West Somerset Railway General Discussion

While there aren’t as many vehicles in traffic as there was in say 2018, there’s enough to run the timetable of today and surely that’s all that really matters?

It seems to me after the SDR incident, there’s far more scrutiny of what carriages heritage railways are operating their trains with. It seems since then plenty have withdrawn many carriages.

In the Bay siding at Minehead there’s basically a rake awaiting overhaul - BSO, SK, a converted buffet and a number of TSOs.

wsr.org shows SK 25308 about to be outshopped and there’s 6705 at Washford about to be completed.

Even with less than before, I count 18* ‘regular’ carriages were used at the Steam Gala, plus the 4 QB vehicles and BCK 21272 on the parcels/local, which has now moved on. BG 80736 wasn’t used either. There’s enough carriages for 2 rakes of 6 and a third of 7 once 25308 is back in traffic. Going back there probably was about 22-25 available at most?

* 18 being 1 each of BCK, BSK, BSO & SK, 2 TSO converted to buffets and 12 TSOs.

 

Regardless of whether I agree (I usually do) or disagree with your posts they are always interesting, so its good to have you back. Here's hoping for your continued good health.

 

In one way it is good that the WSR seems to be healthy. In another way it is deplorable that the remaining volunteers are presumably ignoring all the nasty stuff that happened. The mystery of the half a million a year being needed or not remains. Did they lie when they said they needed it? Or are they now running on clapped out infrastructure?

 

Been watching from afar and the recent WSR gala looked excellent so well done to all involved.

There is certainly a feel good factor after a good gala, but the stark reality is that the other 51 weeks of the year will make or break the season (this is true on most railways and not specific to the WSR).

Picking up on the comment about the “best heritage railway in the county” I don’t think there will be widespread agreement as to a “winner” on Nat Pres with so many different allegiances. The fact that we have a wide variety of railways with different offerings is a much better point of celebration.

Regards,

Matt

 

Completely agree with this. There was sufficient good quality rolling stock to run a comprehensive service at the recent steam gala. That suggests that there is no "rolling stock crisis" and any suggestions to the contrary are just mischief making.

 

Surely you’re not surprised Ian. Look who made the claim.

 

.....but 'mischief' making is some folks speciality and party tricks.

 

Said person has a lifetime ban from the railway, they can't return, is that not enough, Talk about wanting revenge, this attitude does you, and the railway you support no favours, it makes you look like a very unpleasant person if I can be totally honest.

 

About which you will all be able to read for yourselves the charges; the evidence; the process; the findings; the appeal and the HRA’s response.

I will be presenting the facts with as little comment as possible. I’ll leave others to decide where any ‘mischief’ lays and what the tale has to teach us about (some parts of) railway heritage.

 

Yes, that’s where it will be, Roostery fans.

 

Not sure whether this was meant as a personal comment or a Mod’s but, as a Mod, will NP be reopening the Roostery thread when Robin’s ready to post?

 

You seem to be under a great misapprehension, which is concomitant with most of your postings - usually guesswork or supposition. I am not connected, in any manner, with the WSR and the question of any revenge is puerile on your part. I see things from a different perspective as yourself, the author of Roostery is in the legal profession, known for concentrating on one side only of a dispute. I tend to see both sides: hence my comment. You seem to find fault or criticism on NP and being honest, like you, you seem to be a very sad person which possibly explains your manner.

 

Fair enough but it’d be nice to know on NP when Robin’s made a post on it. Otherwise someone’ll probably post a link to it anyway.

 

I don’t think NP should have anything to do with Roostery; I’d go as far as to say that any links to it should be taken down.
This is supposed to be a discussion forum. It’s not a discussion when one individual publicly slags off other individuals and organisations who have no ability to reply.
When I say “no ability to reply” I think that if some “targets” choose not to be members of the forum or visit it, then they are unable to defend themselves against any allegations made publicly on that forum.
If any individuals who were formerly associated with the WSR feel they’ve been treated wrongly by any person or body there are proper ways to complain, and the soap box method is not one of them.

 

What you really mean is dissenting voices should be silent What though if you find the " proper channels" are actively against you, what then? The HRA are hardly an independent arbiter, when their run by the same board room chiefs, Often the only choice people have is to walk away , I had to Walk away from being an active voluenteer when an general manager, of a railway i was working for, called me a liar, and trouble maker, and I had no avenue open to me to but to walk away, because the board then, did not stand up to him,

 

There is a difference between whether it is wise for an individual to post about a topic on a forum, and whether it is wise for that forum to block those posts.

This forum has at times acted as useful channel for whistleblowing; to do as you suggest would prevent any discussion of those topics. Whether, in this specific instance, reopening the discussion is desirable is another question. I suspect I'm not alone in (a) wondering what was coming on Roostery, (b) wondering why the pause has now stopped, and (c) thinking that it might be better for all concerned to move on.

 

I can't believe that "The Roostery" doesn't have a function for interested parties to be notified by e-mail when new posts are made: if not, then it really should have.