West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Oh, YES !

 

The SDRT faces significant challenges as a result of the Notice to Quit extended by 6 months so far only, and significant issues with 53808 having been intensively used (I will avoid my previous reference to it being "thrashed") and potentially the WSR plc having had free use of the loco since it's last overhaul.

The SDRT needs considerable help and support from you all as a direct result of the actions of the WSR plc board under the chairmanship of the current incumbent.

 

I hope that the S&DRT will also help to boost the AVR which I think has a lot of potential given its location. I think it is not just the S&DRT that is gaining but the MHR, AVR and North Dorset.

 

Several candidates stepped forward last year, with a clearly declared aim of steering (what was just becoming) the WSRHT in a slightly changed direction to facilitate implementation of the Bailey plan and thus a healthy future for the WSR as a whole. We know what happened to them.

 

Re the mention of the North Dorset, I paid a visit to Shillingstone last week in the sunshine The two S&DRT wagons were parked in the sidings and the Binegar crane is on top of one of them covered by a tarpaulin. Sadly I was not able to establish what plans the NDR had for them.... I was only able to photo the wagons a close range through the fencing, so not really a good picture to post here.

 

That sounds like a very rose-tinted view of what happened. 14 candidates came forward with a stated aim of closing down the trust and amalgamating with the WSRA. The large number of 14 candidates (put forward as nominations closed) was clearly designed to swamp the existing trustees.
But let's not rerun that again now. It's done and dusted.
Ian Coleby

 

That's an interesting re-writing of history. Let's not go there since we've been able to get our pot shot in first.

 

Given that the PLC have taken disciplinary action against two of those involved, outcome yet to be announced and threatened another two who handed in their PLC ID cards I suspect the matter may be far from 'done and dusted'

 

To be totally accurate, the aim was to ask the membership to consider options that would then be subject to a democratic vote. The plan was to hold an extended consultation period on how combining the two organisations would best benefit the railway. Whether that was to merge one organisation into the other or vice versa or to create an entirely new one, it was all up for discussion and consensus before being ratified by a vote. I can only speak for myself but my support for this idea was a combination of what had been done to the SDRT and comments from the agencies dispensing grants that the WSR structure was a barrier to funding. Furthermore, it's easy to pick off tenants one by one however if those that remain circle the wagons then it becomes much harder. A vacated premises such as the museum could then be converted to a loco shed / holiday lets / southern gateway tea room. The elections did not succeed and the 14 (minus the ones who allegedly were persuaded to consider their options) have abided by that outcome.

Returning to the here and now, I hope that the WSSRT can keep paying what increasingly resembles protection money. If everything does go base over apex, what remaining funds will be available to move elsewhere ?

 

What was the 'accepted outcome?'

 

More to the point, how is the WSR doing financially?

 

Losing £1,000,000 a year, it seems.

 

Cannot last at that rate. my prediction? SCC will step in and with the new GBR run the line as an amenity with perhaps a Heritage option at weekends

 

SCC to fund that how?

 

Given the current political climate around rail, and look what has happened at Okehampton, clearly were the PLC to fold, which seems increasingly likely the idea of the line being handed back to be part of the National Network could not be ruled out as an option.

Obviously SCC or its successors are not likely to be in a position to provide cash to fund it but could hand over the infrastructure.

 

I see the WSRHT have appointed a new Trustee charge with responsibility of the heritage coaching stock. A thankless task. Ten years plus to restore one coach. No covered accomadation. No up to date restoration shed/ workshop. Limited use of the Williton Shed. The storage yard at Williton leased by The WSRA. The requirement of at least £1000,000 to restore them. Very few skilled staff to restore them. Oh well nothing to see here, move on.