Minehead Rail Link Group

[whole diary]

[Lee]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) points west(at 07:25am on friday) are reporting that Minehead station will get ?900,000 pounds from the heritage fund.

Should be shown again during the morning local news.

From the West Somerset Railway ... a long article with a great deal of information.   Excellent news for the WSR!

The West Somerset Railway (WSR) has announced today Friday 9 October that its recent application to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport?s (DCMS) ?Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage? support has been successful. The Plc will now receive a grant of ?865,000, all of which will help the 23-mile former GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) branch line recover from the enforced closure of the railway since March during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

On a completely unrelated note, we came across an interesting post on a Jack Russell dog forum (we have 2 at home). An owner had become increasingly concerned that her previously healthy, vibrant dog kept drinking whole bowls of water one after the other - she literally couldnt fill it up fast enough!

On closer inspection though, it became clear that the bowl had been fatally compromised by a hairline crack, and no matter how much water she poured into it, it would simply drain away, and the poor dog was deprived of any of the life-sustaining benefits.

There was nothing for it but to throw the broken old bowl out, and replace it with a completely new one. Both dog and owner are understandably far more relieved and happy going forward as a result.

My apologies for this off-topic wander - I will now let you get back to discussing Minehead and the future of the WSR 

[bradshaw]

Full list in alphabetical order at this site

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/925262/List_of_under__1m_awards_9_Oct.pdf

[Andy]

Good to see other heritage railways in the region have also received some support.

[grahame]

Good to see other heritage railways in the region have also received some support.

29 out of 433 awards have "Rail" in their organisation name:

906000 Award Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Public Limited Company
865000 Award West Somerset Railway Plc.
727200 Award Bluebell Railway PLC
600000 Award Mid Hants Railway Ltd / Mid Hants Railway Preservation Society Ltd (MHRPS)
470000 Award Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
360000 Award North Norfolk Railway plc
332300 Award South Devon Railway Trust
318000 Award Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway plc
301500 Award The Kent and East Sussex Railway Company Limited
245500 Award Tanfield Railway Company Limited
231600 Award Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society
223200 Award Swanage Railway Company
207200 Award Ribble Steam Railway Ltd
190500 Award The Mid Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust
153900 Award Wealden Railway Company Limited
98000 Award Epping Ongar Railway Holdings Limited
90000 Award Wensleydale Railway Plc
85000 Award WyvernRail plc
84300 Award South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society
79900 Award Middleton Railway Trust
76100 Award Helston Railway Preservation Company Ltd
49000 Award The Whitwell & Reepham Railway Preservation Society Ltd
46000 Award Northampton Steam Railway Limited
27900 Award Plym Valley Railway Company Limited
26500 Award Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway Limited
25000 Award Great Northern & East Lincolnshire Railway Ltd T?A Lincolnshire Wolds Railway
21300 Award Aln Valley Railway Trust
20000 Award Colne Valley Railway Preservation Ltd.
20000 Award Cambrian Heritage Railways Limited

Widen in to "Heritage" and "Preservation" as well and you get more than twice the number:

Code:

