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. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2015
    Messages:
    9,186
    Likes Received:
    7,226
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Thorn in my managers side
    Location:
    72
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The exterior condition of the coaches was one of the things that put my non enthusiast wife off.

    It is clearly inexcusable that the carriage exteriors were not cleaned at the start of the season.

    While its not quite comparing 'like with like' the Ffestiniog/WHR practice of cleaning trains during the layover at Porthmadog is clearly best practice
     
    Paul Kibbey likes this.
  2. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    I recall a Tripadvisor posting from someone who, hitherto, had been underwhelmed by "heritage" railways. Hence her pleasure at encountering one where as much attention seemed to be given to the insides of the carriages as the outside of the locomotive.
     
    michaelh likes this.
  3. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2015
    Messages:
    9,186
    Likes Received:
    7,226
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Thorn in my managers side
    Location:
    72
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Paul, was that on the WSR?
     
  4. 6960 Raveningham Hall

    6960 Raveningham Hall Member Friend

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2016
    Messages:
    713
    Likes Received:
    1,033
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired.
    Location:
    Near St. Austell, Cornwall.
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I was very impressed yesterday when I arrived at Minehead at 1600, and before the train set off to return to BL at 1630 a staff member was washing down the carriage windows.
     
  5. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Neither of the lines was the WSR.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 13, 2019
  6. huochemi

    huochemi Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 6, 2008
    Messages:
    2,751
    Likes Received:
    1,393
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    UK
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    But yield management (as I assume Tom was referring to) (to digress and going back about 30 years, American Airlines investment in Amadeus(?), its yield management software, which it could license to third parties, was more valuable than the airline) is surely all about the flexibility to tap into different markets, i.e. not all one thing or the other. So cheaper tickets available with limitations as to train / journey, and full fare tickets for those who appreciate and are prepared to pay for the flexibility. The Ffestiniog offers an early bird ticket but the price differential is marginal, which one would have thought would limit its appeal, but that is where management's knowledge of what works is key. Presumably if the Swanage-Wareham service ever gets off the ground, that will be an example of lower pricing but restriction on train choice? (I have no idea what is being proposed, but presumably they will be nervous about cannibalising "normal" revenue.)

    Re the comment upthread about the WHR's limited frequency service working well, I am not sure they have a choice with limited motive power, coaching stock, and the length of run, bearing also in mind they probably do not want to encourage competition with the FR for shorter round trips. (one wonders how serious was the eight train per day timetable submitted to the public enquiry, but they were presumably relying on the likelihood that the opposition was not going to be in a position to challenge it - p78 of Gordon Rushton's book).;)
     
  7. 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
    It does seem in many instances that as long as the locomotive is well tuned out passengers will fail to notice the cleanliness, or otherwise, of the interior and exteriors of the carriages. I guess the clean locomotive aspect is a result of its crew taking an interest. It is curious that the WSR was closed for almost three months but, apparently, time and labour - presumably voluntary - was not allocated to spruce up the carriages.
     
  8. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    But they do notice and remark on clean interiors in decent order.
     
  9. Bean-counter

    Bean-counter Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2007
    Messages:
    5,844
    Likes Received:
    7,688
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Former NP Member
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Don't disagree that 'yield management' by offering discounted but restricted tickets can appear attractive - the problem is ensuring that both directions of the journey are 'against' the flow - a cheap 'afternoon only return' means the holders are trying to get back on the same trains as those who went out in the morning for the whole day - and these full-price ticket holders may be trying to join at intermediate stations!

    The idea of pre-booking all seats appears to remove much flexibility in terms of what the 'offer' is regardless of pricing. From a purely financial point of view, I am sure that it seems appealing to run fewer trains but with every seat pre-sold for a straight round trip - but if you try pre-booking but don't follow that simple model (booking straight round-trips), it gets very complex very quickly! Or perhaps I am missing something!

    If that is the sort of way things are going, then I would suggest it may be simpler, more profitable etc. but is it what volunteers, members and wider supporters would be interested in, at least in the same numbers? I would suggest that what you get would be very different from what the larger lines are now - easier to manage perhaps, but losing the character that the lines have built up perhaps?

