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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    Look forward to this vehicle finally entering traffic!
     
  2. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    Your last paragraph is only correct if persons involved with "your " railway have not in fact (a) sworn at people in public (b) issued notices to quit to long term tenants (c) described such tenants as cuckoos in the nest (d) indicated that agreed repairs to a locomotive will not be carried out. If these allegations are untrue then the sooner they are denied, the better things will be. If, sadly, they are true, then defending them is a bit unfortunate. The choice is yours.
     
  3. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    To be honest, with mods hat firmly off, my personal view is that the PR is actually a major weak spot of the railway and related.

    A lot of the press releases are reactionary rather than proactive. It can also be disjointed between the various sections of the railway, an example being WSR TV, that is proactive but then you have the apparently unconnected video from the Chairman.

    To the outside world that is not joined up thinking and working together.

    Therefore it’s not a surprise at the lack of updates over the trailer.
     
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  4. evilswans

    evilswans Member

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    Let's be honest if there was an update it probably would have been an internal one that was released then taken down with further following. But the information coming out of the railway itself is dire. I think if they came out and were simply honest with the whole situation and laid out the facts a lot wouldn't be asking them.

    Many questions have been asked in this thread and I don't think shutting it down is the answer, in fact it should stay as an example of how not to communicate with the public. Many many lessons can be learnt from all of this, a shambles some may call it. But when it comes to money will I be supporting the railway? This is usually done at galas where even though I prefer to be at the lineside I will still buy a ticket or in the event of a photocharter, I have to say no, morally the way they have acted I can't support that. This then has a knock on effect as I usually get a hotel close by, money in the shop etc. I may only be one person but I can't be the only person? I do worry if I've had my last visit to the wsr. I hope not, but I shall not be returning while the railway is under its current control.

    Matt
     
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  5. WSRA's funding of 4561's restoration is presumably providing some ongoing employment for plc engineering staff, along with (hopefully) other external contract work.
     
  6. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    I actually agree with those who say we should erase all reference to the West Somerset Railway, and that should include when they expect us to publicise their next appeal for money, you can't have it both ways, you want us to stay silent when your having your once to may internal civil wars, but then expect to be able to ask us to help you fund raise, My personal point of view is that the rest of the preservation movement is getting on with re inventing how it does things , whilst those that run the railway are more concerned with censoring voices they don't think the rest of the world should hear, exposing their failings, so yes please let's drop everything about this toxic railway, except to wish the S&DJRMT All the best, and to offer them all the help we can should they make the decision to move else where and start again, hopefully with a landlord that wants them.
     
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  7. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    I’ll add on the Nat Pres bit it’s interesting to observe we haven’t had the same complaints from other contentious issues at other railways. When Broadway was being reopened for example, there was discussion here. The railway took it onboard and changed their plans. What didn’t happen is they said “Oh look there is a debate on Nat Pres, it isn’t useful to the railway”. Quite the opposite in fact.
    Railways can use the forum to their advantage in promoting their news to a community of railway enthusiasts, we don’t charge for that. Steve Edge has done so with the WSR, if you look back to the start of the thread, you will see this in action with the building of the triangle, the turntable etc.
    What seems to of happened now is rather than engage, there are certain people who see the forum as public enemy number one, the cause of all the problems and fail to see that ultimately as enthusiasts we all want the same thing - the WSR to succeed.
     
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  8. Maunsell907

    Maunsell907 Member

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    Reference "Do you believe the actions wrt to the S&D Trust are enhancing the WSR image
    or the opposite"

    Another Moderators yes or no question ? Have you been taking lessons from Jeremy
    Paxman ? Hardly a role model for a Moderator ?

    As I have said (posted ) many times previously I deplore the use of "cuckoo in the nest". I
    thought the Plc handling of the issue was poor. I hope ongoing discussions reach an
    amicable conclusion.

    Although I have not worked ( ie received a salary) for a quarter of a century, even then
    amongst our possible planned emergency situations,, 'pandemic' was one. However
    as of Mid March 2020 reactions in China and Italy were mixed, contamination rates
    still uncertain. Total lockdown of Heritage Railways far from a given.

    However, as I have said before wrt the WSR "We are where we are "

    Please do as Anne C. B and I suggest.

    Thank you Michael Rowe
     
  9. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    "We are where we are "Up the proverbial creak without a paddle , and your board is busy, shouting, " look over there, Nothing to see here whilst everyone watching is shouting " Rapids" as you get closer to the sheer drop
     
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  10. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    I had some minor surgery at Taunton Musgrove hospital about 10 days after the guard’s meeting and I did not attend as part of self-isolation to ensure I did not miss the surgery. I was part of the last normal list as the hospital was being Covid-prepared around we last few day-surgery cases.

    I think it was pretty clear what was coming then.

