West Somerset Railway General Discussion

If only it was 7828.
Think you mean 7822?

 

The scheduled DMU on Thursday morning had considerably more than 30.

The right scheduling decisions are being made when you consider all of the information. With respect, the good folks on here only know a fraction of the story, not that there's any real story to be told. I suggest we move along and leave the guys at the sharp end to do their job.

 

Very easy to play the you dont have all the info card. I am just pleased that the four unhappy potential customers who moaned to me that they had travelled a long way hadnt seen 7822 leave a few minutes earlier. We are all entitled to our opinion and I still think its bad PR.

 

The people on the steam engine-mans course had paid hundreds of pounds each & booked months in advance, most probably travelled some distance with an early start to be there for firing-up (as I did) which far out-weighs the four people you spoke to.

DJB.

 

It was diesel hauled one way, I believe. Steam was used on that diagram for the rest of the day so folks making the return trip were not totally denied steam haulage. The other diagram was steam powered throughout the day as advertised. I hope the unhappy potential customers took the trip anyway and were ultimately happy (or at least happier).

I guess some commentators might have chosen to cancel the SEC and thus risk damaging that brand.

Someone has to decide these things and take the commercial risk. We NP commentators take no risk other than a slapdown from another NP commentator.

Steve

 

Any idea when the Western is coming over to BL?

 

Dep WN 0940
Arr BL 1010

 

many thanks

 

The 'American' engine will be out of service for a while - this from the WSR staff website.

'S160 6046.

Following the re-fitting of the Locomotives Air Pump, and subsequent failure of the Air system on shed, we have withdrawn the Engine to allow an investigation to take place and implement any recommendations.

This will look at how events have affected the Locomotive over the last two months, with the aim of returning to traffic as quickly as possible on the WSR.'

 

What was the number of the 67 please. Was the other end of line. Clanline is a beautiful loco.

 

WSR 2017 Report and Financial Statements
Interesting reading as the harsh commercial facts of running a very long heritage railway in a cash-strapped economy are being faced. The following points are made;

It's back to square one with the "Southern Gateway" project.
Difficult financial decisions will be required in the future
Believe it or not, most of the steam engines are more than seventy years old!
Seven directors have left the board during the year
The carriage fleet is falling behind with maintenance
Infrastructure costs outweigh what is available from the fare box
A shortfall in cash reserves due to a fall in passenger revenue and increase in costs are now concerning the directors and will have to be addressed

Well the good news is that the problems have been identified. I wonder what the recovery plan will look like?

 

Oh dear - but I am afraid I have to say far from surprising.

I would suggest the need to focus on three areas:

1. Grow the Farebox - and this will almost certainly need to be by volume, not price rises, which rarely need to yield net results if 'aggressive' enough to promise any sort of solution! Fill empty seats and operate in a 'smart' manner.
2. Tough examination of what is the most efficient and cost effective way to deliver the service so as to control costs and get best value from what is spent. Another way of saying 'but we've always done it this way' doesn't mean that you always will!
3. Harness the clear affection for and support of the line more effectively - and, yes, sorry, that means growing 'membership' involvement and fund raising - something the existing structure does not help. Allied with this is exploring external funding in all its forms; again, the structure rebels against this, to which I say - 'see above'!

I am not a shareholder and hence haven't seen the reports but from the above post (I presume it is PLC from reference to operational and infrastructure matters), it is clear that the standard line here of 'everything is fine, outsiders don't understand and its different in Somerset' is looking harder to sustain - a strong organisation finds it easier to admit, like ALL organisations on this earth, it has weaknesses and can and must address them.

Steven

 

Link please??

 

Am I right in thinking that the majority of the WSR permanent way dates from BR days? If so it will be well on its way to being life expired. Renewal will be a major task. At one mile per year it will be a twenty year task.

 

Renewal has taken place each year since it was reopened in 1976. Many miles have be renewed. More to do. Of course.

Steve

 

Don't worry - Yorkshireman will be on here soon to tell us (with his inside knowledge) that all is well and it is only troublemakers who think that there are problems around.

 

Earlier posts here referred to two groups of people, both having travelled long distances, finding different experiences at the WSR. It was suggested that those who paid a lot of money for a training course were more important than those who visited the line simply for a ride - albeit behind a specific engine.
I am sure the PLC value all who put money into the coffers as important; if they don't and the few big spenders are more important then that is not a healthy viewpoint for business.
I read elsewhere recently, in a local Somerset newspaper, that charter traffic, which was said to be more lucrative, might be encouraged, even at the expense of reduced service trains. That is interesting as many of the objections, made on NP, about through running from Taunton suggested lack of paths.

 

Do you know this for a fact or are you just speculating ???

 

67016

 

Thxs