West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Given you are a shareholder we would be more than happy to be in touch with you direct, and do our best to answer any queries you may have (and this of course applies to any other WSR shareholders, all of whom also have an opportunity to put forward questions to the directors at the annual shareholders meeting in September). As a shareholder you will, I hope be receiving regular - quarterly - emailed copies of the newsletter 'The Platform". You will find my direct contact details on the final page. Failing that, send an email - or even a letter! - to our Minehead office, marked for my attention.

I'm sorry if this sounds rather circumspect, but long experience has taught me that, sadly, engaging in discussion on this public forum prompts a small number of contributors to quickly move the discussion in a negative direction!

I would only add that Michael Rowe's (@Maunsell907) comments are pretty much on the money, although, as he implies, he and I have had no discussions about this in the last few months. (However, never having much of a railway interest north of Watford, I can't speak for his comments about the Claughtons!)

Frank Courtney

 

That level of privacy is the plc's privilege. I am however disappointed, as the assertions about the state of the railway suggest that the WSR has found a way forward that others would benefit from learning from.

 

As we are in the "we've never had it so good" era, and the railway "has been saved", how are the plans coming along to purchase the BL car park ?

West Somerset Railway to purchase car park and toilets near Bishops Lydeard station | Somerset County Gazette

 

I've been a shareholder for more than twenty years and have never heard of this!!

 

The purchase of the Bishops Lydeard car park and toilet block is recorded (by the PLC Chairman) as being "in the process" of happening in the Spring 2023 issue of the WSRA Journal.

 

Let’s hope the purchase was completed at that time since the seller (Somerset West and Taunton District Council) was abolished on 1st April ‘23.

 

Any organisation reliant on donations of people's time and money has a difficult balancing act to undertake. If they emphasise the problems the organisation faces at the expense of their successes, they risk demoralising the volunteers,and put at risk the donations of time, but if the emphasise the successes at the expense of their problems, they risk donors thinking that there is no longer a pressing need to donate. The WSR seems to have stopped trying to tell the potential donors of money that disaster looms, whilst telling potential volunteers that all is rosy, which was always a high-risk course: those who set out to please everyone far too often end up pleasing no-one. One would hope that the management have decided that rattling the collecting tin with an exhortation to save the railway from looming disaster in public is a less effective way of fundraising than presenting a well-argued case to a few large donors in private.

 

One would hope that, since the WSR plc will shortly have had a ‘Director of Exterior Fundraising’ in post for two months, after the announced bridesmaid ‘advisor’ period, we will shortly be told how the magical transformation of the finances of a non-charitable body (with an appalling reputation amongst local grant-giving bodies such as the Hinkley Fund) and so recently characterised in internal WSR publication ‘Platform’ as ‘just covering costs’ is to be achieved.

I’m sure the HRA will be delighted to make a slot available at its next conference for the pearls of wisdom and track record of achievement to be shared.

Of course, we know what is required. Director Ric Auger and Infrastracture Manager Andrew Young were clear that £500,000 per year was required and Director Martin Brown was clear that annual inward investment of £1M was the target figure overall.

Presumably the late June filming contract (see timetable alterations) will provide the 2024 funds?

Given that the WSR plc Board now boasts two accountants and an accountancy practice as Company Secretary, financial planning should be top of the agenda?

 

Post abandoned. But if I don't post something here the text that I originally drafted and then abandoned keeps re-appearing whenever I return to this thread.

 

Delete your NP cookies.

 

If it is in your draft message, you can explicitly delete it:



Tom

 

My knowledge resides at the @MellishR level. How do we do what you are suggesting Tom?

 

Look at the screen shot! There is a little "save" icon (*) and if you click on it, you get the option to either "Save draft" or "Delete draft". If you click on "Delete draft" and then navigate away from the page, your draft post will be gone next time you come back.

(*) It's a floppy disc icon. Everyone know it means "save", but I suspect for anyone under the age of about 40, they probably have no visceral experience of the object to which it relates! A bit like modern level crossing signs still being indicated by a steam locomotive ...

Tom

 

Thank you. I had never noticed the floppy disc icon, but even if I had I would never have guessed that that's where you go to delete something.

 

No, it's not especially intuitive. I discovered it by aiming to save a draft and discovering that you could delete as well.

Tom

 

Don't often tune in here very often so sorry if it has been discussed but this weekend trains are apparently being amended to only run Minehead to Williton and the following weekend Bishops Lydiard to Watchet ??? With the tendency for diesels to start at the Minehead end I haven't visited this year but if the above is happening well that will knock any potentialat all for a visit will be gone......

 

Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th Minehead to Williton only. Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th full line open normal service Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd Bishops Lydeard to Watchet only. Amended timetables available on the website.

 

I believe that there is a film contract

 

Grange, Manor & Hall Weekend - West Somerset Railway (west-somerset-railway.co.uk)

 

Thank you for clearing that up.