West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Thank you. And sorry, no, I can’t say. But it is something close to my heart.

Robin

 

You’re not going to the DCMS to draft the long-awaited Heritage Volunteers (Film Extras) Emergency Powers Act (2021) are you?

Tom

 

I think this is a very wise move on your part, to step back from involvement on governance issues on the WSR (at least, that's how I interpret this announcement; if I have misread things, I hope you will correct me). The line clearly is in major need of improvements that area, but they also clearly aren't interested in your help. I went through a vaguely similar situation some decades back: my thinking then was that I could either a) bang my head on the wall, to no effect, or b) sit under a virtual palm tree; with identical results. That was a 'no-brainer'.

As usual, I'm not sure if the PLC management has not really thought this through; with your move, and if most of the usual crowd of NR critics take a pass on posting (no doubt there will be some diehards, but many are/will now palm tree, I suspect), their usual excuses/distractions will be gone. If any further massive c@#$-ups occur, who will they blame?

As to whether things on/at the WSR will improve; well, we'll see. History does not leave me hopeful, but maybe the horse will learn to sing.

Noel

 

I think it was great that the WSR preserved virtually a complete branch line, and i hope that it survives in its full form.

What I love about the WSR is its length, with so much variety of landscape and infrastructure, as well as gradients giving the locos a good work-out. I hope that it does survive in full, but I lack confidence in the plc. Its expulsion of the S&DRT is unforgiveable, but I don't love the WSR (as a railway) any less for that. Sadly, the plc board seems able to elbow anyone out, whom they don't like, and I can only hope that the railway will survive to be eventually taken over by people more worthy to be running it. That may be a long time into the future when people like RMW are (understandably) stepping aside.

 

Thanks for your contributions, and hoping to see more, although they will be less controversial. It is hard to say anything about the WSR without being controversial, though! Good luck in your new incarnation.

 

Evidently the "big lesson" has not been grasped in all quarters. We shall see how appropriate "survives" will be in future.

 

Indeed.

However....today I got an e-mail from the Plc as follows:- "The copy of the newsletter sent to you yesterday contained a typing error. Under the section of Christmas Trains it read “It is anticipated that trains will recommence running in late March 2022” this should have read “It is anticipated that trains will recommence running in late March 2021”.

I do hope that was not a Freudian slip

 

As usual you are twisting reality to suit your theory. How then do you account for the fact that the two most successful heritage lines are the NYMR and SVR, whilst some of the shorter ones (MRT Butterley, Peak Rail appear to be withering and dying and other short lines such as the Battlfield line hardly stand out as "must see "venues? The answer is of course that it's not just down to the length of the line!

 

"Reality" is the net cost of operation whilst "success" needs the proximity of large populations such as the West Midlands or West Riding. That or a really thriving holiday area such as South Devon.

 

Possibly, but the weaker examples have large local populations and holiday areas nearby. Length is not the determining factor here - though it may make life harder.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Isn't Peak Rail the only line that can challenge the WSR for the coveted "Infighter of the Year" trophy?

 

Sadly they've missed a golden opportunity.

I also wonder how many families and coach parties will be interested in a day out to Williton at the start of the 2021 season. <BJ>

 

Can we just accept every railway in the UK is doing it wrong other than the one across the Solent? (Well according to Mr H)

 

I think the gwili railway also does alright to never hear about them doing anything bad

 

I certainly don't feel that in any way.

 

So, you're saying that size doesn't matter - it is what you do with it that counts?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-55234060

Fascinating

Ian Coleby gets a mention as well

 

..and from the days when people could write legibly.