Aln Valley Railway Trust	Award	?21,300
Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust	Award	?24,000
Bath Preservation Trust	Award	?825,400
Bluebell Railway PLC	Award	?727,200
Cambrian Heritage Railways Limited	Award	?20,000
Canalside Heritage Centre	Award	?99,800
Christian Heritage	Award	?25,000
Colne Valley Railway Preservation Ltd.	Award	?20,000
Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre	Award	?53,200
Daniel Adamson Preservation Society	Award	?151,000
Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust 	Award	?143,100
Epping Ongar Railway Holdings Limited	Award	?98,000
Fly Navy Heritage Trust	Award	?280,400
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway plc	Award	?318,000
Great Northern & East Lincolnshire Railway Ltd T?A Lincolnshire Wolds Railway 	Award	?25,000
Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust	Award	?140,000
Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust	Award	?166,500
Helston Railway Preservation Company Ltd	Award	?76,100
Heritage Trust for the North West	Award	?187,600
Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire	Award	?278,200
Hoghton Tower Preservation Trust	Award	?106,700
Keevill Heritage Ltd	Award	?19,500
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society	Award	?231,600
Mid Hants Railway Ltd / Mid Hants Railway Preservation Society Ltd (MHRPS)	Award	?600,000
Middleton Railway Trust	Award	?79,900
Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust	Award	?20,800
Mountain Heritage Trust	Award	?17,400
New Brighton Heritage and Information Centre	Award	?15,000
Nimrod Preservation Group XV232 C.I.C.	Award	?11,100
North Norfolk Railway plc	Award	?360,000
Northampton Steam Railway Limited	Award	?46,000
Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity	Award	?24,200
Pendeen Community Heritage	Award	?186,300
Pilgrim Heritage Sailing Foundation	Award	?38,000
Plym Valley Railway Company Limited	Award	?27,900
Re-Form Heritage	Award	?26,300
Ribble Steam Railway Ltd	Award	?207,200
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway 	Award	?470,000
Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Public Limited Company	Award	?906,000
Sharpe's Pottery Heritage and Arts Trust	Award	?127,800
Silverstone Heritage Ltd / The Silverstone Experience 	Award	?572,000
Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway Limited	Award	?26,500
Slough Fort Preservation Trust	Award	?10,900
South Devon Railway Trust	Award	?332,300
South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society	Award	?84,300
Sporting Heritage Community Interest Company	Award	?97,000
St Bartholomew's Heritage	Award	?151,600
Swanage Railway Company	Award	?223,200
Tanfield Railway Company Limited	Award	?245,500
The Dronfield Heritage Trust	Award	?79,200
The Kent and East Sussex Railway Company Limited	Award	?301,500
The Mid Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust	Award	?190,500
The New Mechanics Institution Preservation Trust Ltd (and The Mechanics Institution Trust Enterprises Ltd)	Award	?42,300
The Saltaire World Heritage Education Association	Award	?13,200
The Whitwell & Reepham Railway Preservation Society Ltd	Award	?49,000
Triskele Heritage	Award	?15,100
Wealden Railway Company Limited	Award	?153,900
Wensleydale Railway Plc	Award	?90,000
Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust Ltd	Award	?468,300
West Somerset Railway Plc.	Award	?865,000
World Heritage UK▸  (United Kingdom)	Award	?16,700
WyvernRail plc	Award	?85,000

[grahame]

From the West Somerset Free Press

West Somerset Railway is to get a huge cash injection that could get it back on track. MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Ian Liddell-Graingers says the ?865,000 Government grant could prove to be the life-saver the WSR desperately needs.

He said the grant should help the railway company make an early return to normal services on the 22-mile line between Minehead and Bishop?s Lydeard.

The full report will be in next Friday?s Free Press.

General discussion on funding for dozens of other heritage operations - http://www.passenger.chat/24103

[grahame]

On a completely unrelated note, we came across an interesting post on a Jack Russell dog forum (we have 2 at home). An owner had become increasingly concerned that her previously healthy, vibrant dog kept drinking whole bowls of water one after the other - she literally couldnt fill it up fast enough!

On closer inspection though, it became clear that the bowl had been fatally compromised by a hairline crack, and no matter how much water she poured into it, it would simply drain away, and the poor dog was deprived of any of the life-sustaining benefits.

There was nothing for it but to throw the broken old bowl out, and replace it with a completely new one. Both dog and owner are understandably far more relieved and happy going forward as a result.

My apologies for this off-topic wander - I will now let you get back to discussing Minehead and the future of the WSR 

Yeah, right  .  ... looks like a fable.  Was the new bowl automatically like the old one, which has been of a design shown to have an issue, or did the owner take the opportunity to consider carefully whether to move to a different design more suited for the particular dog in question?

[Lee]

On a completely unrelated note, we came across an interesting post on a Jack Russell dog forum (we have 2 at home). An owner had become increasingly concerned that her previously healthy, vibrant dog kept drinking whole bowls of water one after the other - she literally couldnt fill it up fast enough!

On closer inspection though, it became clear that the bowl had been fatally compromised by a hairline crack, and no matter how much water she poured into it, it would simply drain away, and the poor dog was deprived of any of the life-sustaining benefits.

There was nothing for it but to throw the broken old bowl out, and replace it with a completely new one. Both dog and owner are understandably far more relieved and happy going forward as a result.

My apologies for this off-topic wander - I will now let you get back to discussing Minehead and the future of the WSR 

Yeah, right  .  ... looks like a fable.  Was the new bowl automatically like the old one, which has been of a design shown to have an issue, or did the owner take the opportunity to consider carefully whether to move to a different design more suited for the particular dog in question?

Only time will tell...But you summed up an entirely unconnected dilemma neatly in the intro to your split-off thread... 

