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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Head of commercial will have a grip on marketing, part of the remit is to develop business plans to drive the business forwards. Quite often the role is combined with that of marketing manager, that is quite common.

    If it was that role made redundant, no issue with appointing a marketing manager then.
     
  2. Downline

    Downline New Member

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    Agreed, but it would be interesting to know if there is a salaried role that contained the responsibility of marketing and social media, and if that role has altered, intentionally or unintentionally, due to the Head of Commercial redundancy.

    Considering there was a news article not too long ago which revealed the significantly high wage bill of the WSR Plc, I wouldn't be surprised if there was quite a few salaried staff in a commercial role. If there is and there isn't someone designated as lead of marketing/social media etc, that would raise some serious questions about the current and previous leadership as to why they didn't consider this role necessary.
     
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  3. paul1609

    paul1609 New Member

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    I'm sure Mike Hart won't mind me posting this link here, https://www.railwaywheelset.co.uk/tyres.html
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2021
  4. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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  5. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    Progress at Seaward Way 22.6.21
    Newly-installed REB on right.

    7F9338D6-5196-4988-B018-A0DAA91797A9.jpeg
     
  6. RailWest

    RailWest Part of the furniture

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    A pity it will block the view for photographers of oncoming Down trains....maybe use the other side of the line (once the Portaloo has gone) if you don't mind shooting into the sun....mind you, at the moment no trains anyway :)
     
  7. bluetrain

    bluetrain Well-Known Member

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    We can perhaps deduce a rough estimate based on figures quoted in the prior year (2019/20) WSR plc Annual Report & Accounts. Turnover for that year was quoted as £2.85M. Given that few trains ran in the following year, that turnover must have fallen to a very low figure. There were some off-setting savings. Furlough of staff would have saved much of the WSR staff costs (£0.87M in 2019/20), and there would also have been savings from deferral of some maintenance and from reduced steaming fees and use of fuel and other consumables. But it seems likely that the WSR plc will have lost around £2M due to inability to trade.

    The losses will have been partly offset by the grant (£0.86M) from the Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage and by donations from supporters and from the other WSR "family" organisations. But it looks like a large hole will still remain in the finances.
     
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  8. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    thanks Robin . a positive step forward hopefully
     
  9. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Mike Hart.
     
  10. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    My guess is that this will have been furthest from the thoughts of planners and contractors!
     
  11. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    And I'd be interested to know how many photographers would be screaming at the loss of that viewpoint?
     
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  12. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Based on this forum, they represent a huge proportion of visitors. And the railway will only have itself to blame for this oversight when they see their annual income decimated by £1.76 ;)
     
  13. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I'm sure that the REB was best sited on the same side as the signal that in 'true' GWR fashion I see is on the fireman's side of the train for locos approaching chimney first.

    And before anyone says, that was meant to be a light hearted comment. :)
     
  14. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Probably none at the moment.
     
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  15. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Nor even on a gala day, once they come back...
     
  16. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    Those new crossing gates don't look very substantial.
     
  17. goldfish

    goldfish Nat Pres stalwart

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    Right faff to open and close them too…
     
  18. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    thought for the evening

    at the height of the last financial crisis to befall the WSR you will recall the sudden sale of 4110 . Such was the pressing need the sale went to a third party , denying a concerted attempt by WSR volunteers and supporters to buy the engine . Fair play to the new owner as the engine seems to be making good progress

    after the small digression I presume given the hour of need and a £1m target to hit one wonders whether a manor or a mongrel may also be available to the highest bidder .....

    **** purely supposition and not based on any information or otherwise
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2021
  19. Keith Sims

    Keith Sims Member

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    The loss of 53808 was hard enough to bear! To lose 9351 (a much loved Mogul rather than a mongrel) would be yet another bitter blow . Can assure you, however, that some other railway will love her just like MHR has adopted 53808.
     
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  20. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    They could already be secured against loans (just a thought-not based on any evidence)
     

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