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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    As a point of information, while some money was taken from WSRA reserve funds, the majority was raised from donors specific to this project (and the 25% gift aid added thereto).

    I would never want the support of those donors to be unacknowledged by the thought that this was ‘WSRA money’. It was only that in the sense that we were able to persuade donors to assist and were holding funds earned by trading activities or raised or given in other ways in the past.

    The WSRA were asked to help with returning 9351 to service for the summer peak which was achieved by magnificent efforts by a good number of people, all of whom ‘stepped up’ when needed, some visible, some less so.

    It does show what can be achieved by working together.

    Robin
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2020
  2. pgbffest

    pgbffest New Member

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    The current Works Manager was born in 1947....
     
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  3. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Age did not weary them it seems....................

    But looking at The Yorkshire Steam Railway crew many 'home grown' it shows the value of in house training - and young men who need to repay a debt to their mothers (Piglet)
     
  4. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    Apologies Workshop Supervisor. So very sorry for getting the supervisor and the manager confused in the departmental hierarchy.

    The broader point lost in your rivet counting is that the FR has benefited long term from apprentices and training schemes.

    It reflects the lines that 'get it' and the lines that don't. There are reasons why lines like the FR, NYMR, SVR, Bluebell etc are considered to be Premier League lines, this is one of them.

    I would however, caution that there are some who do not see it as their job to pass on their skills and who do view training of people as a burden that distracts from their own projects, plans or activities.

    This is where good management and broader institutional culture is important in inculcating the 'why we are doing this' to staff and other volunteers and that it isn't just to play trains, or do the thing that we individually enjoy doing but also to pass on our skills and knowledge.

    I'd also argue that there is the possibility of things changing for the positive for the WSR, in that for example the Ffestiniog had a difficult period from I'd suggest the 1980s until really the 2000s. There were certainly errors along the way and at least one very bad GM who alienated a lot of people with his macho management style. (Gordon Rushton's book about his time as FR GM makes for interesting and instructive reading). I am sure that other people can think about how other lines have turned things around. TBH I struggle to think of any line which has turned things around with the style of management and approach to dealing with a crisis that the WSR is employing.
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2020
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  5. Blackdown Boy

    Blackdown Boy New Member

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    Can anybody tell me what that box like structure is on Blue Anchor beach? It has been there for a few days.
     
  6. stimpy

    stimpy New Member

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    It's been there for more than a few years. OS maps show this a a groundwater pipe outfall marker. I seem to remember that it has something to do with the WW2 stop line but I could well be wrong.
     
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  7. Maunsell907

    Maunsell907 Member

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    Most of the Heritage Railways have at one time or another experienced difficulties, some very recently.
    However the current threats posed by the Virus represents undoubtedly the greatest challenge there has ever
    been to both the Heritage Railway sector and Main Line charter operations.

    For what my opinions are worth I believe the WSR Plc has substantially reduced its fixed overheads over
    the last 15 months and is better placed now to survive a possible year without trains running than at any
    time over the last five years.

    Management of the fixed overhead will be key to coming out the other end. Using the time to
    rethink operating strategy , particularly related to market outlets and under the new GM
    establish a small dedicated management team will decide what happens then.

    Whilst I am sure that there are lessons to be learnt from other Heritage Railways there is a risk,
    prevalent in all specialist businesses, to fail to learn from the greater World.

    There are case studies wrt businesses that have suffered an almost instantaneous loss of
    revenue. Some have come out the other end stronger others have hit the buffers ! History
    unfortunately is the only possible guide we have to future outcomes. Basing a judgement
    on what happened on the FR highlights perhaps the limited horizons of much of the
    planning evident within our sector ( albeit an improvement on much of the vacuous
    commentary offered on both this forum and the WSR S&D )

    One thing for sure: there will have to be some very pragmatic decisions taken across
    the sector in the forthcoming twelve months or so, guaranteed to outrage many
    of the self appointed cognoscenti let alone the 'chattering classes.'

    I think its probably time for me to sign off. Michael Rowe
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2020
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  8. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Hopefully one pragmatic decision will be to reverse the costly decision to evict the S&D Trust from Washford, Costly for them, and costly for the WSR in engaging lawyers too, at a time when neither can afford it.
     
  9. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    What a sensible idea, why is it though I get the feeling it's not going to happen?
     
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  10. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Because common sense is, as ever, in short supply.
     
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  11. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    I think you miss the wider points twice over. Or I am at least unclear about what your argument here is.