    Steven
     
    michaelh and jnc like this.
  10. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,493
    Likes Received:
    23,731
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Don't notice, or regard poor cleaning as part of the "authentic" experience? My experience, like others, is that cleanliness is noted positively, and grime brought out in evidence for why something else is a better day out.
     
  11. 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
    It is said that people do not complain often to railway staff. Maybe they don't want to offend them. Brits have, historically, tended to accept and not complain - but that is changing as far as I can see, especially since social media makes a far easier way to complain.
    In the early 1980's I was responsible for maintenance at a large, privately owned (not Butlins or Pontins) holiday centre. The sole owner (loadsa money!) always walked around dressed like a gardener or workman. His reason was the visitors would tell him what they truthfully felt about the place, whereas looking like the the 'boss' or 'owner' they were much less forthcoming.
     
  12. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2015
    Messages:
    9,186
    Likes Received:
    7,226
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Thorn in my managers side
    Location:
    72
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    OK, if Peaks & MK1's came back to The West Country, then I think I would have dies & gone to heaven, BUT would I want the late 70's/early 80's dirt? My wife certainly would not want it neither would the 'Non Enthusiast' community.

    Its interesting that in the late 80's/early 90's it wasnt until the Chief's wife refused to come on long trips on the Waverley that the situation with the toilets was addressed, I suggest that most lines might like to draw the WI or similar in to inspect & report on what they find
     
  13. huochemi

    huochemi Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 6, 2008
    Messages:
    2,751
    Likes Received:
    1,393
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    UK
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    All good points although I suspect "losing the character of the line" has rather universal applicability to most steps to save the WSR from insolvency that one does not happen to agree with!
     
  14. Bean-counter

    Bean-counter Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2007
    Messages:
    5,844
    Likes Received:
    7,688
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Former NP Member
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Indeed! However, what is more important than what you or I feel about any changes is how they may, or of course, may not, affect volunteers' willingness to volunteer. Short term, I am sure much will be accepted as 'necessary medicine' but the longer term effect may be different.

    For most lines, members, donors and a very wide range of other funders and supporters are another vital audiences who could be alienated but that probably isn't an issue for the West Somerset as they don't seem to have, or be interested in, large scale external fundraising and the shareholders have already parted with their cash so don't need keeping sweet the same as a membership paying annual fees..........

    (And yes, I know I am being controversial!!!)

    Steven
     
  15. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2007
    Messages:
    3,619
    Likes Received:
    1,636
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired SPM
    Location:
    Close to Spike Island
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Which is the problem suffered by the national network on commuter routes into major cities. There splitting or not splitting train sets comes down to money and additional drivers duties just to tripping stock to or from sidings for the middle of the day.

    Cheers, Neil
     
  16. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2015
    Messages:
    9,186
    Likes Received:
    7,226
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Thorn in my managers side
    Location:
    72
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    As @Jamessquared has pointed out in other threads shunting is also a dangerous activity & constantly shuffling the coaches makes keeping the maintenance records up to date much harder
     
    jnc likes this.
  17. jma1009

    jma1009 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,381
    Likes Received:
    1,637
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    ynysddu south wales
    Can someone please tell us what the result of the EGM was, and what resolutions were passed?

    Cheers,
    Julian
     
  18. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2014
    Messages:
    11,247
    Likes Received:
    17,947
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Barrister
    Location:
    Stogumber
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Are you a shareholder or a member of the WSRA or WSSRT?

    Robin
     
    malcolm imps likes this.
  19. I'm not sure the suggestion that WSR carriage interiors are 'ex-BR' is entirely accurate. To the best of my knowledge the whole fleet of Mk1s has been reupholstered, some of them twice, e.g. TSO 4660. The exteriors are a different matter. That significant issue was included on the current plc chairman's wish list for volunteer input during the last winter close period. It is to be assumed that volunteer take-up fell short of the mark in this instance.
     
    malcolm imps, Greenway and 35B like this.
  20. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2008
    Messages:
    7,498
    Likes Received:
    5,455
    Agreed, the SVR learnt that and value it, same as the GWSR who may concentrate on Mk1’s but keep in the interiors in good order. Arguably it’s the part a customer has most contact with during their experience.
     
    Sheff, michaelh, gwalkeriow and 2 others like this.

Share This Page