Teifi Valley Railway

This is almost perfect, it’s the second station along after Forest halt and is approx 2/3 a mile away from Henllan.
Yes we have been running since mid 2020 on that track but as many would know, laid track needs many days of packing , jacking and levying once laid.

we still own/maintain the rack bed heading towards Pencader Junction but there no immediate plans for that side of the engine shed yet.

 

I hope TVR Volunteer won't take this the wrong way but have you guys considered resetting your group structure? So that you have a Charitable Trust as the lead/Membership body with a subsidiary operating company.

The Trust would then become the new landlord and owner of the other railway assets, while the Railway Co would be free to operate all the various trade outlets and the railway itself.

If you guys want help I am sure there are better qualified people on here than me to advise you, but the above is very much the basic model adopted by a lot of the heritage railway groups in the UK.

Colin Rainsbury

 

Already done years ago. The Society holds a clear majority of the shares in the Company while the Company holds the LRO and owns the land and buildings, One of the Society's objects is to maintain a collection of rolling stock, so it has acquired ownership of all of the stock both used and on display or renovation. The Company is a not-for-profit Company or social enterprise, which qualified it to obtain several EU grants over the years but incensed and frustrated one of its directors, leading him to try to hand over the business to a more aggressive businessman in 2014. (see Teifi Valley Disaster). The present management take the view that since the Society owns the Company, it owns the Railway. They have no time for paperwork which is an unnecessary burden and with the help of a local accountant have managed to convince Companies House that they can be excused compliance year after year.

 

Speculation that the lack of paperwork may have had an effect elsewhere - the railway has been closed since April 16th, did not open at all over the bank holidays, and says it will not reopen until May 28th.

 

I wondered if they had to complete some specific task like putting in the longpromised passing loop at Pont station to bring an end to propelling. It seems strange not to take advantage of the bank holidays to take a bit of cash.

 

TVR volunteer - do you really think that after more than 30 years of dealing with charity regulations, Company law changes, employment regs, grant requirements, estate management, Company Accounts, VAT, and the vast mass of railway operation regulations, on top of running my own accounting practice, I am feeling hurt at not being responsible for TVR paperwork? Too much like hard work!

 

Morning all,
Just so everyone can see the big picture.
Liz, what was your position and involvement during the disaster? you love to forget your position at the time…
I’m not blaming you. But please enlighten us?

I’m not excusing our shortfalls at all and we are very aware.

As for the not running, the speculation and conclusion is amazing!

that’s a direct question in which I hope will paint a better picture for those who don’t know your history (both good and bad) with the railway.

answer truthfully…
If you go back to the early page numbers of this thread. Someone is calling for you to intervene , this demonstrating your position..

 

You can also see the posts you’ve held on your favourite website (companies house) tie the timeframes together…

 

I think it would be better to simply come out with whatever it is you imply. Elizabeth Perrys first post states a situation and that she is trying to sort it out. So….

 

In 2013 I was a director, company secretary and finance officer. The Railway had suffered from a lack of visitors in the recession and its income had dropped dramatically. When it was approached by a local businessman who was willing to invest cash to improve visitor facilities, it appeared to be a good idea. I protected the Company with a Contract Agreement prepared by a solicitor which specified how the agreement could be ended if either party were dissatisfied or broke the contract. The contract was broken when the businessman persistently failed to pay the fees due to the Railway. In 2014 a solicitor experienced in such cases was consulted and agreed that the contract should be terminated. The letter was sent. This was a blow to the plans of the chairman of the Board, Ray Sanderson, to give the Company away so that it would be run as an aggressively profitmaking setup rather than by "railway dreamers.". He mobilised the Society management committee who passed a vote of no confidence in me as Company Secretary and sacked me from all posts for the Society and Company, ordering me to return all files to the office. This I did. So from June 2014 it was Ray Sanderson who was responsible for everything that happened. Several files which might have revealed his malfeasance as a director could not be found later. I contacted HRA for help.

 

You really are pathetic..

 

And why is that? I’m not blaming Elizabeth in any way but I want to show people that she was involved at the time. And hates that we are rebuilding the disaster left behind….

I’m not sure what good you bring to the thread if I’m honest…

 

I'm no fan of @Elizabeth Perry, and have often wished that she'd left go. However, you might want to look more closely at this thread over many years - she may bear some responsibility for the origins of these problems, but this thread has for years shown her frustration at the events that were then let loose, and desire to see them righted.

Meanwhile, other reasonable questions go unanswered.

 

@TVR Volunteer - wouldn't it be a better idea to keep to the promise you made in 2020? I'm sure we'll all welcome good news from the railway whenever there's something to report.

 

Hi big al , this is my point. We know we have issues to sort. However banging on on the thread about this doesn’t not help. People must be naive to think we don’t know this.

I have always been here to try and talk about positives at the railway. But everyone keeps mentioning the negatives.

I am insisting Elizabeth was a part of the success of the railway and I’ve never denied that. But it seems bitter that whenever there’s something to mention negative she’s there with a pick axe. Even going as far as filing a negative review on tourist websites….really wants the railway to succeed.

I just wanted people to realise the bigger picture…

 

This is what I try to do but always leads back to ….