West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Look forward to this vehicle finally entering traffic!

 

Your last paragraph is only correct if persons involved with "your " railway have not in fact (a) sworn at people in public (b) issued notices to quit to long term tenants (c) described such tenants as cuckoos in the nest (d) indicated that agreed repairs to a locomotive will not be carried out. If these allegations are untrue then the sooner they are denied, the better things will be. If, sadly, they are true, then defending them is a bit unfortunate. The choice is yours.

 

Let's be honest if there was an update it probably would have been an internal one that was released then taken down with further following. But the information coming out of the railway itself is dire. I think if they came out and were simply honest with the whole situation and laid out the facts a lot wouldn't be asking them.

Many questions have been asked in this thread and I don't think shutting it down is the answer, in fact it should stay as an example of how not to communicate with the public. Many many lessons can be learnt from all of this, a shambles some may call it. But when it comes to money will I be supporting the railway? This is usually done at galas where even though I prefer to be at the lineside I will still buy a ticket or in the event of a photocharter, I have to say no, morally the way they have acted I can't support that. This then has a knock on effect as I usually get a hotel close by, money in the shop etc. I may only be one person but I can't be the only person? I do worry if I've had my last visit to the wsr. I hope not, but I shall not be returning while the railway is under its current control.

Matt

 

WSRA's funding of 4561's restoration is presumably providing some ongoing employment for plc engineering staff, along with (hopefully) other external contract work.

 

I actually agree with those who say we should erase all reference to the West Somerset Railway, and that should include when they expect us to publicise their next appeal for money, you can't have it both ways, you want us to stay silent when your having your once to may internal civil wars, but then expect to be able to ask us to help you fund raise, My personal point of view is that the rest of the preservation movement is getting on with re inventing how it does things , whilst those that run the railway are more concerned with censoring voices they don't think the rest of the world should hear, exposing their failings, so yes please let's drop everything about this toxic railway, except to wish the S&DJRMT All the best, and to offer them all the help we can should they make the decision to move else where and start again, hopefully with a landlord that wants them.

 

Reference "Do you believe the actions wrt to the S&D Trust are enhancing the WSR image
or the opposite"

Another Moderators yes or no question ? Have you been taking lessons from Jeremy
Paxman ? Hardly a role model for a Moderator ?

As I have said (posted ) many times previously I deplore the use of "cuckoo in the nest". I
thought the Plc handling of the issue was poor. I hope ongoing discussions reach an
amicable conclusion.

Although I have not worked ( ie received a salary) for a quarter of a century, even then
amongst our possible planned emergency situations,, 'pandemic' was one. However
as of Mid March 2020 reactions in China and Italy were mixed, contamination rates
still uncertain. Total lockdown of Heritage Railways far from a given.

However, as I have said before wrt the WSR "We are where we are "

Please do as Anne C. B and I suggest.

Thank you Michael Rowe

 

"We are where we are "Up the proverbial creak without a paddle , and your board is busy, shouting, " look over there, Nothing to see here whilst everyone watching is shouting " Rapids" as you get closer to the sheer drop

 

I had some minor surgery at Taunton Musgrove hospital about 10 days after the guard’s meeting and I did not attend as part of self-isolation to ensure I did not miss the surgery. I was part of the last normal list as the hospital was being Covid-prepared around we last few day-surgery cases.

I think it was pretty clear what was coming then.

Robin

 

Is not part of it that certain people screwed up first by despite what they say, not doing a robust enough back ground checks on prospective board members, and they refuse to admit it?
Everything else is down to the inability of the management of the WSR and its various organisations to take any criticism where its clear, wrong decisions are being made, to say the only game in town is to support a board that does not deserve support, but censure for its actions,
Everyone that followed the news at the time could see what was coming, and took steps to ensure they stood a good chance of coming out in fair shape, except the WSR, of whom I would say those people in charge, clearly are out of their depth .

 

...and we are pleased to do it Barrie. The charity collected the money for what most regard as a WSR locomotive and we will press on restoring it. If that helps to keep the railway open then it strikes me as win-win.
I do sometimes sense a slight perception gap between the co-operative working on the ground and what is posted here. However folks are free to express their opinions. The Association will never try to shut down informed debate. However we are all busy so not always able to cover off every social media platform out there. There are at least 4 facebook pages, probably more I don't know about, and several other forums.

 

I'm not given to posting a lot on this forum but I'll make one point.
Most posters here speak as if there a rafts of qualified people out there in railway heritage land queuing up to sit as directors or trustees. That does not match my observations. While there may well be much more capable folks out there I don't see them sitting in the hot seats. I would hand over my trustee seat in a heartbeat to somebody more capable. I am more than well aware of my limitations as a director, never mind as chairman. The only thing I find myself guarding against is the advancement of those who are well meaning but less capable than even my meagre efforts. Running a charity or an operating company is not for everybody and the road to hell is very clearly paved with good intentions.

 

Michael,

I find it very strange that you cannot answer a simple yes/no question without having a go at the questioner and diverting attention to the cuckoo statement.

It really is very simple, you either support the eviction or you don't.

For the record:
Do I support the eviction of the SDJRT - no
Do I support the statement regarding not honouring the agreement to overhaul 53808 - no
Do I support calling associate groups 'cuckoos in the nest' - no
Do I support the managements withdrawal of HR policies - no
Do I support the managements reopening position - no
Do I support the management removing volunteers who disagree with them - no
Do I support taking legal action against those who disagree with them - no
Do I support the management delaying payment to the WSRA for the cafe/restorations businesses- no
Do I support telling volunteers to FO- no
Do I support closing social media discussion of the WSR (or any other railway) - no

Perhaps you would be good enough to state your answers to these questions. They are not hard to answer and they really are all yes/no answers. I can't see any reason why any supporter of the WSR could not answer them publicly and the answers should be very obvious to any true supporter of heritage railways.

The fact that you and Anne C-B are even asking for the thread to be shut down strikes me as a head in the sand attitude - give us your money but don't ask us any awkward questions.

Keith

 

Is West Somerset that far away from civilzation? In early March this year, toilet rolls and sanitiser where being stockpiled by shoppers world wide leaving most supermarkets and mini stores with empty shelves. Are newspapers and television unavailable there?
The shape of months to come were apparent to a large part of the population in the UK it seems.
Regarding censorship wanted by some WSR supporters, I believe that is a poor argument and not n answer. Instead of whitewashing - by removal - of unpleasant truths why not take your worries with those that can change the way things are. They cannot be that formidable?
Nat Pres is just one of many places, it appears, that are voicing criticism of the current WSR set up. Even the Bailey report said somethings need changing. Those hard working volunteers, we read about, need to get mobilised and discuss the problems not want censorship or denials.

 

Well said. I think that, unless you have sat as part of a panel considering applications for a senior management post, you will find it hard to appreciate just how rare people with even the slightest abilities to do the job are. Generally, anyone who is any good is already employed. Voluntary work has the undoubted advantage that your candidates might be prepared to do two jobs, but even so, there is an utter dearth of such people.

 

Failure always seeks a scapegoat. To paraphrase a well-known poem, "It matters not whether you won or lost, but how you placed the blame."