West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Never miss an opportunity to knock the WSR, do you?

 

My favourite WSR Santa story is about the day that I was Minehead signalman / line controller on Xmas Eve some years ago. The Blue Anchor signalman rang me at the start of the day to inform me that he would be changing into his 'elf' costume as was his normal Xmas Eve practice. I enquired whether he was a red/green elf and whether the costume included a hat. The response was in the affirmative on both counts. I explored with him how that might appear to a driver stopped at the Up Home if he put his head out of the window... 'Oh dear' he said, 'You arent going to let me dress as an elf then?' 'Nope', I replied. 'But I am prepared to let you dress as a signalman..' We compromised on that.

Merry Christmas.

 

I remember many years ago being amazed when I found that one of the TOCs had decided to issue old-fashioned greatcoats to platform supervisors or managers, in RED. I think it was Virgin Trains. I know it wasn't a bright red, but still seemed a strange decision.

 

I see this morning the Bishops Lydeard webcam has been altered, currently good definition B&W with a wider field of view, well done !

 

Nor would I miss an opportunity to praise if there was one.

This whole mess is a self inflicted injury fed by overinflated egos, personal vendettas and self interest.

The only good thing in this disaster are the volunteers who are managing to keep the place at least ticking over despite the best (or should that be worst?) efforts of the management and many so called 'supporters'

Edit: added:- And if you look closely you'll see that my criticisms always refer to the senior management. I have always made a point of ensuring that I do not criticise the 'WSR railway' but have no admiration whatsoever for those who are supposed to be running it.

 

Look, I hear you, but: one of two things is going to happen:

* The line will succeed, in which case there's nothing to say
* The line will fail, in which case there's no point in saying anything

The WSR community pretty clearly isn't interested in our opinions, so we might as well save our breath.

Noel

 

AFAICS, there is a third option, which is that the line will limp on for years, not actually failing, but certainly not succeeding, even in the loosest definition of the word.
Internationally, the British are known as the worst customers, because, if you get it wrong, they don't complain, they simply walk away and never come back leaving you with no idea where you went wrong, then they tell all their friends how rubbish you are. This is, of course, what we are being constantly recommended to do on here.

 

Except these days the write a negative report on something like Tripadvisor

 

About the size of it.

 

It’s now reverted to its original format.

 

Somerset will be placed into tier 3 from Boxing Day.

Presumably the only WSR services that may be cancelled are the Winter Steam Journeys on 29th and 30th. <BJ>

 

"SERVICES BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
West Somerset Railway is currently in a Tier 2 area until 00:01 Saturday 26th December 2020 when Somerset will enter Tier 3. Santa Express services up to and including 24th December 2020 remain unaffected and will go ahead as planned. It is with great regret that we will no longer be able to operate services for our planned Winter Steam Journeys after Christmas. We look forward to welcoming you back to the railway in 2021, but in the meantime please stay safe. Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year." - From a WSR member of staff in a Facebook group.

 

Not ALL of Somerset - Bath & NE Somerset is still Tier 2, though frankly I can't see it lasting like that for long.
At the moment we can still go to Wilts (Tier 2) and also Dorset, so maybe the Swanage Rly will get a lot of visitors!

 

And I guess even that may be impacted on where volunteers actually live.
Edit
Swanage advised today only lights trains will run after Christmas due to new tiers impacting on staff availability.

 

http://www.wsr.org.uk/wsr-plc-chairman-christmas-2020-message.pdf

 

Get Error 404!

 

Me too now, but the link worked a couple of hours ago

 

Just go in to http://www.wsr.org.uk/news.htm and get it from the latest news page.

 

I would like to draw attention to the following passage in the Christmas Message from the WSR plc's Chairman, at http://www.wsr.org.uk/plc-chairman-2020-christmas-message.htm:

It comes as no surprise to me that Mr Jones Pratt has no wish to dwell on the execrable conduct of the board of directors over which he presided when it decided, quite unjustifiably, to eject the Somerset & Dorset Trust from its Washford site. This was an 'unnecessary distraction' entirely of his board's own making, but evidently it was too much to hope that an apology to the railway's staff and volunteers for the poor perception of it engendered by the eviction might now be forthcoming, or that there would be some expression of contrition for the resulting loss and anguish caused to the S&DRT.

Mr Jones Pratt's hand-wringing expessions of 'genuine sadness' cut no ice with me. My antipathy towards the WSR plc and those members of its board who were complicit in the S&DRT's ejection continues undiminished whilst they remain in post.

 

Perhaps someone could explain to him the concept of 'least said, soonest mended'; it would seem to me to apply here.

And now I will take that to heart myself.

Noel