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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    You must be restricting your news items, because I have seen at least four announcements about Bob Meanley and his achievements.
     
  2. ikcdab

    ikcdab Member Friend

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    Fantastic, can't wait. Brilliant work, well done, you should be very pleased!
     
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  3. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    Oh, give it a rest, will you? The never ending pretence amongst some posters that criticism of the ever-changing board of directors is criticism of the sterling efforts of the volunteers on the "shop floor" is pathetic and fools nobody except those that want to be fooled. That the WSR is making progress despite the wrong decisions of the past merely shows how much better it could be if those decisions had been made correctly. "Now we've got rid of those pesky critics, everything is going swimmingly" usually translates as " We've no idea if we've cocked up, because no-one's prepared to tell us if we have".
     
  4. FrankC

    FrankC Member

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    I have kept out of this so far. Those that think we are trying to keep this secret are, I am afraid, misguided. A very positive statement about Bob Meanley's achievements and contribution has been issued to all the key railway press. The Board are all very sorry that our friend Bob Meanley is not able to continue his work with us, but nothing goes on for ever and we fully understand Bob's reasons. We are now actively (and openly) seeking a director of mechanical engineering. In the meantime we can continue to call on Bob's expertise as necessary.

    Frank Courtney
     
  5. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    We are all entitled to our opinion. For too long progress has been in spite of the Directors. Time will tell. Glad you have that opportunity.

    Robin
     
  6. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    What a crappy comment. Are you going to make everything the WSR do to do with the 7F? Go to MHR and pay £40 to see it double head if you want.
     
  7. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Well the S&D trust did suffer from ‘crappy’ treatment.
    Unfortunately the wind has been sown, and I’m afraid the WSR will continue to reap the whirlwind for some time to come on that one.
     
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  8. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    I wholeheartedly agree. Could the press release be added to the PLC web site news section ?

    You mentioned some time ago that a use had been found for Washford yard and that it was commercially sensitive so could not be divulged. Is the information still embargoed ?
     
  9. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    It's strange that you mention pricing. I recently visited Minehead and discovered that a Rover ticket for the day was £30. First train 12:20.

    I'll be visiting the Mid-Hants in a few weeks time and so checked the price of a Freedom of the Line ticket. It cost just £20. Ride all day, over the Alps, numerous services ....and hopefully with an S&D 7F.

    Happy days :)
     
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  10. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    It was the board that was misguiding them, by allowing the news to come out in the way that made it look like it was a leak. Now, once again, the press release looks like a reaction to bad PR.
     
  11. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    Context is everything. The poster was on about gala guest 75069 not being able to double head with a 7F.

    Yes the WSR is £30 on a normal day and the 50% shorter MHR £20, but on nearly all normal days you will never see double headed services. You'd need to go on a gala day, which the MHR command £40 to be a part of, compared to the WSR's £35 an increase of 16%, £5, not 100% at £20.

    You've also quoted a low season first departure of the day from the less busier end. WSR operating days tend to be longer and finish later than MHR. In fact, the latest on a normal day you can finish your day at Alton is 16:18.
     
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  12. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    It’s interesting having just looked that WSR family tickets on a normal day cost 50% more than the Mid Hants if booked in advance.
     
  13. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    Some of you may wish to sit down .......

    Wearing my moderators hat (are you sitting ?) I think that there are some fairly cheap shots being taken by a minority of protagonists that do not help the argument on here .

    please don't get me wrong (mods hat off) but those in charge of the WSR who have perpetrated the travesties they have should be held to account but (mods hat back on) inflaming for the sake of it does nothing to the argument
     
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  14. ikcdab

    ikcdab Member Friend

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    all such comparisons are shallow and iniquitous and do nothing to move the argument along - just what are you trying to demonstrate? Every heritgae railway is so different to any other that no comparison makes any sense at all.
    I could go on the Ffestiniog and pay £84 for a family ticket - and the locos are much smaller than the WSR and the rails are only half as far apart.
    Ian C
     
  15. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Well you could visit the FR if you want Ian it’s a great railway, also very witty with the small engine/rails comment, perhaps I should ask for a 50% discount!!!

    However, in the real world the cost of living is going up, for someone who has a young family myself (something I would consider a prime target market for the WSR), I find it interesting being roughly the same distance from both. More locally for comparison, GWSR is £60 for a family ticket & the SVR £65.
    If I want the seaside, for me time and distance wise - there’s DSR £60 and Swanage £47.

    It’s perhaps telling from your response that there is sometimes a blindness to the WSR target market. Of course not every family lives in my location but there will be many who can make their own similar comparisons, remembering that they won’t just be considering other railways, also other tourist attractions. Certainly in my case it makes me consider the pros and cons of my options, including cost.

    The other point of interest is given the different fortunes of the two railways, it will be interesting to see where they are in 12 months time. Personally, given the MHR financial performance vs WSR I would be asking what they have been doing differently, as on the face of it, they have been more profitable. Maybe there’s something to learn there, maybe not we will see which also makes it interesting.
     
  16. 007

    007 Member

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    I’m pretty sure it was not long off being ex works when it arrived at Swanage…
     
  17. ikcdab

    ikcdab Member Friend

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    I feel your pain. Although I no longer have a young family, last summer we visited North Wales as a group of three. We travelled on most of the NG lines and my bank balance still hasn't recovered. I am amazed that anyone with a young family can contemplate it.
    And it isn't just railways....longleat is £37 for an adult and you have to drive yourself around too.
    What this cycles right back to is the length of the WSR and the extra running costs that entails and the resulting pound-per-mile costs of the different lines. Whilst I have cracked open the lid of that particular old chestnut, I am not proposing that we yet again debate it.
    Ian
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2022
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  18. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    Who knows, the plans for a petting zoo at Washford may come to the fore again ;)
     
  19. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    That's a pity really for IMHO it needs serious discussion if personalities and general indignation can be avoided.
     
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  20. Colin Allcars

    Colin Allcars Member

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    Perhaps all of us can occasionally try Martin's magic hat of reason and produce a forum high on useful discussion of facts and low on speculation, egos and insults.
     
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