West Somerset Railway General Discussion

It's also worth noting that several members of the recently departed Llangollen management (including the previous general manger/Trust chair/PLC chair) are a major part of the management structure of the 5199 group. So definitely not as simple as not getting paid steaming fees or not enough work to earn the required amount of money. It probably doesn't sadden a couple of them that this only leaves Llangollen with 3802 and smaller tank engines for the time being.

 

Well, just 3802 that’ll be suitable for running to corwen. Taking the engine to Somerset for 35 steaming when they’d have been guaranteed half the years running days at Llangollen. Wise move I think not! As said above many of the directors of 5199 were previously directors of Llan trust and PLC up until September.

 

The statement refers to a minimum 35 days steaming. To justify the costs of transportation I’m sure the loco will do more days than that.

 

I read that as contracted to 35 days, anything else will be a bonus.

 

So am I. When heritage railways are on a downer (and they all have them) there are those that will jump on every opportunity to do them down, especially if they have an axe to grind. I can remember when getting payment out of the GCR was like getting blood out of a stone; payment 6 months from date of invoice was their norm and they had all sorts of problems but that was before Nat Pres and little was heard. Now everything is rosy with them and people won't hear of anything bad. Not long ago, the LlR was everyone's favourite and could do no wrong. I'm sure that it will be again.

 

But it isn't my railway right or wrong.

Rogue actors should always be called out and held to account. One rogue actor does far more damage to the rest of the industry than the people calling them out. Just as the idiot who goes down the ramp or who does think that trespass rules apply to them damages the reputation of photographers and enthusiasts, so one or two badly run railways will damage the reputation of railways with safety organisations, funders, banks, councils etc etc.

Just because it is a recession doesn't mean you wouldn't call out a cowboy builder who does shoddy work, just because it is covid doesn't mean you wouldn't call out a dodgy bus company that plays fast and loose with safety.

Bad actors won't change without pressure, whether that comes from the public voting with their feet and wallets, banks or regulators.

As for 5199. The internal politics and economics of one railway causes a loco crisis, and because of the politics and economics of line, a loco is available. Do you want us to applaud them while they do a lap of honour because the PLC have found a partial solution to a problem of their own making?

When will 5199 be running into Minehead?

 

*ring ring*

It's the kettle. He says to stop calling him black.

 

31st December 2020.

 

80080 is also in the market. That's just two I know of. Railway's won't plan on using a full fleet next year.

 

with fare paying passengers?

 

Not sure about that. Running at reduced loadings does not necessarily equate to running reduced loco mileages. (In fact in our case, I suspect we will end up running a bigger than normal mileage over the winter, partly because of extending running in January when normally we would be shut for maintenance; partly because of running evening SteamLights as well as daytime Santas, so the daily duty for one loco gets extended).

The point is, each railway will have to make its own decisions, but you might see some funny service patterns. Even if overall annual mileage is down next year, if you have the locos you may still choose to use all of them with lower average annual mileages, potentially prolonging their life before needing mechanical attention.

Tom

 

Napoleon liked his generals to be lucky and you have to admit that the "generals" in charge of the WSR Plc have had more than their fair share of luck. After they stirred up a sh*tstorm by kicking out the S&DRT and by various other unpopular activities, everyone was distracted by the advent of a killer disease from China. This disease meant that the railway couldn't open in the spring, neatly hiding the fact that the p-way works weren't finished and a major level crossing was no longer fit for purpose. The resulting economic recession in the heritage railway industry meant that people were less inclined to give the "generals" a hard time about anything, as everyone was having to run just to stay still. However, it looked like the crows had come home to roost when the COVID appeal garnered a much smaller sum than equivalent railways had managed to raise, but then the DCMS stepped in with an £800K grant. Finally, for a while, it appeared that there might be a motive power shortage after the departure of the last of a number of "locos ideally suited to the line", but once again, trouble at another line results in a suitable loco coming available. I wonder if they play the lottery?

 

This year, I believe there has been a stronger response to C19 in Wales than has been required in Somerset. IF thepattern repeats in 2021, and I hope to heaven it doesn't, but if it does, Somerset might see more running days than Denbighshire

 

What do you mean by a ‘full fleet’?

 

Lower annual mileage does not pay for overhauls... see 5199 in 2020.

 

Nor does steaming an engine when there is no train to pull.

You can only pull the traffic that is on offer. My contention is that for many lines, there may still actually be plenty of steaming days next year, just with lower loadings. But for those where that isn't true, spreading the available traffic over the whole fleet with fewer days each makes more sense than concentrating it on some locos and mothballing others. It certainly gives the railway a more resilient fleet.

Tom

 

But it also reduces wear and tear for the next one...

 

They have just had a rest for the majority of this year?

6435 is out on loan, 4612 too. Seems like Bodmin wanna earn some cash. Many railways/owning groups will be in the same situation.