West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I've seen reference to this before. Why have management and the others left, weren't their wages covered by the Government subsidies ?

 

Paying £5 to watch a loco on turntable that non payers can watch from fence

 

I suggest that they had an inside view of what was going on and skills that were in demand elsewhere

 

Yes, it gives a delicious feeling of power. Those who enjoy that feeling are seldom the best people to have such power!

 

Let's not be to hasty to criticise a very useful contributor to the forum.

The last thing we want is for another WSR volunteer / contact to refrain from posting. <BJ>

 

A good and clear assessment by Al of his interesting WSR web site visit. The only thing that seems to be missing is the button above.
It does suggest that the underlying problem with the WSR is that it is regarded as 'our railway' by a great many people connected with the line rather a railway for the paying public.

 

After reading this I went to get dressed.

I took my wallet to put it into my trousers, in it was my family WSR Annual Pass, expiring on the 7th of August.

I took it out and placed it in a safe place just in case but I suspect I have travelled on the line for the last time.

I could imagine buying a Swanage Season Ticket even if only as a donation as I have no doubt that it and most other lines will be running next year, however I cant see the point of buying a WSR Annual Pass as I cant see it running next year.

 

Interesting that there is some work going on this weekend. Last Monday on WSR.ORG there was an article about a group that had been tidying up the track. They were looking for more volunteers, with more work taking place this weekend. As someone who hates seeing weeds growing on the trackbed I decided I would volunteer. I thought if I could help tidy the line, especially around the stations, it would help give a better image to any passing public. So I used the provided e-mail to offer my services. The WSR is after all my favourite line within a reasonable distance from home.

I have had no reply, so it looks like I will be pulling weeds from my garden today. This is the third time this year I have tried to communicate with the WSR (plc) with no reply. The first two times were before the virus, on two different subjects and to two different e-mail addresses, both of which would have resulted in me spending money with the plc.

I have tried to support the WSR during the shutdown and the hugely damaging internal issues but am becoming more and more frustrated and disillusioned with the railway. I normally spend hundreds of pounds at the WSR each year but, sadly, I may start to look elsewhere.

 

Or maybe, not so much "Our Railway" but "My Railway"

 

The competence of those responsible for the "running" of this railway looks to be questionable. However they may be very competent in engineering the result that they want out of this situation. Have any of their actions increased the support for the railway? Certainly not amongst the enthusiast community. The support organisations continue much as before with the guts hating pointed out by PH continuing unabated, however the petition and the way it is seen by the PLC sent a most definite message and not one to unify any feelings of support. The S & D Trust will never trust the PLC again after the actions taken against it. As to garnering support from the general public they want money on the one hand but appear to have little care or concern about who they upset or antagonise. The inability to effectively communicate with the public even at basic website level could be deliberate or it might be down to incompetence, so might their dealing with the easing on Covid-19 restrictions, particularly when viewed in the light of the actions of other lines, be down to either cause. But if there is a great deal of deliberate in all this, what are the objectives? What is the end game?

 

You won't be on your own in looking elsewhere. Loyalty has limits.

 

Probably have more of a response on Facebook, a couple of volunteers were organising a weeding party for Minehead and asking for help. Then again, it's a West Somerset Railway Friends group and you need to 'join' the page/group to be able to see and respond to anything on there ....

 

Because re-opening the railway is important, but not half as important as stamping out dissent in the ranks?

 

Both are important, but what the general public (ie. possible customers) want and need to see is not the same as what members, staff, and supporters want and need to see. It is not that difficult to separate the two...

Steve B

 

Ah, this was the post that I was thinking of

 

I noticed some activity happening this morning on the Blue Anchor Station webcam (weed killing/removal I presume?)

Not sure of numbers, but maybe 6-7 staf/volunteers there at a guess.

Ben

 

That reminds me of the late Gen Charles de Gaulle.
It was suggested that when he was President of France and watched national French television, if he found the programme to his liking it was 'his' television'. When he did not approve of the programme it was 'their' television.

 

I cannot see how I can send you a PM as I am not that familiar with this forum. However if you are able to send me your contact details I will endeavour to pass them on to the volunteers who are arranging the weeding teams.
Rgds
Stephen