[southwest]

The present management and directors of the WSR seem to be asserting their authority now in a way not seen before.  I'm not convinced this is for the better.  But they do have the laws of finance to contend with, and this may have concentrated their minds somewhat.  The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust, who have been sub-leesees of the site at Washford Station since the 1970's, have been given a year's notice to quit very recently

From Rail Advent posted earlier today

The Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust (S&DRT) have posted the sad news they have been asked to leave the Washford site.

The S&DRT received a letter from solicitors on behalf of the West Somerset Railway PLC, owners of the Washford site, with a Notice to Terminate on the agreement allowing S&DRT to use the Washford site, giving the S&DRT a years notice.

The one reason the WSR PLC have stated so far for asking the S&DRT to leave is to allow the WSR PLC to use the site for its own purposes, but no further details have been added. The S&DRT have sent a response and are now seeking legal advice.

The West Somerset Railway has issued a statement over them giving the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway notice to leave their Washford site says Rail Advent

The West Somerset Railway has said that ‘The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway Trust seems governed in such a way that it meant they felt unable to assist us financially other than allowing the WSR to hold and retain the modest profits from the Real Ale Festival last year’

The West Somerset Railway has also said that the SDJRT acted like a ‘cuckoo in the nest’ during their crisis period, which the PLC found unacceptable.

As a result of this, they have given the railway a year’s notice to remove themselves from the Washford site.

Currently, the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust occupies some of the land adjacent to Washford railway station, and have done so for many years.

However, the West Somerset Railway has said that the rent the SDJRT pays is far lower than any other organisation occupying space elsewhere on the railway.

The WSR has a plan to develop the Washford site to meet their needs which will include P-Way vehicle and equipment storage, workshops and covered winter accommodation.

So basically the WSR gets into financial trouble due to poor management, they then go to the S&DRT for money, they rightly refuse to help other than giving some profits from the real ale festival, as it could cause harm to them. Consequently the WSR serve them an eviction notice? Seems very pathetic & childish to me, I hate to think what these idiots are doing running a railway!

[grahame]

Roland Bushell, an admin of the Minehead Rail Link Group, posts

This is definitely worth a read.  I have a lot of time for Steve Edge - his website is far better than most of the `official' heritage sites out there, and he has long been a supporter of all things WSR.  It doesn`t mean I agree with him on everything by any means, but this is a good analysis of the current situation with some revealing contributions in the timeline from different members of the `family'.   I`ll not comment beyond this introduction myself, and there is quite a significant gap in Steve's reflections.  But its still a pretty good summary for anybody wondering just what is happening.

https://transformwsr.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/keep-it-simple/

"Keep it Simple" says that article and illustrations with diagrams of how the organsations relate to each other now, and in thoughts.  It does not get into the structure within each of the three organsistions and the proposed new one. It does hint at "power games" for control of a new central organisation.

An article in the current ?Steam Railway? magazine covered current progress. A few days ago, I sent the words below to the Chairmen of the ?WSR3? (WSSRT, WSRA and WSR Plc). Replies were received from the WSRA and WSSRT for which I am grateful.   It seems all is not sweetness and light yet.

?To me, the Steam Railway article serves only to confirm the Plc?s intention to create a new charity making all the final decisions. Consultations, yes; approval by PDG, yes. But it?s not looking like a pan-Railway project, just another unilateral decision by the Plc, rather than the ?WSR3? (WSRA, WSSRT, WSR Plc) which is what I?d hoped for.?

What does this mean for heritage train services over some or all of the line next year?  For connections by rail to and from the National Network?  To safeguarding the line and use for the future?  To the railway line providing public rail transport into the main national network daily, all day, all year?

[grahame]

Joint Statement from West Somerset Railway PLC & The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust Limited
Published: 6th November 2020 ((here))

The West Somerset Railway PLC (PLC) and the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust (S & DRT) can confirm that they have opened discussions regarding a new 10-year lease for the Trust to occupy the Washford site. This follows from Washford Yard not now being required by the PLC in its entirety in the foreseeable future although the PLC will still, by agreement with the Trust wish to use the Yard from time to time during the period of the new lease. Any future arrangement will exclude the station which will revert to PLC management. This will allow the Trust to continue with their restoration and maintenance work on their rolling stock at Washford whilst at the same time making arrangements for relocation of artefacts to other sites. The Trust had already completed a strategic review of how it is fulfilling its charitable objectives. It has concluded that moving its Museum items and some of its rolling stock to other locations will enhance their access by the public and broaden the appeal of the Trust.

