If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    12,134
    Likes Received:
    10,506
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Deleted.
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2022
  2. 3855

    3855 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2008
    Messages:
    616
    Likes Received:
    457
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    inside a boiler
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    i picked up a post dated cheque this evening....
     
  3. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2009
    Messages:
    1,933
    Likes Received:
    4,252
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Cardiff
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Informational post hopefully:

    Given that we have postal strikes I wanted to let all WSRA members know that you can log into the WSRA web site (assuming you've registered) and get all of the AGM information. You can also vote online if you would like to.
     
  4. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2012
    Messages:
    1,687
    Likes Received:
    3,966
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Out there somewhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Peace? Maybe. Or it could be that the most vociferous have been silenced (by fair means or foul?) while the majority of the others have just got sick and tired of being ignored or treated with contempt (or possibly simply lied to?) and have given up trying to help, feeling they are wasting their time trying to help the management stop making repeated mistakes etc. I wonder how many non volunteers are no longer supporting the railway in any meaningful way? Or worse than that, I wonder how many previous supporters are simply watching and waiting to see if/when the management start running off with their toys - a' la Llangollen?
     
  5. bishdunster

    bishdunster New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Messages:
    141
    Likes Received:
    105
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired, but still far too busy !
    Location:
    dunster somerset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Just watched the D.M.U. arrive at Plat 1 at Bishops Lydeard, a grand total of 4 passengers got off and transferred straight across to Plat 2 to get the steam service back :(.
     
  6. RailWest

    RailWest Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2011
    Messages:
    3,922
    Likes Received:
    7,723
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Country
    If the weather there is anything like it was here at lunch-time, I'm surprised anybody is out and about at all ! I needed a DUKW rather than than a 4x4 :)
     
    hyboy likes this.
  7. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,496
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Raining at 3° away from parallel with the ground here most of the morning. Slightly breezy too.

    Have the schools gone back yet?
     
  8. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    26,876
    Likes Received:
    25,874
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Yes:D
     
  9. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2020
    Messages:
    1,090
    Likes Received:
    1,093
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hayling Island
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    In the IOW at least replaced by coach parties of the elderly. Yesterday was busy at times. (Sorry for the thread drift but don't kid yourself there is no business to be had).
     
    Spitfire, 30854, Matt78 and 1 other person like this.
  10. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2009
    Messages:
    1,933
    Likes Received:
    4,252
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Cardiff
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I had a firing turn yesterday, passenger numbers look very good given the weather was less than great. Well over 50% loading on the trains I saw.
    Last week one service I fired on was standing room only.
    At this time of year the 10.00 ex MD is sometimes lightly loaded. We are on blue timetable so I don't fully understand the comment #42905? (The DMU was planned to run in a spare path as it was booked for training turns AFAIK. )
     
    hyboy, Greenway and 30854 like this.
  11. Ian Monkton

    Ian Monkton Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2011
    Messages:
    950
    Likes Received:
    997
    Location:
    South Somerset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The DMU was not in public service today. It was being used for Driver Refresher runs.
     
  12. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,960
    Likes Received:
    3,764
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South Hams
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Speculation? Not unusual here or most social media sites.
     
  13. Ian Monkton

    Ian Monkton Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2011
    Messages:
    950
    Likes Received:
    997
    Location:
    South Somerset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    No, not speculation. I was on duty at Crowcombe Heathfield station today and can confirm without doubt that the DMU was being used on training runs.

    I would also say that the first two down trains were well loaded, especially the 1230 BL - MD which had two coaches fully occupied for people who had booked fish and chips. So that's in the region of 400 passengers travelling today.
     
  14. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,960
    Likes Received:
    3,764
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South Hams
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    No speculation by you Ian, speculation by others.
     
    hyboy and Ian Monkton like this.
  15. bishdunster

    bishdunster New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Messages:
    141
    Likes Received:
    105
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired, but still far too busy !
    Location:
    dunster somerset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    My appologies to all, i obviously mistook the elderly lady and gent who got off together and the two older gents who also alighted as members of the public.
     
  16. brennan

    brennan Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2016
    Messages:
    306
    Likes Received:
    356
    Location:
    Gloucester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer

    They are the latest intake of volunteers !
     
  17. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2009
    Messages:
    1,933
    Likes Received:
    4,252
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Cardiff
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Ok - I can see the humor in this but it highlights a serious problem for the heritage movement. Namely the recruitment and retention of younger volunteers.
     
    Hampshire Unit and johnofwessex like this.
  18. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,565
    Likes Received:
    18,332
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    It would help if it weren't so difficult to allow under 18s to work (not a dig at WSR, no idea what arrangements there are there, just a general frustration!).
     
    21B likes this.
  19. 21B

    21B Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2009
    Messages:
    3,216
    Likes Received:
    7,067
    It is hugely frustrating, I speak as a parent and an enthusiast who was fortunate enough to be able to start volunteering in my teens.

    If we want to continue into the future we have to find a way to overcome these obstacles, some of which I think might be an over cautious approach rather than an actual legislative obstruction. (Though there are the latter too).
     
  20. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Messages:
    314
    Likes Received:
    238
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Padstow
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Some railways have very successful youth groups and that is the way foward
     
    Daddsie71b likes this.

Share This Page