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.

Mark Thompson's Recent Activity

  1. Mark Thompson liked The Gricing Owl's post in the thread Bluebell Railway General Discussion.

    And I've counted the rivets on the buffer beam of Fenchurch and, because of overhaul work in the 1920s, there are two more than in the Victorian era. ;);) Come on guys, even though it is not the BR SR era that I almost exclusively focus on,...

    Mar 28, 2024 at 10:16 AM
  2. Mark Thompson liked 30717's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.

    Whilst being a Trustee I have refrained from commenting on social media, despite quite often wanting to post the correct account of the situation and what was really going on behind the scenes at the Trust. But now that Anne Belsey and I have...

    Mar 28, 2024 at 7:02 AM
  3. Mark Thompson liked Paul42's post in the thread Bluebell Railway General Discussion.

    From today's photo charter, all using my phones camera, will process the ones from my camera later in the week. [ATTACH] [ATTACH] [ATTACH]

    Resize_20240325_231431_1401.jpg Resize_20240325_231430_0224.jpg Resize_20240325_231430_0782.jpg Mar 26, 2024 at 6:43 AM
  4. Mark Thompson liked Meatman's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.

    It would of course be interesting to know exactly how much all of this messing about has cost over the last 3 or so years. It is known that the incident around Chris's nomination cost £6k and that was two little cock-ups so Annes last year has to...

    Mar 25, 2024 at 10:44 PM
  5. Mark Thompson liked Jamessquared's post in the thread Bluebell Railway General Discussion.

    Strange to say, we have lots of these weird contraptions that have a long horizontal tube above their wheels that seem quite capable of providing steam on demand for heating purposes. We even have one of them that looks like a box, but which is...

    Mar 25, 2024 at 10:42 PM
  6. Mark Thompson liked flying scotsman123's post in the thread Bluebell Railway General Discussion.

    That is certainly a shame. From this outsider's perspective, he really did seem to be making a great positive difference.

    Mar 24, 2024 at 5:02 PM
  7. Mark Thompson liked David R's post in the thread Bluebell Railway General Discussion.

    Personal Circumstances I believe. A shame as he has been doing a good job and has lead the railway through the difficult Covid Years and recovery afterwards. David R

    Mar 24, 2024 at 5:02 PM
  8. Mark Thompson liked 35B's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.

    Two points here. First, this is a charity and governed by charity standards of ethics, not the minima of company law. Second, there absolutely is a conflict of interest between the role of the individual and that of the officeholder. As a...

    Mar 23, 2024 at 10:09 AM
  9. Mark Thompson liked Michael B's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.

    My wife's application for membership submitted electronically on 25 February has produced a letter signed by Ian Cowling (but maybe a computer) of 20 March thanking her. He has pleasure in enclosing a membership card, our recent magazine and...

    Mar 22, 2024 at 10:58 AM
  10. Mark Thompson liked 21B's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.

    The success of OSHI is welcome. The expenditure and method of financing it, not so much, but may work out fine in the end. The rest of your post basically says “no plan is possible that will satisfy everyone, so we should have no plan”. What...

    Mar 22, 2024 at 10:57 AM
  11. Mark Thompson liked Michael B's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.

    The Blackmoor Company may be doing well, but it is saddled with 6% interest payments on the secured loan of £34,800 pa plus the need to make a profit of £25,000 pa to generate the cash to pay back the £250,000 loaned over 10 years by the Trust...

    Mar 22, 2024 at 10:56 AM
  12. Mark Thompson liked Tobbes's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.

    @Sidmouth is clearly correct, but as @johnofwessex suggests, if we can't organise a legal AGM or follow our own M&As or Company Law, then any public funding bodies are (rightly) going to run a mile. This stuff isn't optional, it's a simple...

    Mar 21, 2024
  13. Mark Thompson liked Sidmouth's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.

    couple of points . If a board feels under threat then I would expect every dark art in the book that can be deployed to happen . anyone thinking the playing field is level is in cloud cuckoo land Secondly to extend the L&B a significant...

    Mar 21, 2024
  14. Mark Thompson liked Meatman's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.

    Then people may have to accept that this railway just might materialise into 2 or 3 running sections, all different to each other, I for one won't accept a longer railway as a pipe dream irrespective of whether it's joined up or not

    Mar 21, 2024