in future help to improve the quality of the railway's management.

 

Hi Frank,

There is a degree of similarity in that the same checks and balances need to be made of the line and stock being fit for purpose. If the reason for not running a limited service is that key individuals have chosen to depart, could a word not be had with other nearby railways ? It ought to be possible to borrow a qualified member of staff for a day or two or are there other factors ?

 

One is a fine locomotive(not available to Salvage Hunters) and the other is just a tender off of a Manor

 

The WSR has much to thank museum disposal policies for.

Not least the splendid GWR BCK 6705 released to us under such a policy by the US National Park Service from Steamtown Pennsylvania and now in the care of the WSSRT.

Robin

 

Many apologies, Ian, *post amended. But it doesn't change the message, full marks to the WSSRT.
Should have remembered, I have a son with the same name!

 

Martin, I assume that is not you as a Moderator speaking ?

I am impressed. with your hindsight wrt lockdown ie. " we knew it was coming for some weeks
before " . I did not know that ( and neither did my fellow Guards and TTI's when we held the
training day early March). We knew there were upcoming challenges; total lockdown no.

"What irks people on here " you say. It does appear that whatever comment one makes wrt the
WSR that certain people will dismiss it if it does not accord with their personal view.

As a matter of interest if those " giving their best" (to help the WSR get through Covid) are
not enough then what is (I feel Noddy sat in the behavioural psychiatrist's Chair at work)

Martin, actually if you have the WSR's interest at heart then perhaps the best thing is
to follow Anne C.B's advice.

This forum I suggest is neither benefitting the West Somerset Railway or National
Preservation. In both cases it is denting their Public Image.

Michael Rowe

 

Hold on to your hats, I agree with you here! Although that doesn't mean that, once lockdown was imposed, reopening scenarios could be devised. Indeed, initially the board did just that, including options for only operating on part of the line. So what changed?

 

Long live the PFP!

 

I have just checked my diary and the first silver command briefing I attended on Covid was February 25th. Our first confirmed case amongst the team was March 13th. All main buildings for a FTSE top 35 company were shut w.e.f. March 16th (next working day) unless tasks were deemed mission critical.

Tempus fugit.