West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I think that you will find in the real world outside NP the average shareholder will understand that JJP and the board saved the WSR from going under and is still with us so will back him in any vote. the 10 understand this and that is why they need to get their hands on the Steam trust shares because without them the WSR Chairman and board are home and dry. My 1900 shares will support the board in any future vote as will I expect the majority of the small shareholders.

 

even if it is wrong for the long term health of the railway?

 

There is also this post on the matter to consider.
I expect, if there is some sort of effort to amass a majority at an AGM, there will be a lot of wooing of proxy votes, just as there was when the six WSRA Trustees were battling to stay in control.

 

Still nothing about harassment, eh?
Yup, it's exactly like it was with the WSRA six, they got the proxies because they controlled the mailings to the members. Of course the average shareholder thinks JJP and the board saved the WSR, because that's what they've been told for the last three years and they have no reason to believe otherwise. You're going to have to hope they don't find out what's really been going on.

 

I think we might all take you a bit more seriously if you responded to any points of substance.

 

I don't know, I go away for a couple of days and all the old arguments pop up again. Why did the Plc issue the eviction notice? Read the third paragraph...

https://www.west-somerset-railway.c...et-railway-board-statement-regarding-washford

Now, after they had done that several people on here started saying they they couldn't do that, there was no justification for it etc. etc. so along came the sixth paragraph... and then that notice was then issued...

 

But is the railway actually saved for the long-term? Who knows ?

Just asking....

 

If the answer to that was known by NP posters then the thread could be closed.

Pages of advice and criticisms have been made but the only people able to answer that question are the PLC board. The line probably will survive but I doubt the acrimony among support organisations will go away. It may be solved on a temporary basis, but would soon return I believe. The merger/take over, whatever you want to call it will, most likely, bring further recriminations, more resignations and maybe the transfer of loyalties to other lines - and with it volunteer work and donations.
Regarding Washford: we hear how unsuitable it is. Apart from one post, mentioning Dunster, no other firm suggestions* have been made as far as I recall (but the thread has been moving pretty fast) for an alternative and suitable PW yard and facilities. One post knew of alternatives; none were mentioned.
Lineisclear (J. Bailey) infers he might have been wasting his time. I share his view.

* apologies to those if I missed their posts.

 

I think you have it the wrong way round. The support organisations need to find their rightful place as the engine room of the WSR, not subsidiaries to be used and disposed of by the plc as it sees fit. It is the disconnect between plc and support organisations - of which the very existence of a PDG is the clearest evidence - that undermines the railway.

As for the role of the plc, I have no view one way or the other of the individuals; I don't know them or particularly their capabilities. But I observe little in the way of outward communication, little information sharing, and no sense of vision, purpose or engagement. If I compare that to other railways that I have associations with, the difference is palpable. Their senior people - whichever hats they wear - are visible, and clearly demonstrating leadership, vision, and drive. If I want those on a railway by the A39, I'll go 20-odd miles west from Minehead. I shouldn't have to choose.

 

The irony is that various statements have come out from supporters of the PLC that the WSSRT should be left alone to pursue its own charitable aims.

Oddly they were silent on the issue when it came to the SDRT. If you defend the WSSRT as part of the WSR family on these grounds, then where is the defence of the SDRT on these grounds as part of the WSR family?

The return of 'we need Washford for a pway depot' argument is partially a reflection of a realisation that the arguments deployed to defend the WSSRT have demonstrated the double standards in the treatment by the PLC to the two groups.

 

Not sure I have it the wrong way. At present it is only the PLC that have the answer for the line to succeed or fail. The lines finances were not helped in recent years when little in the way of financial donations from the main support group were very little - just £300+ one year. Some financial increases did come to the PLC after the recent past Chairman of the WSRA was elected. The PDG gets little mention on this thread, it was mooted to achieve some harmony when it was revised; you remind us of its existence. Although given the importance of most stakeholders in the PDG it is sad that it has had so few meetings.

 

The Pway yard is already at Dunster. Williton has i believe also been mentioned as an alternative. Certainly other sites have been mentioned alongside the unsuitability of Washford.

Does Washford pass a cost-benefit analysis of relocating from Dunster given the issues with the site, costs of relocation (in the present climate and the financial situation the line finds itself in)?

 

I think you make my point - the supporters' group, once organised effectively, delivered very significant amounts to the railway.

 

In that world most people will neither know nor care .....

 

I do not see how anyone can realistically stand back from all this and expect the WSR to survive in anything like its present incarnation. Train services have ceased operating and there is absolutely no chance of them being restored in the forseeable future as far as I can see. While it has not helped this is not a Covid issue, but one of governance. There is no way the regulators will renew the operating licence given the present chaos and turmoil within all levels of the WSR structure. I have no doubt that there are many serious and committed people with some excellent ideas about remedying the situation but as no one can agree on the best way forward there is a complete stalemate here.

I get no satisfaction in drawing this conclusion as I have always regarded the WSR as one of the very best heritage railway experiences - to me it was about what a steam railway should be but has clearly lost its way and is now holed below the waterline. The last 10,000 or so posts seem like an exercise in rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. I will be more than happy to be proved wrong, but as things stand in September 2020 I do not see how the railway can recover.

The last train has run and that is it. It's all over bar the shouting - and no doubt that will continue for a while yet. Sadly the WSR is toast.

My sympathies go out to the vast army of committed volunteers who must be heartbroken at the way things have played out.

Peter

 

I happen to think that John Palmer on here has got a bit confused, but no matter.

Only one Notice to Quit was served over Washford dated 7th February 2020. This was a statutory Notice under the 1954 Act. The letter that accompanied the statutory Notice to Quit dealt also with other matters under the terms of the new lease, but I never interpreted as anything other than bandying about other possibilities.

Having reread the redacted sections of the Bailey Report yesterday evening, I was struck with how again I considered that John Bailey had not fully considered all the legal aspects and could be considered to have dealt with these only superficially.

Those who have not dealt with these matters superficially have come to different conclusions!

 

That is a very bleak analysis and, I believe, too bleak if only for one reason - I had not heard that the WSR's operating license were suspended, or subject to regulatory review.

 

Had it been explained that way in the first place no doubt attitudes would have been completely different!

Sadly the 'cuckoo' jibe has stuck and was completely unnecessary

This mistake could to some degree be mitigated by offering all possible facilities and assistance in relocating the S& DRT along with a phased timescale.

Failure to help them would just cement the negative feelings created