S&D Railway Trust

As the West Somerset has closed down, you haven't much choice! I agree with your sentiments, though.

 

It is a strange situation where someone would welcome less custom and less income for a railway. I am not sure any sane person would embrace this as business strategy.

It is becoming an act of dogmatic belief requiring ever more perverse and illogical arguments to justify the faith. Jonestown on Sea.

 

Where have I said less custom? Less custom of S&DJRT supporters maybe.

 

As the old saying goes the profit is in the last wagon.

 

no they will be down at the MHR S&D Gala , in October, Tell me, what trains will the WSR be running that week end?

 

Seems like some would prefer Land Trains maybe? (I find the nickname 'Wally Trolley' far more apt )

But not to worry, that would still leave room for the odd special 'Trip round the Triangle' to raise funds to save (what's left of) the railway...

 

The WSR will survive the loss of the trust from Washford, it can make good use of the inherited infrastructure, careful planning will sort it.

 

Surprised this was not reported earlier:

The SDRT museum at Washford will be open, for possibly the last time, on
Saturday and Sunday 29th & 30th of August from 1100 to 1600. Members and
friends of the SDRT will be welcome.

As an additional plus point the Washford Inn has re-opened and has kindly
offered a discount of 10% on food for all those attending the museum. If
people want to spend the weekend enjoying West Somerset they can book one of
the Washford Inn's rooms by telephoning 01984 641633.

Social distancing and Covid-19 regulations will be in place so please bring
your face mask with you and give your contact details on entry.

For further information please contact info@sdrt.org


Regards



Nigel Davies

Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust

Ominous, the last time?

 

It was.

 

Lets hope they are collecting for the inevitable departure costs.

 

It saddens and angers me to read this. I still can't quite believe a heritage railway would actually act like this to another railway heritage organisation. The amount of time and money the SDRT have invested in Washford over the last 40 years, only to be thrown out just 2 years after a new lease was signed. Words can't quite describe my feelings on this, and how despicable this is of the plc.

Looks like I visited the Washford site for the last time a couple years ago, as regrettably working throughout the bank holiday weekend. Will definitely be taking a trip to MHR soon though to have another ride behind 88, my favourite loco before the ticket is up.

Another railway (possibly SVR or GWSR) will be getting our Santa special custom for our annual Santa special get together in future (4 children under 5, generally accompanied by 6-8 adults). Don't suppose the current WSR management will care though, they obviously have some master plan to generate the income needed without needing to rely on the goodwill of those pesky enthusiasts posting criticism on the internet.

Such a sad day for the WSR.

Tom

 

As to the WSR PLC Board, I am reminded of Browning's 'The Lost Leader'...

"Life's night begins: let him never come back to us!
  There would be doubt, hesitation and pain,
Forced praise on our part—the glimmer of twilight,
  Never glad confident morning again!"

(It could equally be said of some in the WSSRT and WSRA).

(For those who can't grasp the nuances of Browning's poetry; it is directed initially at the Chairman of the WSR PLC board. Same as Nigel Birch directed it at Harold Macmillan whilst he was still in office as Prime Minister).

 

What infrastructure? As I understand it, the S&DRT own the yard trackwork and the stock shed. I don't think they will leave anything behind after the way they've been treated.
I'm not sure if you are aware, but the WSR plc has no money to do anything with Washford and as for "careful planning", well the WSR plc's "careful planning" of a return to operating trains hasn't worked out very well has it....

Keith

 

I still remember those words from Nigel Birch's speech back in 1963. about the time of the Christine Keeler scandal, when the Tory government was imploding. And they lost the next election!

 

As much as I'd love it to happen, and I'd be down there in a heartbeat if it does, I suspect that Covid will put paid to any hopes of a special event which isn't entirely pre-booked this year.

 

I’m far from convinced that careful planning has ever been involved in this fiasco.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

I suspect there is a strong local case to clear up the dump at Dunster. If it would be probably sited at Washford. Yet another "attraction" for tourists to be surprised by in a rural setting.
Careful planning seemed to have disappeared from the WSR many moons ago as that is why the company is in the financial mess it is. It is only by mortgaging everything to the bank and the donations of supporters that has enabled the line to survive so far. Whether it survives a longer period of closure will remain to be seen. Covid is still about and sadly seems to be increasing. I doubt the line would survive a long closure, after all there is a limit to generosity. Besides, many peoples finances are going to be hit as the country enters recession for some years it seems.
Despite claims of who saved the line I get the feeling that the local folk have rumbled the WSR's present direction. The line is not bringing in the tourists, they are coming of their own accord. I believe other attractions for visitors will erode the line position over the closure period.
The line really needs all the new friends it can get. It just has a particularly incongruent way of getting them.

 

I'm sure they will be asking for donations to meet the costs, but then, the fun will come later, when the trust takes the PLC to court for wrongful eviction, asking for costs and damages, the plc stand to be made insolvent, and the costs could mean having to sell the assets it owns.

 

I think we all very much hope that a negotiated settlement can be reached that would avoid any of those outcomes - or the converse that the trust lose any action and suffer the consequences of having to pay costs to the plc.

 

Being able to survive losing a valuable asset does not mean that it is a good idea to throw it away. You can survive losing a limb but I would not recommend it.

Washford featured in the plans of the 6+1 when it came to buying the freehold, I suspect some careful planning involving the site may have been a factor in the more recent enquiries.