West Somerset Railway General Discussion

And there's the rub. If FoWSR are not going to become a charity, they will be foregoing that nice man (only sometimes) Mr G. Osborne's 25% contribution in the form of Gift Aid on any donations made to it by UK tax payers. As a tax payer myself, I am definitely not interested in supporting an upstart organisation where another, of long standing, exists which will be able to take the government's largesse. And let's face it, it would only be wasted otherwise...

And talking about wasting money, if FoWSR funds could be used as a piggybank that the PLC could break into whenever it suffers Micawberish misery, then that, I think, is a poor substitute for using said funds for the purposes for which donors probably intended - investment in the railway's infrastructure and operating assets.

Cheers,

 

The cycle path is back on the agenda:

Call to make Bishops Lydeard to Taunton cycle path a reality (From Somerset County Gazette)

Seems it has the full backing of Sustrans and WSR "Environmental group Quantock Eco is behind the plan forward with backing from sustainable transport charity Sustrans and the West Somerset Railway."

Steve

 

Looks like bargain fares on the WSR in 2013!

See news page on WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Pictures and News

Buy online for big savings on day rover tickets. The West Somerset Railway Plc have announced a special offer of 50% off Adult, Senior and Child Day Rover tickets when purchased online. The online offer is open until 31 December 2013. These special offer online Day Rover tickets are valid on any Red, Green or Yellow timetable services only. Details at the official website page.

I should add the official webpage doesn't say "Hurry before the offer closes!" like the Facebook page does...and I have no idea when the offer closes.

Steve

 

Busy times for WSR at Norton Fitzwarren.

Two ballast trains per weekday for the next couple of weeks. More details on Latest News page of WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Pictures and News along with a set of ten pictures (see Latest Pictures page) showing one of the trains shunting and being unloaded by some hefty machinery provided by the WSR Association's partner and contractor, Luffmans.

Also news that next week a HOBC and single loco will be turned on the Triangle using the full length of the Allerford headshunt (it's about a quarter of a mile long). This follows a trial last week to see if a HOBC would indeed fit. It does.

All good business for the WSR.

Steve

 

Another chance to travel by rail between Bishops Lydeard and Taunton.

A diesel train service will operate between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard stations on 8-9 June as part of the West Somerset Railway's 2013 Mixed Traction Weekend.

More at WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Pictures and News

Steve

 

A simple movement maybe but a rather significant event for the WSR on 10 May 2013 when, instead of running to and beyond Allerford Junction and then reversing onto the Triangle, Class 66 no 66603 with the morning HOBC took the Barnstaple line, heading for the Allerford Spur, before reversal along the West Chord and the unloading point.

HOBCs are usually top/tailed by Class 66 locos. Recent non-HOBC deliveries have used a single loco, but this has had to run round its train. Friday's visit proved a 20 wagon HOBC requires just one locomotive and no need for loco to run round.

Pic: http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/galleri.cgi?h=Snapshot&p=2013/05/100513_05

Map: http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/galleri.cgi?h=Snapshot&p=img/norton2012v2

Steve

 

I believe this offer was open for all of a day? According to the facebook site on 17th April:

 

Yes, I think you are right :-(

However...looks like there will be other opportunities to grab a bargain priced rover ticket:

Latest Facebook message from WSR Plc, just posted, says "Look out for a special offer on West Somerset Railway 1 Day Rovers later today..."

Update:

Just announced: http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/section.php/19/1/standard_travel_day_rover_tickets

Steve

 

Saturday 25 May 2013 was the day that the Norton Triangle was used by three trains from the main rail network. The first, around 8am, was a HOBC dropping spent ballast at the WSRA's Norton worksite; next was the visiting steam loco GWR Castle 4-6-0 no 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe with its water carrier and support coach plus a WSR-based Class 33 loco, which turned on the outer triangle, ready to head back to Birmingham later with the Vintage Trains "Whistling Ghost" Minehead excursion; and last was a Class 66 hauled HOBC/sleeper slinger engineer train which turned on the outer triangle using a good bit of the Allerford spur. All went well and all parties surely well satisfied with the facilities.

 

The WSR Mogul 9351 passed another significant milestone last week, having now completed over 90,000 miles, in its ninth consecutive year of service. This is quite a significant achievement at a time when many heritage lines are struggling with loco availability. Not many heritage locos have achieved this sort of mileage in one 10-year certificate. No 9351 has certainly proved to be a reliable and consistent performer.. The boiler goes out of certificate towards the end of this year so I guess it is unlikely to pass the 100,000 miles mark.

David

 

http://www.wsra.org.uk/news-from-ea...ltosafeguardthefutureofthewestsomersetrailway

Following discussions with County Councillors, the West Somerset Railway Association has made an offer to secure the future of the West Somerset Railway by purchasing the freehold of the Railway from Somerset County Council.

Steve

 

Firstly a very interesting development indeed and one of extreme relevance to all heritage lines where their landlord is a local authority. It is pretty obvious that all LA's will be under increasing financial and central political pressure to dispose of all assets and liabilities which are not absolutely core to providing just those public services which they are legally obliged to provide. There is no legal requirement for them to underwrite the local heritage railway whatever.
It would be interesting to know (on another new thread) which other lines have local authority landlords.

Secondly does this mean that the WSR PLC & the WSRA have buried their differences? - I do hope so but if so the signs of this happening have been very well hidden indeed!

 

Very interesting to see its WSRA not the PLC hoping to purchase the freehold.

 

It's either that or a widening of the battle lines!

 

I assume that is because the WSRA is a charitable body whereas the PLC isn't, so it has tax advantages and also probably makes the necessary covenants easier to enact.

Out of interest, does the WSRA already have the likely purchase price if this offer is accepted, or will they have to fundraise in a major way?

Sounds like good news, either way!

Tom

 

Did the PLC turn down the WSRA's previous offer to purchase the land mentioned a few pages ago in order for the WSRA to save cash to buy the freehold?

 

Corbs: I shouldn't think so! The WSRA's offer to purchase the Station Farm site can be seen as a completely separate, fully-funded project which was turned down by the Plc.

Tom: I understand the WSRA is ready to purchase the freehold if and when the council accept the offer.

1472: Not to my knowledge - although I remain hopeful that things will improve.

I have yet to see the Plc's response to today's announcement.

Steve

 

Their response is now available. As you might expect, it's a somewhat frosty release that you don't need to read too much inbetween the lines of. I wonder whether SCC will want to get involved. If I were in the council I'd be inclined to stick with the status quo.

 

Do you have a link? if so, would you be able to paste a link to it please?

 

I posted a news item and a link on 1 July on the Latest News page of www.wsr.org.uk The statement link is:
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co...railway_plc__wsr__on_freehold_of_railway_land

There have been two subsequent statements by WSR Plc, one an article in the Plc's Online staff newsletter and another on the Staff Website.

Steve