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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. cg

    cg Well-Known Member

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    WSR on BBC website appealing for funds.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-57384542?
     
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  2. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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  3. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Depends if anyone made tweets a few years ago that the ECB deem reason for deselection
     
  4. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    Well, the tale of woe soon left the front page of BBC Bristol.
     
  5. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    Maybe there was some concern about how authentic the Portaloo was. Afterall, the railway is all about creating the sights, sounds and smells of the 1950s.

    If having an embarrassing social media history of ill thought out and stupid public statements is what you need for govt support then I fully expect Johnson in a hi-vis vest to be cosplaying his way down to the WSR before you can say 'idiotic culture war'.

    The other point is that for supporters of say the NNR, NVR, KWVR, MHR, etc is that those supporters will have been asked to dip into their pockets last year and again this year. Those supporters will know that this is an exceptional time but that it is temporary. With the WSR there was a major appeal in 2019 for money, again last year and again this year, and there is no sense of well in 2022 when things return to normal the line will be on an even financial keel and they won't be asked to dig again in 2022 to save the railway.
     
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  6. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    They are already being asked to dig again in 2022. And 2023/4/5....
     
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  7. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    The SVR's Fight Back Fund included donations to the plc and trust, share purchases in the plc and sales of annual passes valid from the recommencement of services. Share sales Jan 20 - June 21 are £486k and form a significant part of the FBF total. I can't recall a donations total though.

    Patrick
     
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  8. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Thanks Patrick, I thought that was the case but wasn’t sure and certainly didn’t know how much of the total was made up in share sales.

    That illustrates the point that it’s a tall order to achieve what the WSR hopes to.
     
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  9. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    For an appeal to get support, those making it need to be nice people, and seen as nice people. People who kick out the S&DT for no good reason, calling them "cuckoos in the nest", withdraw ID from volunteers who displease them, mess about with the WSRA, shut the railway for the 2020 season and don't reopen it properly in 2021 due to unnecessary kerfuffle over a level crossing, don't give an impression of being nice or even competent people.

    It's sad because I want the WSR to survive.
     
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  10. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    My point exactly which is why the grant cannot be counted by the plc.
     
  11. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Like most railway enthusiasts, I work on the basis that the only way to get £1m out of my hobby is to start with at least £2m in my back pocket... All of the societies I support have had ongoing appeals, special and more routine.

    That's why being able to articulate a positive "why me" is so important - I can't give to them all, so need something to "sell" me what xyz appeal will do. Especially after the last year, I want something to look forward to - survival isn't enough.
    I think that's harsh - it may not be donations to the plc, but it may still help the plc out of it's funding hole. Of course, Bailey might have presented an opportunity for streamlining to avoid that possibility.
     
  12. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    I wonder what the End Game will be. The B word by Easter 2022? Some white knight cantering in to save the day? We all know the issue with white knights..............somewhat like an Urban Spaceman.........
    Will see what is what.

    My observations
     
  13. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    If the locomotive was a "Black 5" hauling maroon coaches, you'd only bump that up to about 3%.
     
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  14. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Having thought about this a bit, in light of a predicted £1 million loss in 2021 who decided and paid for the MK1s to be repainted?

    They look fantastic and the quality of work is top notch and they did need doing I grant that.

    However, if the plan now hatched is unsuccessful there will be no railway to run them on, seems like wrong priorities to me or are we going to learn the management were incredibly naive and thought the 2nd grant was a forgone conclusion? That is poor management if so but wonder if that is the case considering JJP was bleating on about their failure to get the 2nd grant.

    Others have pointed out the poor wording and tone of the appeal release which I agree with. Very poor.

    Another sign of poor management is the fact that we keep hearing about the 3 year business plan but absolutely no detail whatsoever. I don’t expect an in-depth analysis and breakdown but would expect someone who knew what they were doing to be able to tell us where they plan the railway to be in 3 years time. Does anybody actually know?

    There is actually a theme of lack of vision, which seems to happen time and time again, for example reopening the railway after lockdown. Plenty of railways managed it last year. At best the WSR played catch up, much like they seem to time and time again.

    The SVR have their engine shed “home & dry” appeal that they have just launched. I know exactly what they intend to do with the money, no idea what the WSR actually want the money for apart from some vague details there is nothing, and the way the appeal has been written makes it sound suspiciously like they want our money to prop up a company on the verge of failing, which is why getting the appeal right is important as certainly from my point of view, ignoring any other issues, it currently doesn’t inspire me to donate, a clear plan or vision might of though.
     
  15. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    That was the impression I took away, too, once more their aims resembled those of that famous scheme floated during the South Sea Bubble, a company “For carrying-on an undertaking of great advantage but no-one to know what it is”.
     
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  16. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    You know those nature programmes where the narration is:

    'This sick and weakened wilderbeast can not keep up with the rest of the herd...'

    Another good example of explaining what you want, why you want it, why should the funder care and what you will do with it. (Although obviously it is for a specific audience rather than supporters per se)

     
  17. echap

    echap New Member

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    I see on wsr.org.uk there is a new statement about the level crossing and some accompanying notes. Should be ready for Festive Season.

    Ed Chap
     
  18. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Wow! Seriously? Ruddy Hell! And this is supposed to be one of the UK’s ‘premier lines’?
     
  19. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    From wsr.org

    "A joint statement by West Somerset Railway and Somerset County Council on the situation with the upgrade of the level crossing at Seaward Way, Minehead.

    Following resumption of services in May, we're delighted that visitors are once again enjoying the very special experience offered by the West Somerset Railway.

    Though it is disappointing that installation of the Seaward Way Crossing could not be completed in time for the summer as hoped, due mainly to the impact of the Covid emergency, WSR is ensuring there will still be a service the full length of the journey from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard. Passengers will travel by bus between Minehead and Dunster, until the crossing is operational later in the year. In keeping with the unique traveller experience offered by the WSR the journey will be by vintage bus at weekends.

    We are keenly aware of the importance of this service to local businesses in Minehead which is why the WSR is providing this bus service.

    This is a complex project involving a number of agencies and equipment suppliers and it has unfortunately been hit hard by the Covid crisis. There have been supply chain issues for some key parts and most of the specialist rail contractors needed for this work are also currently required by Network Rail for vital works across the main UK network. Initial planning started in 2018 and the design was completed in 2020. It was finally approved by the Office of Rail and Road, the regulator, in February.

    A great deal of preparatory work has already taken place, including a significant amount of work off site. Despite the difficulties, it's anticipated the crossing will be operational in time for the festive season."

    Notes accompanying joint statement : -http://www.wsr.org.uk/swx7june2021notesonly.pdf
     
  20. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    More to the point, who will be buying those shares? No doubt the current board is blithely assuming they will all be bought by people and organisations who are happy either not to vote at AGMs or to give their vote to the chairman of the meeting. However you don't need that many of the new shares ending up in the hands of those who would like to effect regime change and the balance of power will start to shift.
     

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