    The FR is an example where by one of the protagonists has written a book about it. It's freely available and recently published. The point is the WSR is not exceptional, even if some people think it is. If those involved with the SVR, NYMR, or indeed other elements of the heritage industry have written about how they overcame difficulties then it would be enriching for everyone involved.

    There is a rich parallel literature on management cultures and practices even down to classics such as Hirschmann's 'Exit, voice, loyalty' and umpteen others that have looked at businesses in crisis. There is plenty to learn about how to do and how not to do it. The WSR is a textbook example of how not to do it. That is why it is in the mess it is in.

    The second point is that you seem to be arguing that the ends justify the means irrespective of their short, medium and long term cost. You ignore that those savings do not have to be achieved in the destructive way in which they have been achieved. And again, please explain to me how evicting the S&DRT, 169 help the line's financial bottom line?

    I'd rather be a member of the chattering classes than prostitute myself to become sycophantic management lackey. And perhaps, if those involved with the WSR didn't see those questioning management as 'self appointed cognoscenti and the 'chattering classes' things wouldn't be in the state they are.
     
  12. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    There’s wisdom in that, and all would agree that difficult decisions will need to be taken in many businesses as a result of the current pandemic.

    However, and hopefully not repeating the excellent points made by others in response, I’m concerned at the descent into a them and us siege mentality in the public pronouncements of the plc. My experience is that organisations run under that approach cannot thrive, and may well not survive.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  13. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I'm probably being a bit picky here, but it occurs to me that by referring to the actions as those of "The Plc" it seems to allow other WSR folk "off the hook" and merely entrenches the them and us attitude on the railway. It is the West Somerset Railway that has kicked the S&DRT off of their railway, unless and until the volunteers and those in senior positions in other areas of the WSR stand and and get counted to say otherwise. I've made a conscious effort to not use the terms "Plc" or "WSRA" instead of simply "WSR" unless it's really necessary. You don't see it anywhere else, so why here?
     
  14. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    You are probably referring to the drainage outfall inspection chamber, referred to locally as 'the submarine'. It been there about 100 years. Remarkably, there was another marshy field this side of the Railway and the top of the inspection chamber was only just above ground level in that field. And then during a weekend of severe storms in the 1920 when the whole field was washed away. That was when the GWR installed rock armouring along the Railway at this point. As global warming gradually increases the mean se height, the area becomes more vulnerable, especially at the exceptional spring tides every 14 years or so.

    I feel relatively safe here in Stogumber....

    Robin
     
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  15. City of truro fan

    City of truro fan Member

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    They could sell the track from the triangle to make money as it’s not used loads and there are railways that it would build there extensions with it like the gwili railway or the Helston railway. Holycomb museum had some track once that’s closed now as it’s bad so they may want some
     
  16. RailWest

    RailWest Part of the furniture

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    I understand your point, but I would have to disagree.

    IMHO it quite clearly 'the Plc' which has initiated the eviction and appears determined to pursue it to the bitter end. No other body seems to have been involved in making the decision to take that course of action.

    At the moment none of the other 'railway family' organisations appear to have taken any actions, or made any statements, to indicate whether or not they support the Plc's move. For all we know there may well be furious lobbying going on behind the scenes right now (I do hope so!). Until such times as each body makes its position clear, then I think it is unfair to tar them all with the same brush.
     
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  17. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    [​IMG]
     
  18. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Fair enough. I too have expressed the hope that behind the scenes there is furious lobbying going on. But that can just as likely and easily be happening within the ordinary volunteer ranks which I suppose you could call "within the Plc", it's all just lobbying within the railway as a whole to the chairman at the end of the day. Whether you file it under a particular acronym or not is surely not relevant?

    I appreciate it's a really tricky situation though, and I really don't envy being a trustee on the WSRA or WSSRT at the moment, I'd want to speak out against it but equally I acknowledge the further damage that would cause. Frankly, it's a bloody mess and the board of directors of the WSR should be ashamed of themselves for putting the WSR as a whole in this miserable and awkward situation, especially at a time like this. Grrr!
     
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  19. malcolm imps

    malcolm imps New Member

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    I think you may be totally wrong here ! what with HOBC trains & NR track trains turning quite often & various charters turning & our Gala trains......
    IMG_3802.JPG IMG_3816.JPG P1010353.JPG P1010347.JPG P1010363.JPG P1010397.JPG P1010409.JPG .......
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2020
  20. malcolm imps

    malcolm imps New Member

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    norton 4th jan (2).JPG
    HOBC training day with New wagon tests , with 20 NR vans & staff at least !
     

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