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West Somerset Railway - Removal of the PLC Chairman and related matters

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by rodders154, Aug 14, 2018.

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  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Aside from management and personality issues there appears to an underlying concern over finance that has been unpacked by
    @Bean-counter. More recently the infrastructure and its maintenance has been mentioned.

    To have the longest heritage railway in England is a strength but also a weakness and even an untrained eye can see the challenges. For example, look at the income stream from tickets and do the maths on day rover tickets by comparing a few lines.
    Swanage - 6 miles - £21. MHR - 10 miles - £16. Bluebell - 11 miles - £19. SVR - 16 miles - £21. WSR - 20(23) miles - £20. The WSR is cheap.

    As far as big engines are concerned, it cuts both ways. Heritage railways don't want heavy locos regularly at work on a line that was originally designed for lightweight trains. And one visit of a heavy loco to such a line that might result in a broken spring is not good news either.

    What I'm saying in a roundabout way is that the management of the WSR probably presents complex decision making and financial issues that are of a scale that is greater than some other railways. That, in turn demands an expert team of folk in charge making the right decisions and with it, difficult and occasionally unpalatable decisions. The current instability is just not helpful at all.
     
  2. Bean-counter

    Bean-counter Part of the furniture

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    Ah, so your point is that by your analysis, the cash balances have increased by less than they should have done. As I said, disagreeing as to whether expenditure is wise or to beneficial purpose is miles different to making allegations of 'missing cash' - may I suggest you need to be more careful about how you word your accusations!

    As you omit Restorations, I presume your point is to try and show that this is the source of the 'cash consumption'. The Accounts show £120k income and £20k cost of sales for Restorations, and total wages for Restorations and Shops of £171k - they give no clue as to how this splits between the two. Of course, internal information may give that information. From published information, once overhead costs have been taken into account, Restorations may make either a profit or a loss, but 'running the Charity' has also 'consumed' cash and getting more value from that (by increased membership and higher donations etc.) is, I am sure, a priority of the WSRA Board.

    I would be very interested in your analysis of the WSRplc accounts, as I would suggest this is where the much larger 'cash consumption' problem lies. I also fail to see how one co-option (of some-one who only resigned a couple of months back) and a couple of retirements means that the WSRplc has a 'new board', but, new or old, they clearly need to take action and the past year has not shown visible signs that this has been happening.

    Steven
     
  3. Yorkshireman

    Yorkshireman Part of the furniture

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    Perfect! Thank you very much. Your candour is appreciated.
     
  4. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    Warm welcome for new WSR plc Chairman at Minehead today...

    8BAA00C5-0039-4683-B9FB-F9100A1D2C2B.jpeg
     
  5. Triumph 2500S

    Triumph 2500S Well-Known Member

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    Do you know something we don't then Robin?
     
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  6. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

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    Ist that their mode of transport behind them?
     
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  7. JayDee

    JayDee Member

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    Pre booked Shakespeare Express (when it runs again) are currently cheaper than going to the NYMR, or a tenner more than most day rover tickets on the WSR, GWSR, SVR, GCR etc. Which is surprisingly cheap for what you get.
     
  8. DragonHandler

    DragonHandler Well-Known Member

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    Sounds interesting. Problem is the Shakespeare Express operates from Birmingham, and I live in West London.
    But when it starts running again I'll look into the travel times.
     
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  9. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    I’m not going to get drawn into the main debate - as we have said, statements on behalf of the WSRA on this will come from our Chairman or Mike Sherwood.

    But do I know something? Well...

    Some obvious truths in life in general are that if you don’t approach life with a sense of humour, particularly the ability to laugh at yourself, life can seem very long. Valuing the contribution of others over your own self-worth, and understanding that we achieve the most by co-operative effort are, IMHO, essential pre-requisites for progress.

    Robin
     
  10. Triumph 2500S

    Triumph 2500S Well-Known Member

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    oh you are such a tease at 7.00 am in the morning Robin and very thought provoking!

    So on that basis is a Statement from Paul Whitehouse and or Mike Sherwood imminent?
     
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  11. 6960 Raveningham Hall

    6960 Raveningham Hall Member Friend

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    I think Tracey will make a very good Chairman. Who's that guy with her?

    Stef.
     
  12. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    I don't know but she's taking him to the vet to get his claws clipped.
     
  13. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Isn't the moral of "The Gruffalo" that even a terrible creature with terrible claws can be tamed by a mixture of telling white lies and a plentiful supply of nuts?

    Tom
     
  14. Jeff Price

    Jeff Price Member

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    Richard

    What is it that you expect a statement about???

    Plenty of choice

    Jeff
     
  15. It's just a shame that many posters on railway (and model railway) internet forums don't seem to grasp that basic truism...
     
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  16. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Apologies for continuing this particular thread drift but I would just mention that a few years ago I did Marylebone - Stratford, Stratford - Snow Hill - Stratford (dining) plus a further run back to Snow Hill, and Snow Hill - Marylebone.
     
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  17. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

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    No it's not. The WSRA made a statement weeks ago. It's on our web site. It's certainly not our place to comment on the on-going process the plc are running to find a new chairman. Until that process is complete there is simply nothing to say and there may well be nothing to say afterwards either.
    At the risk of repeating myself. Members who have concerns about the Association are welcome to write to me at the Association to discuss them.
    Members are owed a reasonable answer to their questions and reasonable responses to the suggestions they put forward. That is what I have committed to do.
    I'm just back from a further two days firing to assist in running the railway. Over the last few weeks members have overwhelmingly told me they do not consider the majority of the postings in this thread to be in any way helpful to the WSR. I have great respect for the majority membership view and will therefore continue to work away quietly to make our railway the best that it can be.
     
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  18. Triumph 2500S

    Triumph 2500S Well-Known Member

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    From that Mike I take it you are going to leave the plc to get on with running the railway whilst looking forward to what the board has to say about the future?
     
  19. Jeff Price

    Jeff Price Member

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    Mike

    As the majority are banter and junk that is understandable however beyond the banter and junk is some extremely important (they reveal a line of thinking from those who would wish the WSRA to stop interfering in the future of the WSR plc and thus the WSR) and incisive (the large number of relevant questions that remain un-answered)

    I wonder what your position is as WSRA Vice Chairman to how the WSRA should be involved with the future of the WSR and the course that the WSRplc may set.

    Additionally I would point out that the Ex6 etc were also only concerned with the majority membership view, most of whom were distant supporters and un-informed.

    I do not find this a very comforting statement regardless of where is made

    Jeff
     
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  20. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

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    Members of the Association may write to me via the Association to discuss matters or express concerns.
    As Robin has mentioned we are not going to indulge in public speculation at this time. I will always listen to legitimate concerns. It must be clear that if I have spoken with members over the last several weeks they are not remote members but those who are actively engaged.
     
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