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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Apart from the charities and Council, who are shareholders, would any of the other shareholders actually pay any interest, many purchased their shares ages ago, as donations to save the railway, and probably show little, or no interest today , many most likily have died, and their heirs will not know they have shares in a heritage railway . any letters regarding AGM's etc, will most likily just not be replied to . passing their proxy to the chair.
     
  2. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    But how would you feel as an SCC taxpayer that your money was going towards the West Somerset?
    A council that is supposedly short of cash propping up 'choo choo/puffer/old steam trains' (take your pick of which one the local rag/tabloids would use)
    Whilst things like housing, social care, schools etc have been cut to the bone, not really a vote winner is it?
     
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  3. Steve Edge

    Steve Edge Member

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    Absolutely Ian. In my time with the commercial hat I remember working with hundreds of local B&Bs and hotels and holiday centres (yes even Butlins!), Southern National buses, British Railways, local special event promoters, local attractions, DATA, EATA. Also expanded the Santa trains, introduced the dining trains and other special trains.

    I know my successors took on even more, including building up a very good steady trade with coach tour operators.

    It is easy to bash the efforts of hard working, innovative staff and volunteers. Have a thought please for how a throwaway, populist comment can be hurtful to those in scope and maybe even lead to walking away. Is that really what the bashers want?

    Steve
     
  4. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    At the moment, much work is needed to make up for the lack of track maintaince from past years, I would think that for a new operator, getting the licence and running trains will be some way down the list, as making the railway safe to operate has to be the first priority , I'm not sure on this, but wouldn't the ORR have to inspect any new set up, before it can operate , to ensure everything's being ran in a safe manner ? so it would take quite a time, anyway before any new operator could start to run trains.
     
  5. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    Interestingly many closed lines in the Unites States have re-opened. Types of freight train traffic have changed considerably. Coal movements have decreased in some States and increased considerably in others. Passenger traffic has been the main casualty over the last half century, but container, oil and other tank car commodity trains have become the reason for many re-openings and major line improvements some which have included raising tunnel heights and doubling tracks.
    Had Harriman lived in the last quarter century, despite his comment being true, I reckon he would have spent those $2 if he saw the opportunities.
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2020
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  6. ikcdab

    ikcdab Member Friend

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    Not right. The chair only gets proxies if specifically instructed. If the AGM letter is ignored and not replied to, then that is an abstention.
    Ian Coleby
     
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  7. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    As an owner, no, because the safe operation of the railway, including all the equipment on it, is the responsibility of the railway, not the owner.

    If you hire a locomotive, whether that is for an extended period or just a few days such as at a gala, it is the responsibility of the railway to ensure it is safe to use: they will do that by a combination of physical inspection and study of maintenance records. Quite often a visiting loco attending a gala (i.e. short-term hire) would be steamed before the gala, partly as an inspection, partly to assess operational capability (especially for an unfamiliar type); partly for gauging purposes if that was not otherwise clear.

    For a visiting loco, the actual operation is also the responsibility of the railway, though how they manage that may be subject to agreement between operator and owner. At one extreme, the owner may provide a crew and the railway would provide a pilot driver for route knowledge: that would not be uncommon for an incoming mainline charter working through the line where the mainline crew would stay on, but pick up a pilot at the junction with the heritage line. At the other extreme, the operator may provide crews and the owner remains remote; or the owner may desire to have a footplate representative when his/her loco is in operation. I've known all scenarios. Quite frequently, a visiting loco comes equipped with a primer on its operation, particularly where that might be quirky or otherwise unfamiliar; the owner may also have conditions on a range of issues such as how it is cleaned to how it is disposed.


    Tom
     
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  8. Forestpines

    Forestpines Well-Known Member

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    This seems to have been an unfortunate aspect of Western Region policy specifically. Compare stations like St Ives, Exmouth or Looe with, say, equivalent Eastern Region stations like Cleethorpes, Whitby or Saltburn. On the ER the railways were simplified but the station buildings survived and in many cases found new uses.
     
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  9. Steve Edge

    Steve Edge Member

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    Taking your first few words, for the benefit of those without your in-depth knowledge on which such statements are made, could you kindly provide a list of the "much work is needed to make up for the lack of track maintaince [sic] from past years".