    Robin
     
  11. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    @Maunsell907 so you advocate removal of the thread along with @Anne C-B

    I thought we lived in a country where we were free to openly discuss whatever is going on in the world ? Just because you do not like the content or direction does not make the discussion any less relevant

    Given that you (and others) could not see a lockdown coming until it miraculously occured, seem to wish to suppress fair discussion , control information and information channels, that reference to certain regimes in the East may not be too far fetched .....
     
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  12. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Is not part of it that certain people screwed up first by despite what they say, not doing a robust enough back ground checks on prospective board members, and they refuse to admit it?
    Everything else is down to the inability of the management of the WSR and its various organisations to take any criticism where its clear, wrong decisions are being made, to say the only game in town is to support a board that does not deserve support, but censure for its actions,
    Everyone that followed the news at the time could see what was coming, and took steps to ensure they stood a good chance of coming out in fair shape, except the WSR, of whom I would say those people in charge, clearly are out of their depth .
     
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  13. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

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    ...and we are pleased to do it Barrie. The charity collected the money for what most regard as a WSR locomotive and we will press on restoring it. If that helps to keep the railway open then it strikes me as win-win.
    I do sometimes sense a slight perception gap between the co-operative working on the ground and what is posted here. However folks are free to express their opinions. The Association will never try to shut down informed debate. However we are all busy so not always able to cover off every social media platform out there. There are at least 4 facebook pages, probably more I don't know about, and several other forums.
     
  14. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

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    I'm not given to posting a lot on this forum but I'll make one point.
    Most posters here speak as if there a rafts of qualified people out there in railway heritage land queuing up to sit as directors or trustees. That does not match my observations. While there may well be much more capable folks out there I don't see them sitting in the hot seats. I would hand over my trustee seat in a heartbeat to somebody more capable. I am more than well aware of my limitations as a director, never mind as chairman. The only thing I find myself guarding against is the advancement of those who are well meaning but less capable than even my meagre efforts. Running a charity or an operating company is not for everybody and the road to hell is very clearly paved with good intentions.
     
  15. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    i think all of us here would applaud the efforts the vounteers put in and continue to put in . most frustration and ire is directed at a relatively small cabal of individuals whose actions are causing great concern amongst the wider heritage community and also within the WSR volunteer base.
     
  16. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    Michael,

    I find it very strange that you cannot answer a simple yes/no question without having a go at the questioner and diverting attention to the cuckoo statement.

    It really is very simple, you either support the eviction or you don't.

    For the record:
    Do I support the eviction of the SDJRT - no
    Do I support the statement regarding not honouring the agreement to overhaul 53808 - no
    Do I support calling associate groups 'cuckoos in the nest' - no
    Do I support the managements withdrawal of HR policies - no
    Do I support the managements reopening position - no
    Do I support the management removing volunteers who disagree with them - no
    Do I support taking legal action against those who disagree with them - no
    Do I support the management delaying payment to the WSRA for the cafe/restorations businesses- no
    Do I support telling volunteers to FO- no
    Do I support closing social media discussion of the WSR (or any other railway) - no

    Perhaps you would be good enough to state your answers to these questions. They are not hard to answer and they really are all yes/no answers. I can't see any reason why any supporter of the WSR could not answer them publicly and the answers should be very obvious to any true supporter of heritage railways.

    The fact that you and Anne C-B are even asking for the thread to be shut down strikes me as a head in the sand attitude - give us your money but don't ask us any awkward questions.

    Keith
     
  17. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    Is West Somerset that far away from civilzation? In early March this year, toilet rolls and sanitiser where being stockpiled by shoppers world wide leaving most supermarkets and mini stores with empty shelves. Are newspapers and television unavailable there? :D
    The shape of months to come were apparent to a large part of the population in the UK it seems.
    Regarding censorship wanted by some WSR supporters, I believe that is a poor argument and not n answer. Instead of whitewashing - by removal - of unpleasant truths why not take your worries with those that can change the way things are. They cannot be that formidable?
    Nat Pres is just one of many places, it appears, that are voicing criticism of the current WSR set up. Even the Bailey report said somethings need changing. Those hard working volunteers, we read about, need to get mobilised and discuss the problems not want censorship or denials.
     
  18. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    Well said. I think that, unless you have sat as part of a panel considering applications for a senior management post, you will find it hard to appreciate just how rare people with even the slightest abilities to do the job are. Generally, anyone who is any good is already employed. Voluntary work has the undoubted advantage that your candidates might be prepared to do two jobs, but even so, there is an utter dearth of such people.
     
  19. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    Failure always seeks a scapegoat. To paraphrase a well-known poem, "It matters not whether you won or lost, but how you placed the blame."
     
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  20. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I've lost count of the number of times I have advised Boards on appointing key leadership roles. In that situation:
    - you don't appoint if the candidates don't meet the selection criteria
    - you don't appoint if your 'due diligence' check reveals a problem
    - you don't appoint if key questions are not answered satisfactorily
    - you don't appoint without satisfactory references.

    If the people out there don't have the abilities you need then there are alternatives in the short term but I don't give that kind of advice for free. :)
     
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