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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    5526 ran on Sunday, I saw some photos on facebook.

    You could always ring the railway to double check but I'm sure she will run Thursday.
     
  2. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Fully agree in my own work life my career stalled when my GM's star "fell" for a reason I cannot even remember now, but my association with his organisation meant his replacement, whilst not able to fire me, ensured that I never received any more promotions.
     
  3. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    I think you've been a bit harsh with lack of 'WSR fleet depth'.

    In all fairness to the railway they've in the last 8 months returned to service 2 PLC owned locomotives (9351 & 7828). 53808 is basically a PLC loco - as I understand it they have full control over it for x amount of years?
    The WSRA have shares in 4160 and 5542.
    The WSRA own 4561 and 7821.
    Good links with engine owning groups such as Foxcote, Dinmore, and Erlestoke Manor's, also the likes of Jeremy Hoskins' and Pete Waterman's locos have spent time on the railway in recent years (such as 6960 'currently' and 5553).
    A high WSR figure has just bought 9466, and also owns 4936 and 7029 (7029 is to be based at the railway upon completion and 4936 often has time on the railway).
    The plc also tried with to make long term plans with 44422 and 4110.
    Then there's the plan to base 6695 on the railway upon completion of overhaul.

    Definitely worse situations to be in!

    Even Dartmouth have had issues over the last x amount of years hiring in locos such as 4936, 7820, 7752, 6023 and two (soon to be three) S160s.. that's why they've bought 4110.
     
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  4. Hell would freeze over before 4160 ever came back.
     
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  5. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    For "7029" read 7027.
    Ray.
     
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  6. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    That's how it was, but I can't see the Waterman engines returning for quite some time yet, or the WSRA's Manor, so where is the pipeline? The Dinmore Manor group have left, 44422 and 6695 are probably going, 5542 is a rare visitor these days, 4110 has gone and there is no certainty that 4160 will return. Lines like the Bluebell, SVR and NYMR are overhauling one or more locos a year. I don't reckon 4561 will be finished for probably another 3 years, and being dependent on hired locos is risky when so many other railways are chasing after them as well.

    As for the Chairman's engines, there is considerable scope for conflict of interest and the potential to tear the WSR apart even more than it appears to be to outsiders - think Mid Hants upheavals.
     
  7. Forestpines

    Forestpines Well-Known Member

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    I'm not sure it is advisable or necessary even for that sort of information to be shared with the shareholders, particularly if there is any sort of ongoing dispute. A general meeting can hardly be kept confidential, after all. Sharing any information about any personnel dispute, especially ongoing, is unfair to all involved.
     
  8. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Fair comment, but there are certain jobs where a degree of information sharing may be unavoidable because of the importance of the role.
     
  9. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    Okay, on the flip side NYMR overhauled 75029 and it only ran for a few years and then needed overhauling again (similar to 7828 really).

    The point I was trying to make was the railway has relied on hired in locos for many years so far... 80136 for example, so no reason to think that won't work in the future. GWSR are in a similar situation. I think there are very few railways who actually can run only their home fleet constantly. Even SVR with their 20 odd locos were hiring in for Christmas and Summer for a number of years.

    In fact, now if anything more locos are up for hire than anytime before.
     
  10. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Well most of the principal Welsh narrow gauge lines are in this position as is the IOWSR (currently with five in certificate) and it is the greatest of pities there are not more.
     
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  11. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    That's part of our business model though and we have long term agreements and make sure we have excellent relationships with owning groups, many of whom are working members of the railway anyway. We make it our business to ensure that locomotive owners want to be based at Toddington. A rather different situation than having to hire a different locomotive each year. We haven't had to do the latter for a long time - yes we've got the King for the summer, but that's only compensating for Dinmore Manor being on another railway for a little while by mutual agreement.
     
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  12. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    It's important to remember that home-based engines can still be hired engines - several on the NYMR are, but they are normally on contracts that guarantee a certain level of annual mileage. There's nothing wrong with relying heavily on hired engines, whether home-based or not, the important thing being continuity of supply which is harder to achieve with locos that are not home based. If a railway doesn't have a big enough home-based fleet it could encounter problems if a shortage of external hire engines develops. Steam engines are our principle stock-in-trade, it makes sense to be in as much control of our destiny as possible.
     
  13. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    Nothing so extreme. It just requires the special 4160 Ltd ‘Association’ shares to be returned to the WSR Association from those who improperly obtained them. The Association are quietly working away at that, just not in the public eye for now.

    Robin
     
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  14. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    Which is why the (ultimately successful) action to bring the WSRA back under sensible governance was achieved by an action to remove the Trustees, and was NOT aimed at the employed manager.

    Robin
     
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  15. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    D6566 has just arrived at Bishops Lydeard after hauling a special train that included two vintage vehicles for display at this weekend's Steam Rally. They really do look good. <BJ>
     
  16. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    Coaches or locos?
     
  17. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    Any news on 3850? I’d like to see that on the line again.
     
  18. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Its overhaul continues at Toddington, the boiler off 3845 is at Tylesley being worked on intended for use on 3850. Last I heard fitting of the brand new cylinder block (replacing the badly cracked old one) was imminent, it may have already happened, I've been away for a while!
     
  19. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    That would be this selection, delivered by Prole, Troake and White, this afternoon, ‘shunts for the gentry’...

    Loads of great things to see and do at the Rally.

    Robin

    927DAD54-0EF0-4B85-9FED-2AD18FA12958.jpeg
     
  20. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

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    Well done for getting this done without too much impact on the timetable today
     
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