    Kindly step up to the plate and back your fine words with some details. And I mean details not just "I have heard".

    Steve
     
  10. Forestpines

    Forestpines Well-Known Member

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    One of my favourite railway photos I've taken myself is of a loco being watered from a garden hose - but I've always been wary of sharing it because it was a visiting loco and I thought it might have been under a "treated water only" condition!
     
  11. Forestpines

    Forestpines Well-Known Member

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    A few years ago GWR Halls were operating on the WSR but they're now considered too heavy for the line. Does that count as a lack of maintenance issue?
     
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  12. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Certainly over here in Anglia the line from Lowestoft to Ipswich still survives c/o Mr Fiennes despite being a basic railway as do the station buildings. I'd certainly recommend a visit to the Cafe on Wymondham station
     
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  13. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    Changing tack .I have just watched an SVR Q&A video with the new GM Helen Smith . It is internal for SVR staff and Volunteers otherwise I wish you could all see it . Open , honest very inclusive and actually very inspiring and I am looking forward to my trip on the SVR in the coming weeks ,more than ever. Within the new facebook group for staff and volunteers lots being shared on what is going on , preparations for reopening and Helen is actively encouraging members to spread the word through their social media channels
     
  14. The Dainton Banker

    The Dainton Banker Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for clarifying that, Ian. I've seen several references here to the two charities combined having insufficient shares to have any impact on the Plc but that always seemed to be tied to the supposition that the Chairman had a huge number of proxy votes at his disposal. In fact, given that, as Martin has noted, many of the smaller packets will have disappeared as far as voting is concerned and that there are very few holders of even moderate sized blocks then perhaps the issue is not as clear cut as some think.
    Can anybody provide the figures for proxies given to the Chairman at the last AGM ?
     
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  15. drnick

    drnick New Member

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    By no means consider this as approval for what appears to be a lack of planning allowing a stream service opening, or the apparent behaviours of the PLC... but...

    Having a young family, if I was in the area, that offering would actually appeal. It would keep the family entertained at an attractive price point for an interesting activity.

    However only operating at weekends I'm not sure it would compete with other only open at weekend attractions, when most holidays we necessarily spend both Saturdays travelling, leaving only one Sunday for a "weekend only" activity

    Disclaimer: Despite holidaying in the area we haven't visited the WSR... too long a return trip to keep the children entertained, and at the expensive end of our budget for a spontaneous day trip. We visited the L&B instead...

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
     
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  16. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    Useful to the WSR reopening debate and not confidential, they've been open that decisions won't be stuck to and changes will happen as they learn more. There's also a 'Restart' App for staff and with all the relevant info, latest copies of docs etc. plus interaction between railway, staff (and each other).

    One thing that struck me as a principal difference. At the earliest time a Gold/Silver/Bronze command was set up with strategy at the top level with Chairs/Directors et al, but operational decisions devolved a level. The WSR has information seemingly coming more from the PLC board, on the SVR it's more often than not communicated from the GM.

    No right or wrong answers, but it has a different feel.

    Patrick
     
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  17. Kevin Steen

    Kevin Steen New Member

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    Yet you claim you don't want the railway to be closed.

    Or are you one of these who expects something for nothing.
     
  18. The Dainton Banker

    The Dainton Banker Well-Known Member

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    I think you are confusing two lines. The Paignton & Dartmouth Railway also runs steamers on the Dart, and is not easy to view from the road over much of its length.
    The South Devon Railway runs up the Dart valley from Totnes to Buckfastleigh and is reasonably easy to view from roads.
     
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  19. Kevin Steen

    Kevin Steen New Member

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    I would say so.

    If we are allowed that opinion that is.
     
  20. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    I think you are being a little harsh . your two hours includes a tour of the workshops , opportunity to footplate steam and diesel engines , watch the shunting , some can have a go at turning an engine on the table plus there are other attractions on the platform .

    It makes the most of what is available and for the volunteers I hope it works well and acts as a catalyst to something more . As railways are finding it is about momentum .
     

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