West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I wish I could give that ten likes. Very wise of you to come at it like that, I think. (I suppose that's a vaguely political statement, so I'm breaking my own request. Sorry, all; I hope/suppose most everyone can excuse 'kudos to Robin' .)

Noel

 

If you have not done so already it might be advisable to pre-book online. At least one day of the 50th. Anniversary Gala sold out A couple of rather good preview features on Meridian T.V. may well have helped though.

 

Thats good to hear. As the K&ESR Director who has the Board brief for the terriers, I am representing the K&ESR and Terrier Trust and I understand a ticket has been put by for me.

Robin

 

Both lines got good publicity. You might be interested in an IOWSR initiative (as shown on the website ) called ''the First class experience ''. Basically it is an update on the old time luncheon basket.

Clearly it cannot serve entire trains but it is a much simpler way of producing onboard catering.

 

In other words, could more supporting groups be picked off one by one, after they have served their purpose, just like the S&D ? Would it be a good idea to consult the membership of the two largest groups and ask the members for their views on the way forward, with a possible outcome which falls in line with the Bailey report ?

Oh, wait a minute........

 

"Salami tactics, demanding a little more each day, like cutting up a salami, thin slice after thin slice, keeping the opposition split up, perplexed and hesitating."

Mátyás Rákosi - Leader of the Hungarian Communist Party describing how the Communists came to power and held onto power.

 

Otherwise known as "how to eat a whole elephant", answer "one slice at a time".

 

I think not, because all other members of what some call ‘the family’ contributed financially when asked to do so.

In the case of the friends group which I support, members voted unanimously at our AGM to amend our Articles of Association to allow such support to be given.

 

What would happen though, if your friends group had committed its' money to project X and basically had little or nothing left in the bank when the PLC came knocking?

 

Driven I believe in part by grant conditions where match funding is involved - I certainly heard that invoked at the NYMR. Ultimately, I'm not terribly surprised at this pattern.

 

Exactly, it's all about the money.

What sort of family operates on the principal of "we won't run out of cash until you run out of cash" ? When the cash runs out or in the case of the former WSRA chairman, the cheque is banked, you may be told to Foxtrot Oscar.

 

The important constraint that seems to be missed is that charities can only provide financial support within the limited scope of their registered charitable purposes. I believe the S&D Trustees understood that very well. Their charitable aims were focussed on preservation of the memory and artefacts of the much loved S&DJR. Had they diverted funds to support the WSR, even in a time of its need, its Trustees would risk being personally accountable for the misapplication of charity funds.
To a lesser degree the same is true of WSRA and WSRHT. Neither have the capacity to provide general financial support to the WSR. As a fundraising structure it’s manifestly sub optimal.

 

I think the "there's nothing in the kitty" discussion is a different one from "there's money in the kitty that we can't give you". I'm strongly in favour of taking a broad interpretation of requirements, with a view to mutual benefit, but that has to be equitable and proportionate.

 

The key is in how you ask the question. If you go to an independent charitable group and ask them for financial support to a company’s expenses, they are duty bound to say no.

So if the intention is to see if support is available, reframe the question. “We are in a tight financial position and Covid has made things worse - could you support paying a higher contribution to the overhaul of 53808?” They may still say no, but crucially you have at least made it possible to say yes. And before anyone says “but but but what about the loco agreement?” - these are unprecedented times, and in any case, a loco owning group providing a considerable implicit subsidy to the host railway over and above agreed fees and charges is hardly unknown.

So don’t ask a question for which the answer has to be “no”: find out how to ask a question in which a possible answer is “yes”.

As it is, it seems the WSR plc has achieved a triple whammy. Firstly, it looks likely it has lost future options on the use of a versatile, powerful and reliable loco that many see as the flagship of the line. Secondly it has ended up with the financial liability of the upkeep of Washford Station, with no ready-to-go friends group to take on that role and help with fundraising. And thirdly it has alienated a considerable number of people who may otherwise have provided financial and moral support. None of those three things was inevitable had the plc thought more deeply about what was of value, and how best to obtain it.

Tom

 

I notice RTC are still advertising steam hauled trains to Minehead on 24th. July. This does not fit with recent announcements by the PLC.

 

Something that occurred to me, when I read the "Platform"newsletter and noted how it was becoming more like the WSRA journal (in content rather than presentation). With the WSHRT "on side" and with the responsibility of volunteer recruitment now part of its brief, the Plc has less and less need of a supporters' organisation with which it doesn't see eye to eye.