West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Agreed, but it would be interesting to know if there is a salaried role that contained the responsibility of marketing and social media, and if that role has altered, intentionally or unintentionally, due to the Head of Commercial redundancy.

Considering there was a news article not too long ago which revealed the significantly high wage bill of the WSR Plc, I wouldn't be surprised if there was quite a few salaried staff in a commercial role. If there is and there isn't someone designated as lead of marketing/social media etc, that would raise some serious questions about the current and previous leadership as to why they didn't consider this role necessary.

 

I'm sure Mike Hart won't mind me posting this link here, https://www.railwaywheelset.co.uk/tyres.html

 

MiKe Hart?

 

Progress at Seaward Way 22.6.21
Newly-installed REB on right.

 

A pity it will block the view for photographers of oncoming Down trains....maybe use the other side of the line (once the Portaloo has gone) if you don't mind shooting into the sun....mind you, at the moment no trains anyway

 

We can perhaps deduce a rough estimate based on figures quoted in the prior year (2019/20) WSR plc Annual Report & Accounts. Turnover for that year was quoted as £2.85M. Given that few trains ran in the following year, that turnover must have fallen to a very low figure. There were some off-setting savings. Furlough of staff would have saved much of the WSR staff costs (£0.87M in 2019/20), and there would also have been savings from deferral of some maintenance and from reduced steaming fees and use of fuel and other consumables. But it seems likely that the WSR plc will have lost around £2M due to inability to trade.

The losses will have been partly offset by the grant (£0.86M) from the Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage and by donations from supporters and from the other WSR "family" organisations. But it looks like a large hole will still remain in the finances.

 

Mike Hart.

 

And I'd be interested to know how many photographers would be screaming at the loss of that viewpoint?

 

Based on this forum, they represent a huge proportion of visitors. And the railway will only have itself to blame for this oversight when they see their annual income decimated by £1.76

 

Probably none at the moment.

 

Nor even on a gala day, once they come back...

 

Those new crossing gates don't look very substantial.

 

Right faff to open and close them too…

 

The loss of 53808 was hard enough to bear! To lose 9351 (a much loved Mogul rather than a mongrel) would be yet another bitter blow . Can assure you, however, that some other railway will love her just like MHR has adopted 53808.

 

They could already be secured against loans (just a thought-not based on any evidence)