If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,775
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I won't answer that question except to say that, as with this government, it's currently the only show in town. So you will reap what you sow (and fail to sow). Brexit anyone? - oops, wrong thread! :)
     
    TseTT, Triumph 2500S and 35B like this.
  2. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 29, 2006
    Messages:
    3,967
    Likes Received:
    5,064
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    N.Ireland
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I'm not sure that just because some of these vehicles are 'rare' that this means that they should remain on the WSR. The WSR hasn't shown great enthusiasm for pre-BR carriages so perhaps most of these vehicles would be better off elsewhere? Do the 3 camping coaches provide enough income to cover maintenance? I think the WSR needs to be realistic - their main bread and butter passengers are tourists for which MK1 travel is acceptable and probably 'vintage' enough for the vast majority. If a 7 coach train was restored tomorrow, would the WSR be able to use it and charge enough for it to keep it in good order? That's why I think a short, more exclusive train could be a better option. Your idea of apprenticeships is a good one and I'm surprised it hasn't already been investigated/implemented (this could be done by the WSSRT).

    Keith
     
    jnc likes this.
  3. SebWelsh

    SebWelsh New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2014
    Messages:
    171
    Likes Received:
    987
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    None of BA camping coaches are owned by any member of the WSR family anymore I believe. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

    Just my personal opinion that I'd rather the rarer ones not go away or even scrapped but perhaps if they'd stand a better chance of being restored maybe it would be a good thing!
     
    jnc, ghost and flying scotsman123 like this.
  4. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,906
    Likes Received:
    3,704
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South Hams
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Shades of the 4110 sale.
     
  5. bluetrain

    bluetrain Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2019
    Messages:
    1,326
    Likes Received:
    1,460
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Wiltshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    See attached extract from the WSR PLC Annual Report & Accounts for 2008 for an overview of the rail-grinding saga.

    The WSR seems to have been "on a roll" in the mid-2000s. The rail-grinding affair was possibly the first major setback in a prolonged period of progress, followed of course by the national economic down-turn and then the onset of the era of feuding and infighting.
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2019
    Messages:
    1,173
    Likes Received:
    1,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brighton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Historically there has not been much interest by the WSR in vintage coaches. However that changed when the WSSRT launched the heritage coach appeal. A concerted effort was made to source more GWR coaches and bring them to the WSR. 6705 came from the US, another from Bodmin, another from Tintern station as well as several others. Unfortunately now comes the task of restoring them.

    Not sure about the other two, however one of the BA camping coaches is privately owned. Seemingly well looked after and does good business being rented out as a holiday home.
     
  7. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Apparently the "Trojan horse manoeuvre [WSSRT members standing for election] has been quashed": https://www.somersetcountygazette.c...ay-leaders-agree-stymie-charity-takeover-bid/

    Have they somewhat jumped the gun and read more into Mr Bailey's report than is there, or do they know something we don't?

    The comment at the bottom is interesting too. Fantasy of course, but inevitable that those kinds of comments will surface while all this continues.
     
    Triumph 2500S and Forestpines like this.
  8. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,493
    Likes Received:
    23,730
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Which bit was fantasy? Reopening as part of the national network, or using ACAS?
     
  9. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I had in mind the former, I've no idea whether ACAS would be of any use!
     
  10. goldfish

    goldfish Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2009
    Messages:
    14,900
    Likes Received:
    12,241
    I suspect ACAS would rather spend their time on more resolvable issues like Brexit or peace in the Middle East.

    Simon
     
  11. twr12

    twr12 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2007
    Messages:
    1,541
    Likes Received:
    694
    The big difference between national and preserved railway politics is that on the national level the members/ shareholders (British citizens) have a guaranteed opportunity every 5 years to vote en masse about the direction they want the country to go in.
    At preserved railways, even the most democratic, member led railways; the candidates are pretty much “more of the same”.
     
  12. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2012
    Messages:
    1,658
    Likes Received:
    3,891
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Out there somewhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The critical point in the timing would be the railway giving access to the site. You can't just say "Ok, you can have it next week for a fortnight..." Things don't work like that. Contractors have to have time to plan their workloads and get plant, materials and manpower lined up for the works. At the same time you are dealing with the finance department of a local council who's budgets may change from year to year depending on political pressure. Then they also have to liaise with Highways to get road closure licenses etc... I think the council have now accepted that they cannot justify delaying the works because of '...other budgetary requirements...' so the money should be made available (once they are told when it is needed...) Of course, each year it rolls on the contract has to be revised and prices re-negotiated due to the contractors costs for the Works increasing from the time of the initial tender bid (Tender bid prices are only valid for a limited time, delay too long & prices go up)

    As far as I can see all the initial works have been done and everyone off the railway is ready to go. What they need now is the railway to give them confirmed access to the site in, say, 4 to 6 months time. That will let the contractors do all their preparatory works and line up all he necessary bits and pieces and also give the Council notice of roughly when the bill is going to arrive so I'd say it's all up to the railway to sort out when they will allow the access.
     
  13. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2009
    Messages:
    1,923
    Likes Received:
    4,237
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Cardiff
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    What is the early termination charge on the Sherings Yard lease?
    How easy is it to accress the Williton site to bring in and take out the commercial items of work? (e.g. Mk 1 coaches)
    Where do all the staff and volunteers at Williton park?
    Are there any long terms plans for the development of Williton?
     
    Fixit likes this.
  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,775
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  15. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    If I were a betting man, I'd put money on the latter, but even that doesn't rule out the former too!

    Edit - as a matter of interest I see that this is the "Most Read" story on the Somerset Gazette Website.
     
  16. 60044

    60044 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    Messages:
    406
    Likes Received:
    785
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Salisbury
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    It looks to me as though a reporter reads this thread! I cannot see how John Bailey has any more power to intervene in this matter than I have (unless he is a WSST member, which I doubt). If the candidates have put themselves forward in the correct manner then it it down to the membership to choose, unless they withdraw voluntarily- or am I missing something?
     
  17. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    Messages:
    1,501
    Likes Received:
    2,134
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    The Potteries
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I see nothing in the article to suggest anything other than having read the shared vision statement, the reporter has concluded that two plus two equals five.

    Just because the three leaders have put their names to something doesn't mean it happens (or in this case fails to happen...) :)
     
  18. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    That is indeed what I'm minded to conclude. Thought it worthy of attention anyway. @WSSRTcandidates may wish to correct the record however they see fit... :)
     
  19. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2015
    Messages:
    1,826
    Likes Received:
    3,871
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    1. Indeed, it would be interesting to know. OTOH, the lease could be reassigned (sold).
    2. Road access looks very good, which is probably responsible for much of the cost of the site.
    3. Very expensive car parking! I am not sure where the northern boundary of Sherrings Yard runs, but finding parking for ten or so cars on WSR land can't be an insuperable problem.
    4. Any long term plans for Williton would be well advised not to include quite such an expensive piece of land.
     
    Triumph 2500S likes this.
  20. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2012
    Messages:
    1,658
    Likes Received:
    3,891
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Out there somewhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I'm afraid the three signatories to that document now appear to me to be three who are dead set against any change on the WSR
     
    tom-bex, ross, Chufferpuff and 2 others like this.

Share This Page