West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Ah - another one who hasn't already made their morning visit to wsr.org.uk

When other lines have open and transparent online newsletters that anyone can access, the WSR has these and it has wsr.org.uk so there's no excuses, folks! Unless of course it helps people's arguments by doing a Nelson

Steve

 

Spare me the paranoia. You've missed the point, The issue is transparency of information and attitudes towards spreading information not the method of delivery.

 

Andy, I'm not going to reply in detail (phew) or by private messaging. You and I got on well when you were working on the WSR and I was so very grateful you listened to my view of such events elsewhere and ensured the WSR 1940s event presented the weekend as "wartime in Somerset" which avoided the skirmishes and mock enemy takeovers. We disagreed over the "troubles" you had with the Plc board but I've always reckoned we've remained chums. Anyway, my earlier posts deliberately did not go into detail - I am after all not an official Plc spokesman. And I wish you well in your present "railway" roles.

Steve
wsr.org.uk

 

but it's not the website that needs an overhaul, it's the processes behind it.

Websites are made of two parts; the content created by creatives (text, images etc) & the framework & hosting maintained by the tech people.

A group of volunteers could have very easily gone through the 'static' pages, rewritten & updated the text, & then had the Plc staff upload the new content.

 

And modern content management means that the dependency on "tech people" is less than it used to be.

 

Actually both need an overhaul, in my humble experience, but neither will happen until the Plc decides and spends. Until then we have to accept the present arrangements and the same presentations. Not ideal but that's how it is. Saying do this and do that is one thing - and might well be right - but we are not the guys running the Plc.

Steve
wsr.org.uk

 

Absolutely - but it still requires people to update it. WSRTV is another example of something that could be said by others to be easily and regularly updated but it seems the WSRTV team has lost interest, but let's hope WSRTV will be buzzing again soon.

Steve
wsr.org.uk

 

You can also set up things to make the supply of content as easy as pie as well. No more needing to email things through, etc. Dead easy, probably something that would take about an hour to set up and then some road testing by the main users.

 

I absolutely agree - there has to be a proper pulse of content, which is where wsr.org.uk is an example to others.

I hesitate to comment on WSRTV's quietness, but will observe that arms length initiatives need to be given freedom to succeed.

 

Hopefully so, but to this outsider, it appears that one of the leading lights behind it has, to at least some extent, tranferred their loyalties to other lines.

 

If they're such an "independent commercial company", then they won't require any funding from charitable orgs or public grants, will they?
They'll be able to pay a market rent on the properties leased from the council?

Preaching to the choir
But the choir aren't capable of providing all the funding required by the railway, are they...

So they need to get out & evangelise, 'spread the good word', to others that aren't on HOPS, don't subscribe to any of the newsletters etc.

It is YOUR choice to see it that way.

There have been lots of very good suggestions, often with examples, of things that could help the WSR.

The WSR needs more money than it has available. That isn't a bash, it's a basic fact.

Suggestions like splitting the dining services into more sellable chunks isn't a bash.
Suggestions as to how to maximise Gift Aid isn't a bash. Would be adding 10-20% to the appeal, or is that money not needed?


I fully understand that everyone gets defensive about those things they are involved with, but it can go too far to the point where everything is seen as a bash/attack when it isn't.

Good organisations use the kaizen approach, & actively look for issues to fix, & fix them quickly.

If someone from outside raises an issue, then you acknowledge it & thank them, analyse whether it's a real issue, then fix it if it is.
(Software firms often have bug bounty programmes)

 

Perhaps Mr Taylor is a fan of the WSR and was, sadly, unsuccessfully trying to engineer a mention in the article.

 

There's been an update to the appeal figure, without the utilities savings, it now stands at £46664, an increase of £5315 since the last update on 28 September.

At this rate, it's going to take over 4 years to raise £0.5m
Also, the two independent investigations had cost £24,750 by the end of March, so that's half the appeal moneys gone.

 

It may not be cheap to remove troublemakers from the railway, but it's worth every penny, believe you me. Now if only we could do something about that damned forum and its nest of subversives....

 

I'd be quite happy to shut up if I was given £24,750, if it's any help, cut out the middle-men...

 

Don't forget to share it round all us other Subversive's Alex, might be just enough left over to treat yourself to an Fish and chip supper.

 

Well you can't exactly fail them for lack of trying, Personally speaking, i think it shows abject failure on behalf of the Chair of the PLC that they remove troublemakers rather than listen to their concerns, and act on them, try to find compromise, but clearly I guess he thinks he knows best, despite the fact that those who have now walked away, have probably given more years service to the WSR, than he has been alive for.

 

Nope - you are the one missing the point. The latest update was available internally and externally before the complaint appeared here on Nat Pres. That was the "issue". I hope you take my earlier advice.

Steve
wsr.org.uk

 

Ian,

I want the WSR to thrive, but especially after the Llangollen Railway had to call in the Receivers the idea of the WSR or another large heritage railway going under is no longer a theoretical risk but a real one.

BUT pre COVID the railway clearly wasnt making enough, either through fund raising or the fare box to cover the essential maintenance.

That doesnt seem to have changed.

While it wont solve many of the issues that bedevil the railway, the structure proposed by @Lineisclear - which is broadly similar to that adopted by most other major preserved railways would increase the value of donations by 20% via Gift Aid. It would also provide a level of accountability which in practice does not exist for the PLC.

So, how and why do you think the WSR will thrive and be able to afford to maintain the essential infrastructure?

Secondly do you think the eviction of the S&DRT from Washford

1. Will help the WSR to survive, or
2. Will neither help not hinder the WSR, or
3. Has seriously damaged the standing of the WSR & adversely affected its ability to raise funds

Reasons would help

John