Whilst a move of some items to other locations may enhance public access and broaden appeal of S&DRT assets, I can't help wondering if the move is something they would have done as a regular decision had it not been for the actions of the PLC, or if the move is something that they were forced into and have spent money on, and are now looking for and promoting what positive they can from it?

[ellendune]

Whilst a move of some items to other locations may enhance public access and broaden appeal of S&DRT assets, I can't help wondering if the move is something they would have done as a regular decision had it not been for the actions of the PLC, or if the move is something that they were forced into and have spent money on, and are now looking for and promoting what positive they can from it?

Yes, as so many organisations are finding at the moment for a different reason, adverse circumstances sometimes make you look for a different course only to discover, when you have found it, that the new course was a better one than the one you have been following before!

[Kempis]

Joint Statement from West Somerset Railway PLC & The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust Limited
Published: 6th November 2020 ((here))

The West Somerset Railway PLC (PLC) and the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust (S & DRT) can confirm that they have opened discussions regarding a new 10-year lease for the Trust to occupy the Washford site. This follows from Washford Yard not now being required by the PLC in its entirety in the foreseeable future although the PLC will still, by agreement with the Trust wish to use the Yard from time to time during the period of the new lease. Any future arrangement will exclude the station which will revert to PLC management. This will allow the Trust to continue with their restoration and maintenance work on their rolling stock at Washford whilst at the same time making arrangements for relocation of artefacts to other sites. The Trust had already completed a strategic review of how it is fulfilling its charitable objectives. It has concluded that moving its Museum items and some of its rolling stock to other locations will enhance their access by the public and broaden the appeal of the Trust.

On 5 November, the day before the date of the joint statement linked above, the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust, the Mid Hants Railway Ltd and the Mid Hants Railway Preservation Society announced that 'they are in detailed discussions regarding the relocation of rolling stock and artefacts belonging to the S&DRT from Washford on the West Somerset Railway to the Watercress Line in Hampshire':

https://preservation.watercressline.co.uk/news/entry/rolling-stock-and-artefacts-to-be-relocated-from-west-somerset-railway-to-w

[Kempis]

Whilst a move of some items to other locations may enhance public access and broaden appeal of S&DRT assets, I can't help wondering if the move is something they would have done as a regular decision had it not been for the actions of the PLC, or if the move is something that they were forced into and have spent money on, and are now looking for and promoting what positive they can from it?

There's a little more indication of the S&DRT's thinking in a statement from its Chairman, Ian Young, who writes:

It has been an interesting year for the S&D^▸ (Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway) Railway Trust. The Chairman and Board of Directors have worked hard, ably supported by volunteers at Washford and, elsewhere, to continue the work of the Trust through incredibly difficult circumstances. We soon came to the conclusion that, notwithstanding the situation which prevailed at the time regarding the West Somerset Railway, this was an opportunity to review the Trust?s standing in the heritage sector and what the priorities should be.

It was decided that a physical move of at least some of the artefacts away from Washford where access has always been difficult, is desirable. It must also be said that, over the considerable period in which I have been involved with the Trust, this thought has cropped up time and time again, including at AGMs^▸ (Annual General Meeting). Up until now we have not displayed the courage to carry this out. It is, therefore, that our joint venture with the Watercress Line is an exciting prospect.

https://www.sdrt.org/images/files/news/press_release_05-11-20.pdf

[grahame]

From the the Didcot Railway Centre, Facebook page, posted last Saturday.

50 years ago today, on Saturday 2 January 1971, the branch line between Taunton and Minehead closed, with the Great Western Society?s Taunton Group running the last daylight train ? a diesel multiple unit ? as shown on this poster.

The full line of almost 25 miles between Taunton and Minehead had opened 16 July 1874 as a broad gauge railway. At first the line was worked by the Bristol & Exeter Railway and then by the Great Western Railway from August 1876. The whole section between Norton Fitzwarren and Minehead was converted to standard gauge on 29 October 1882. One of the stations on the line, Crowcombe, was used in filming the Beatles 1964 film ?A Hard Day?s Night?.

Five years after closure by British Railways the line successfully reopened as the heritage West Somerset Railway.

[broadgage]

Recent reports refer to a plan to run a modern battery train from Bishops Lydeard to Taunton and Swindon.

Details herehttp://www.wsr.org.uk/news.htm

Edit to add that this is discussed in "transport scholars" Suggest NOT replying here so as to keep it in one place