West Somerset Railway General Discussion

2857's visit has been extended and it is rostered to work as shown here wsr.org.uk

 

Have heard suggestions that Class 25 D7612 may be visiting, (it appeared at the 2019 event), although not sure how true this is.

The WSR faces stiff competition this year with a great diesel tour in Ireland plus the Keighley diesel gala and North Norfolk Mixed Traffic Gala all happening on the same weekend. With so little info coming from the WSR about this event so far, I personally have now made plans to travel up from South Devon to Norfolk (always a great event and with D7659 visiting it looks like another cracker), before heading over to Keighley on the Sunday.

More info, even if outline, is needed in advance for events like this as with increasing costs people need to make good use of advanced rail fares / cheaper accommodation etc by booking earlier. The WSR have now lost out on my £'s for his event, the best they can hope for is I may be able to fit in a short visit for the early part of Thursday, however that will very much depend on the timetable and diagrams as £35 for a shortened day may not prove be an attractive option.

 

I am still waiting for any sniff of an answer to the financial questions posed many weeks ago about the WSR plc, even perhaps to hear that they have been answered, for example, to the satisfaction of the Chairman or Trustees of the WSRA.

What we have seen are additional employed staff in new roles.

Nothing in the public domain dispels the ‘bottomless pit’ impression, however wrong that may be. I hope I’m wrong but no sensible grant provider could engage on such a basis or with such an information blackout.

 

Anybody know the latest on GWR coach 6705? Seen it was under tarp at the gala, but read discussions were underway with the plc to use it as a premium service offering?

 

there is a photograph on wsr.org of a contractor using a petrol angle grinder. I note that the contractor has no eye/face/ear protection nor is he wearing a mask. ' good practice'? Indeed none of the gang appear to have little PPE.
excellent example to set.
http://cgibin.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?h=Topical+pictures&t=pics

 

I am a trustee of a non-railway organisation that has had to have some rather "interesting" going concern conversations, and is part way through a programme intended to put things onto a stable footing for the long term. We have turned a corner, but have yet to move out of the woods. I fully recognise and accept that the WSR has been in a very difficult position and that it has to turn around. Indeed, I envy the WSR plc directors their freedom of action compared to the constraints we operate under.

While there are very significant differences between the two organisations which make comparisons difficult, there are similarities. Both combine paid staff with reliance on voluntary effort, both have cumbersome structures, and both can be challenged when communicating with stakeholders due to the difficulties of maintaining a definitive list of those stakeholders. However, despite that, I observe fundamental differences in transparency. The organisation I am involved with talks to it's stakeholders, seeks to involve them in addressing it's challenges, and actively seeks to communicate those challenges and how they are being resolved with those stakeholders - basing that communication on the strategy we are following. In contrast, the impression I get from the WSR plc is that the challenges are regarded as fundamentally private in nature, and that communications are occasional and inconsistent - and often limited to the bare minimum legally required.

 

Thankfully not staff, not a volunteer and not on the premises. He's still bloody stupid though.

 

It's still there so looks like you need that specsavers visit.

 

It's about half a dozen right swipes along.

 

At least three people there who are stupid, the guy but also the other bloke in the photo and the photographer for not challenging him.

 

The WSHRT, not the WSRA.

 

When I was involved with the building industry, more than ten years ago, what I found strange was that a person had to be properly certified to fit a cutting disc to a disc cutter, as I was, but there was no requirement for a 'ticket' to use one! Moreover, there didn't appear to be any ppe requirement specific to the use of said machine. At that time, I wouldn't have taken much notice of someone using a disc cutter without ppe, but I guess that situation must have changed from the number of comments above. As I said, I haven't been involved with the industry or used such machines for over ten years, and like everything else, rules move on.

 

The contract law training I received about 15 years ago Ii seem to remember said the employing party had to ensure their contractors complied with the relevant
H & S requirements.
I also remember having a "spat" with someone on the Bluebell group who claimed that if I had purchased a ticket and I noticed PPE not being used, or a dangerous practice being undertaken, I was legally bound to point it out and liable if I did not. BS especially as most of the public would not even know what was legal and how would anyone know or prove if I did or did not know a practice was breaking the law.

 

I seldom use these machines. When I do, for me, hearing protection is essential- I'm already quite deaf enough. Same as if someone is using such nearby. However, these machines seem to be used without gloves, specs or ear defenders by most people, most of the time. Liability for mishaps is down to the operator, provided their employer has made available the necessary ppe, and requires the use of it. If the machine operator decides to ignore rules created for their safety, the employer is not then liable.
In the case of a contractor, they are operating within their approved method statement, has sufficient public liability insurance, and competence. Person or organisation they are contracted to then has no liability. However, in a case where a contractor is operating alongside paid staff or volunteers of the customer organisation, that organisation is liable for the safety etc. of its staff. In that situation, it is necessary to have appointed a competent person to ensure adherence to method statement and safe working practices.

 

Yes, the inefficiencies are alive and well ............but that was what was voted for.

Hey ho.

 

The photographs have been taken down .
Stable: Horse.
disgraceful. Incompetence.