West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I’m sure our friend from South Wales will tell us all in due course, maybe after using a few of these?

 

In which case, why does the WSR website currently state:

We need a minimum of around £150,000 per month to be able to meet our obligations and to run the railway safely and provide a quality experience for visitors. This does not include the investment required for infrastructure maintenance and renewal which the PLC Board estimates requires a target investment of around £500,000 per annum.

Our Fundraising Target for the PLC in the 2021 Appeal is therefore a very ambitious one namely:

£1million!

Source: https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/donations
​

So either the WSR website is to be believed and they need an annual investment of £500k for infrastructure renewal or maintenance; or else you are to be believed and because they are operating, they don't need to fund raise.

Assuming that the railway is correct in their assessment then (1) they need to raise £500k per annum for infrastructure works and (2) they appear to be falling well behind that target, in what way does that not inevitably lead to closure in the future?

Tom

 

Its this kind of nonsensical statement from WSR plc apologists that:

(1) I have made a legal career out of in cross-examination, and

(2) means that public pronouncements from the plc are taken with a shovelful of salt.

The WSR plc applied for a significant grant in CHRF2, not particularly competently, and then made a great fuss when it was unsuccessful including trying to invoke an appeal procedure (which didn’t exist).

If the money wasn’t needed, why was it applied for, and when it was not received, why was such a fuss made?

And why is the fundraising still up on the WSR plc website as has been pointed out?

Nothing about the WSR plc makes financial sense at the moment.

Were I thinking of making a financial contribution (which I would do via a charity) I would, at the least, be asking the WSRA and/or WSRHT Chairmen if a viable financial plan had been shared with them, even if I was not permitted to see it. That plan would have an eye to what reserves (if any) are now available and what significant infrastructure work is seen on the horizon.

And I would now be asking what the coal crisis contingency was.

Perhaps Mr Evans can enlighten us?

 

Bunkerful?

 

Do I go for sweet or salty popcorn?
Asking for a friend…

 

If I were you, I’d make sure there’s something decent on TV. I have posed what I perceive to be the important questions. I doubt any answers will be forthcoming.

Robin

 

No they won't the only thing your posting will attract will be more of the frankly very distasteful stuff that those same people spew out against you personally Robin,

 

Anyone know of a wood-burning locomotive for hire?

 

Well there's these two, but they aren't exactly local https://www.flickr.com/photos/jterry618/51599319193/in/album-72157719870252454/

Also there may be gauging issues

 

No I can't, gutted.

 

Hmmm I wouldn't say they all do. The railway I am a member of does not fund-raise in a big sense of fundraising, other than on train raffles, and 'only' wanted a 5 figure sum during covid. Plans are going ahead to make the railway develop and as far as I know there is no private party pumping money in.

 

But I've not heard of that railway making a public appeal for large scale donations. "Your" railway may well be in no need of such funds, but the well documented challenges of the WSR make it a very different kettle of fish. @Robin Moira White isn't alone in wondering how the books can be made to balance.

 

Now you are making a different point. I was replying to the post suggesting all railways, with no exceptions, need big dramatic fund raising ideas. It's gone way off the original point I was making of the SVR & NYMR needing massive fundraising efforts to replace viaducts and bridges, which would've severed both railways to the point they wouldn't be able to operate anymore.

 

Bridges and viaducts that were repaired and replaced,by design ,in the close season so minimising loss of revenue .
Meanwhile other more financially stable (??!) railway loses two seasons of traffic to their main destination due to design and installation issues with a level crossing ,or was that just a smokescreen post ORR visit for 2020?
I’m glad that railway wasn’t in a tourist area .

 

Not every railway has infrastructure of the type recently renewed at the SVR and NYMR, but every railway does need to keep on top of maintenance and renewals. Relying on aging tracks, signalling equipment, rolling stock etc. without major works will eventually lead to railways being unable to operate.

Sent from my SM-G770F using Tapatalk

 

Yes but the bridges needed huge fundraising, doesn't matter when it was scheduled for.

Minehead station was served by WSR plc operated services last summer.

 

All true

 

And what happens when that railway you support needs to future proof itself?

 

Are you one of these people that just argue for the sake of arguing?

I assume your second sentence is reference to the bus services that served Minehead? Saying the railway reached Minehead by using a bus is a bit like saying the marathon runner finished the marathon by catching a lift in a car for the last 5 miles to the finish.