West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Don't forget that Shearings Yard is then sub-leased... the 19th March 2020 WSSRT board minutes state an agreement to pay £3,650 per annum for it's bit.

 

The current unsightly dump at Dunster has the advantage of being some distance from the houses of Dunster village. Washford station, on the other hand, is next to houses and an inn. There could well be complaints from the public if they see the neat and well-maintained S&DRT site replaced by an unsightly dump, whether that be engineers' materials or derelict vehicles.

 

Simple, put a tall fence between the yard and the running line!!

Ed

 

Could this be a planning issue?

 

Has anyone seen this on WSR.org

http://www.wsr.org.uk/news.htm#2175

It doesn't say when but at least Santa Trains are promised!

 

It was my uunderstanding that shearings yard was rented by the WSRA with a small charge against the WSSRT.

DJB.

 

£17grand buys you about 40'x 60' of wrinkly tin shed. 2 years rent of Shearings yard might see all that stock under a roof, which might be a better strategy than simply hiding stuff. Doesn't put track under the wheels, but it would keep the sun and rain off

 

Yesterday's news... Keep up

 

Although you still have to answer the question about where you would put that shed. Does the WSR have much spare land of its own?

Tom

 

I am a trustee of an organisation which has recently done almost exactly that, except that in our case the new organisation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). An EGM of the old charity approved the process and it has now all been completed apart from the final AGM to formally wind up the old charity. All the rights, obligations and membership of the old charity have transferred to the new CIO. For certain purposes someone has to have been a member for a certain number of years, and the new constitution explicitly allows those years to span the old and new organisations.

 

Is there any reason why the carriages waiting to be repaired need to be an eyesore? In any case, a fair proportion of the expensive land of Sherring's Yard appears to be unused or just used for what looks like a heap of rubbish. A move to Washford would give the opportunity to tidy things up and then to keep them tidy.

Well, there was talk of building carriage sheds at Bishop's Lydeard, so yes.

 

You presumably mean this Frank?

"Minehead (Seaward Way) Level Crossing The level crossing at Seaward Way was first opened in 1992. Since then the road traffic levels have grown significantly and, as might be expected, after nearly thirty years, the lifting barriers and the supporting mechanisms have eventually become time expired. Fortunately for the railway, the road was built after the railway, which means that the highways authority (Somerset County Council) is responsible for paying for the refurbishment of the crossing. An effective working level crossing is essential for the railway so the two organisations are working together to make sure that there is an outcome which is good for both organisations. In addition, the public body which regulates railways (the Office of Rail and Road – ORR) has to ensure that the crossing is up to national standards. 4 This all makes for quite a complicated project, with a number of interested parties. In addition the opportunity is being taken to upgrade the crossing to a full barrier crossing extending across the whole width of the road. This reduces the possibility of cars or pedestrians trying to make “last minute” crossings across the railway. The Council approved the funding of the crossing as long ago as early 2018, with a budget of £850,000. With Covid19, budget pressure is now on with the Council. Since 2018 staff and volunteers from the railway have planned and developed proposals, and significant preparation work has taken place. However, there is now a need for the work to be completed as fast as possible because the barriers have become unreliable. In effect the crossing is out of use without having hand signallers (flagmen) present. On a busy and fairly fast road this must not be a regular occurrence. Somerset County Council (SCC) have engaged professional specialist consultants to complete the work, who are now working closely with the Railway, and with SCC. The intention is to complete the work by the end of March next year, and this will involve a road closure during the winter."

Does that really clarify the situation or is it just another excuse?

I am sorry but I do not believe that bit of information moves us forward and tells us what the plan is to complete it and when

Or am I being unreasonable here?

 

If they were to shorten the lines length - as is often suggested - there would be plenty of room!
As per the norm, takes cover.

 

I do not see the issue if they were suitably covered

I would prefer to save the £17,000 pa personally but then I am not the cash rich plc!!

 

I have just done that!!

 

and we have yet to see 6705 completed and earn money yet.

I think many people wonder why Robin was so anxious to acquire them?

I do hope to see more than one restored in my lifetime!

 

So do I, amd I'm only 21!

I wonder whether the WSSRT might need to explore some different ways of getting these coaches restored if the project is ever going to happen. As a comparison, the Hull & Barnsley Stock Fund has 2 bogie coaches, that for years and years and years sat at Goathland, restoration inching forward, but after decades, they're still in the same situation. A fresh approach saw a coach delivered to Hull technical college where apprentices are doing a lot of the restoration work for them for free, the stock fund only providing materials.

My feeling, admittedly from afar, is that something imaginative like this is needed to move the heritage coach project forward. Otherwise it runs the risk of people who care less about heritage carriages seeing very little progress and wondering why such "eyesores" or "no-hopers" can't be gotten rid of, save a few quid and have a tidy up.

 

Seems a reasonable explanation to me. The barriers need replacing, they’ve deteriorated further, Somerset County is picking up the tab and has engaged a designer and the work will be done over the winter. That’s actually pretty fast for a local authority to sanction that kind of expenditure, especially given their financial woes.

 

Where I cannot see any bun fight!!

Or are you having a stir again?