West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I’m curious as to what the right way would be in your judgment.


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Given his age, his resignation or retirement is in many ways not a surprise.

Sadly however given the situation on the WSR it will inevitably give rise to much speculation.

However that old saying about paranoia springs to mind

 

And the right way is what?

You want the discussions to help the railway, I am not sure how stopping discussion is the way forward? Or do you want only certain types of views expressed and those that you decide don't fit with your definition of 'helping the railway' to be banned?

Seems to me that what you actually want is posts that only align with your views.

 

Too much scrumpy.

 

The last sentence in paragraph 3 is rather clear to me.

 

I am sure we all wish that was all it was

 

Over and over, I am reminded of events elsewhere a couple of years ago:
One team had the disappointment of their new-build pacific dropping its valve gear at high speed.
Another team had the disappointment of their brand new new-build Baldwin damaging track.

Team 1 put out a steady, cautious trickle of information, accepting responsibility and not seeking to blame anybody.
Team 2 went very quiet and attempted to suppress all discussion, speculation and comment.

Previously, Team 2 could do no wrong in my eyes. That particular episode left rather a bad taste, and my support, whilst it continues, is not quite the same.

 

The WSR seemed in the past to find enough people to serve as directors, but it may be that as the older ones retired, fewer came forward to replace them. In the specific case of the WSR, I also wonder whether some potential candidates are deterred by the toxic atmosphere that now seems to envelop the railway.

It is obviously a demanding job to be a director or trustee, particularly of an organization that has got into major difficulty. I think that the WSR is crying out for leadership that, not only has the business and management skills normally required, but also exceptional skills in the areas of diplomacy, negotiation and mediation, able to soothe conflicts and reconcile warring factions. A tall order.

 

Sadly, the railway has not exactly helped itself. Most places in a similar pickle would endeavour to. It would not be too late to try.

 

Hasn't the Railway done itself enough harm?. This is an open forum for discussion of all-things, in this case all things related to the WSR.

Just because the wider enthusiast public can see the harm that the WSR is doing to itself (and others), that should not justify some who don't like to see these things discussed in a manner that's seen by them as being negative to the WSR, wanting to have the option to discuss those things withdrawn.
This is a country where freedom of speech is allowed. Perhaps the WSR (and those trying to pull the wool over people's eyes) should look inwards to themselves first, and accept that they're themselves to blame.

 

If this refers to yesterday’s “press release”, which appeared and disappeared in short order, could someone post either the text or a screenshot for those of us not able to see it in time.


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These days I'm from Wiltshire though Alex, so not sure if the prohibition was specifically aimed at me! Does seem though that there is a clamour in certain quarters to re-implement the old "200 mile rule", but recast as a ten mile rule ...

More generally about re-opening: I can't see how the current strategy of eking out what financial reserves exist while generating zero revenue ends in any way other than disaster once the money runs out. There are significant costs in running a railway which are incurred whether you run trains or not, and that will be doubly so when the furlough scheme winds up in the next couple of months and you start having to cover your staff costs. (For August, the employer has to start covering pension and NI costs for employees on furlough even though they cannot do any productive work for the employer while furloughed; in September the employer in addition has to cover at least 10% of the salary bill as well; in October it will be a minimum of 20% of the salary plus the full pension and national insurance costs).

Those railways that have chosen to open have undoubtedly taken a risk in so doing, but those with high staff overheads and no significant other sources of income seem to be betting on a near certainty that at some point, without income the cash will run out. You just have to hope that that moment doesn't come before next March.

Tom

 

Tom has hit the nail on the head, even when closed, and not operating, it still costs money to run a preserved railway, and, if your not getting money in, through donations, , through revenue, then that money will run out, Now, I'm unsure as to what the plan is with the WSR, If indeed there is a plan, to ensure they can survive until March 2021..
Andy Norman did at the start post some very disturbing information, that had been past to him, indicating a plan to in effect buy out the company by a very small group of people , if it went into receivership, that I'm afraid is becoming a more likily scenario , either by design, or by the ineptness of the management. and it all comes back to how did one of the people who floated this plan get to become a board member, then chairman?

 

I think Bob Meanley's departure is the least of the WSR's concerns. For many years now, pre-dating his arrival by some time, they have had a relatively small operating fleet with a high level of reliability, suggesting that the MPD at least has been well up to speed. What they desperately need is a good marketing manager and a chairman strong-willed and diplomatic enough to steer them through the corporate reorganisation that they so desperately need to tie the various factions together and get them working as a team.​

 

Perhaps one of the problems with recruitment of directors is that there are a lot more posts to fill on the WSR because of its setup. If the supporters groups were rationalised perhaps there would be enough people to go around....

Keith

 

I have heard similar