West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I could as easily say that they don’t add up because you don’t want them to. I’m just doing a compare and contrast, and drawing conclusions from the progression. Time will tell; I hope I’m right if only because the WSR deserves better than to be the focus of attention for its (mis)governance.


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These are my views as an individual member of the S&DRT:

As more than six months have now elapsed since the Notice to Quit was served, it is possible that the S&DRT has already committed itself to relocation arrangements it is now unable to reverse. Alternatively, its board may have already decided that, come what may in the negotiations currently taking place, the conduct of the WSR plc has been such that it does not wish to entertain any continuing relationship with that company. In either of these cases withdrawal of the Notice to Quit would be meaningless. Service of that Notice had certain irrevocable consequences. Amongst these, the plc cannot, by simply withdrawing the Notice, compel the S&DRT to be a continuing tenant of the Washford site. If it so chooses, the Trust is now free to proceed on the footing that its right to occupy the Washford site is coming to an end and that it is entitled at the very least to payment from the plc of modest statutory compensation for the loss of its tenancy. That entitlement is completely distinct from any remedy in damages to which the Trust may be entitled for breach of the 2018 agreement that was intended to extend the Trust's lease of the Washford site until 2070.

The WSR plc's latest communiques suggest a dawning recognition that 53808 is particularly well suited to the railway as a unit of motive power, and that the plc is consequently anxious to retain its services. If the Trust leaves the West Somerset Railway as a result of the eviction process set in motion by the plc in February then it would not be appropriate for the locomotive to remain on that Railway for one moment longer than is required by the current agreement for its use. Furthermore, in such a case I would wish the S&DRT board to hold the plc strictly to its contractual obligations as regards the locomotive's upkeep, and be alert for any opportunity to treat a shortfall in the performance of those obligations as one entitling the Trust to repudiate the agreement and bring to an end the locomotive's further use on the Railway.

If the S&DRT board shares my sentiments and if the plc really does want 53808 to continue to work the line then the company ought to be giving serious thought to how it can mend its relationship with the Trust. The plc would need to recognise that its previous actions have forfeited such trust and goodwill as may have existed before the 'cuckoo in the nest' jibe and service of the Notice to Quit. So the S&DRT should now make it clear that if its locomotive is to continue in long term service on the WSR then the Trust must be allowed, if it wishes, to remain at Washford. Should the Trust be agreeable to continuing its occupation of the site then an appropriate course would be for both parties to re-affirm formally their intention to uphold the terms of the bargain between them recorded in the 2018 agreement. Further, should it transpire that there was some legal defect in the arrangements made to extend the Trust's lease then both parties should commit themselves to taking whatever steps are required to rectify that defect.

 

John this is put far more eloquently than I could, I’m very much reminded of Khrushchev and his ‘there might be 1 finger on the trigger but 15 on the safety catch’ quote.
I really hope that there’s someone somewhere who’s flipped that switch to ‘on’ in Minehead and maybe having a little word along the lines of ‘you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’
There’s so many people who have been disgusted with the PLCs actions, that might affect the WSR’s future and have voiced their opinion, and we can’t all be wrong can we?

 

Have now been on KESR, non-compartment seat and SVR where you get a compartment all day and both good if different experiences. The message coming over is we need to run to show we still exist, keep our volunteers, keep things running and hopefully break even. SCR seem quite into people spending extra in shop etc to make some cash. I think they also both recognise that things deteriorate quicker if not used, you need to keep people current and they enjoy operating ! Looks like also some lines are expecting to cash in on Christmas trains which seem to be filling fast.

 

I agree, time will tell, But I remain suspicious of the motives of a board member who it was reported by another poster on here as floating to others the possibility of buying out the PLC,shareholding, and assets, should the railway become unable to trade and had to enter receivership , and then appear to do very little in the way of revenue earning during a time when other railways are finding ways to stay open and earn revenue.

 

Is that record in the public domain ? While many see it as the only feasible explanation for the string of events and actions, I think an individual has been very keen to keep things under wraps such as approaching the council to enquire about the freehold.

 

It's not "on the record" no. It had been reported as the case on this forum, but that is all.

 

Enjoyed by visut to washford for the SDRT open day. Non member! But what a great museum and site. Would be a sad lost to the railway it leaves.

 

Every answer raises more questions.

To the "one WSR fundraising" agenda the plc has just added raising £228k, in addition to the other imperatives of rebuilding the cash pile and £500k a year on the formation. It may also have site costs at Dunster and/or Watchet in that time. Presumably this will come before fundraising for other projects, such as the WSRA manor.

My inference is that the S&D will hold the loco hire funds to 2022, to be added to any other contribution it agrees to meet (the tender tank?) and the £228k the plc has said it will raise. It seems at the bottom of the £300k plus range but that's my conjecture.

The Machiavelli in me thinks that a delayed and slower overhaul, complete nearer 2030, would maximise the S&D's opportunities should they decide to base it elsewhere after the agreement ends (more years on ticket).

Patrick

 

Which is why I previously suggested that anyone doing a contract with the PLC insist on the inclusion of a liquidated damages clause in said contract, which would be activated should the PLC unilaterally terminate the contract. As long as they don't do that, it won't cost them a penny.

Noel

 

I don't think so; I think they are probably carefully treading a very measured path, one which which is focused on the long-term goals of the SDRT. Keeping the loco on the WSR is likely part of that (leverage to get the SDRT things it wants); if it stays, it will need money (from somewhere) for its restoration. We'll have to wait for the other pieces of the picture, to see if this overall perception is confirmed.

Noel

 

Quite. Nobody likes being treated as a fool.

 

I'd go further and require that funds be lodged year by year with a trusted stakeholder.

 

Swanage is 5 miles long though. They can run several services a day. The WSR is 2 round trips max when it's all systems go. If you build in people stopping over in Minehead etc that soon becomes an early start or late finish whichever trip you go on which is unattractive to a casual visitor, or one round trip only which they must believe isn't viable, plus it seems they permanent way isn't up to carrying passengers at the moment anyway.

 

So basically blackmail the WSR plc with 53808?

 

So maybe VoR should be running diesel as well then? Brecon Mountain? Bodmin?

Every heritage railway is different.

WSR is a premier league line. The Norton triangle proves they can think outside of the box.

I think the Seaward Way level crossing is a big barrier, no pun intended, to operating any service in and out of their main station - where the majority of stock is.

 

Only if it runs a service. Otherwise it is just a pub team which cannot field eleven players.

 

Maybe it's a sleeping giant ready to make a big come back.

 

I will agree it is a sleeping giant. It is sadly not ready to make a big comeback. The longer it puts it off the harder it will be to get going again.