West Somerset Railway - Bishops Lydeard to Minehead (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[grahame]

A further resignation yesterday of David Baker who has given 25 years of volunteering to The Trust, citing "constant threats, besmirchment of character and bullying" - see https://www.facebook.com/TheSteamTrust/posts/808742536595048 - where it is followed up once again be people's personal understanding, but revulsion at what has been / is going on.

We have not reached the end of the story, for we are in a transient stage.  To we carry on discussions in the Coffee Shop, I am tempted to move them to "Frequent Posters" to avoid fanning the flames in public, or to our "Transport Scholars" board where we discuss subjects that could get passionate from a pragmatic and technical viewpoint. [DONE to Transport Scholars - hook / thread started at http://www.passenger.chat/24153 - if you are a member who has not joined this group, please like this post and I will add you in (I will monitor until the end of the month) or send me a personal message]

Public transport campaigning (and for these purposes, a heritage line offering travel to the public is "public transport") is filled with frustrations,  with many of those frustrations shared only around an inner team. I have no doubt what so ever of the huge commitment to the rails to Minehead, carrying passengers on trains, and the efforts put in.  And I look forward to arriving into Minehead by rail once again in the future.

[TonyK]

In other news, the WSR is to restart operations on 1 November, according to the website. For maintenance and familiarisation at first, but hopefully for passengers rides soon.

THE WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY RE^▸ (Religious Education)-OPENS FOR TRAIN OPERATION
Published: 27th October 2020
 
The West Somerset Railway is resuming train operations from 1st November 2020 between Minehead and Norton Fitzwarren. Whilst we are not yet open to the public, trains, including engineers? on-track machines may run at any time, including during the hours of darkness. This is to allow us to re-familarise our staff and volunteers in all aspects of railway safety and operations, and to continue with our various engineering projects to enable the railway to open fully in the future.

You are reminded that there are many official places where members of the public can cross the line safely, but otherwise please stay outside of our boundary fences. The railway is not the place to go for a stroll or to walk your dog as we?ve unfortunately seen from a small minority of people this year. It is a dangerous place, and trains can approach very quietly. So for your own safety STOP LOOK LISTEN when using our public footpath crossings, and in all other cases STOP outside of our boundary fences, LOOK at our trains from a safe distance and LISTEN for further announcements on the progress that we are making to bring the West Somerset Railway back to life!

We look forward to inviting you back to the railway at a later date, but for now stay safe and stay well!

[grahame]

And from 5th December (until 24th) - Santa Specials from Bishops Lydeard - https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/detail/santa-express

We are pleased to announce that our greatly anticipated Santa Express services are back in time for Christmas 2020!

Join us for a magical steam train ride through the countryside for a festive experience giving you treasured memories with your children for years to come!

Your journey will start with a visit to our welcome marquee at Bishops Lydeard, this will be a waiting area whilst your service is being prepared.

[grahame]

For information .... https://www.facebook.com/TheSteamTrust/posts/826018454867456

Summary of WSSRT AGM^▸ (Annual General Meeting) ? 14th November 2020

The board of Trustees of the WSSRT is pleased to update members and the wider WSR community on the results of the AGM of 14th November which was held virtually via Zoom due to Covid-19 restrictions.

You will be aware that an attempt was made by a small group of members to try and overwhelm the existing board of trustees. This was done by quietly signing up additional new members from June this year, many from outside the WSR community, with the specific intent of appointing 14 new trustees to force a vote on merging with the WSRA, and thereby using the shares owned in each charity to try and take over control of the PLC

At the AGM, the WSSRT membership voted to reject these new trustees by a significant margin. The total votes cast for them were 1,291 (70.54%) against and 508 (27.5%) votes in favour, with 31 (1.69%) abstentions.

As a result ...[continues] ...

[grahame]

A Facebook group just brought to my attention at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unofficialWSR/about (via an invite to join from a contact who I presume is a member) - following is public visible:

A group for supporters of the West Somerset Railway . This is a purely Unofficial group with no ties to any of the official WSR bodies (PLC, WSRA and WSSRT) or its associates .

All are welcome from volunteers, supporters , shareholders , members . We will strive for an unbiased discussion

Private
Only members can see who's in the group and what they post

Visible
Anyone can find this group.

General Group

History
Group created on July 28, 2020

and

No new posts today
24 in the last month

186 total members
+ 8 in the last week

[JayMac]

Meanwhile, away from all the political and financial machinations of what is fast becoming a basket case operation...

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News - West Somerset Railway ticket cabinet found in Los Angeles
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-55234060

[grahame]

From Somerset County Gazette

A SOMERSET MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) says restoring train services between Bishop's Lydeard and Minehead should be an "absolute priority", as delays will cause "serious problems for traders".

Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger says West Somerset Railway (WSR) and Somerset County Council (SCC^‡(resolve)) should agree an early start to the essential upgrade of Seaward Way level crossing.

The crossing no longer fits the standards required for the volume of traffic on the road and so £1million is being invested to upgrade the facility to comply with modern regulations.

I wondered whether to post this under this "Heritage" thread or the more general "Melksham Minehead Rail Link"  one at http://www.passenger.chat/17237 but I note that Mr Liddell-Grainger is talking Bishop's Lydeard rather that Taunton, and Traders rather than general population in this instance.

[Typo corrected - RS]

[Trowres]

The crossing no longer fits the standards required for the volume of traffic on the road and so £1million is being invested to upgrade the facility to comply with modern regulations.

I seem to remember that when the crossing was installed it and the associated signalling cost a tad over £100k in the nominal value of currency at the time.

One wonders which bit of the "modern regulations" demand so much expenditure in a situation where the trains are restricted to 25mph or less?

[broadgage]

A cynic might suspect that the problem is not the trains, but the poor standard of driving on the roads these days. A significant percentage of drivers regard driving around closing half barriers as being acceptable. Likewise the amber at traffic lights means "go faster". At the Seaward way crossing, a particular problem is motorists queueing on the level crossing.
And of course a lot of parents know that the zig zag road markings near schools means "priority pick up and drop of for school run"

[infoman]

from Bishops Lydeard to Williton on I presume this Sunday(16 may)
Film footage on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) point west local news,
MIGHT be on again on the 22:20pm news later sunday night

[broadgage]

Does anyone know why the Seaward way  WSR webcam is out of use until "completion of the level crossing works" The physical location of the camera is well clear of the level crossing, so it would not be an obstruction to the works.

I also view with slight concern the recent advertising for a "project manager to oversee the level crossing works" A cynic might suspect that the project has started to go orribly wrong and that a new manager is required to try and get it back on track, or take the blame otherwise.

http://www.wsr.org.uk/news.htm#2296

[Lee]

Does anyone know why the Seaward way  WSR webcam is out of use until "completion of the level crossing works" The physical location of the camera is well clear of the level crossing, so it would not be an obstruction to the works.

I also view with slight concern the recent advertising for a "project manager to oversee the level crossing works" A cynic might suspect that the project has started to go orribly wrong and that a new manager is required to try and get it back on track, or take the blame otherwise.

http://www.wsr.org.uk/news.htm#2296

They have decided to build grahame's Butlins station as a tribute to his recent input, and want to keep it as a surprise from him until it's finished.

[broadgage]

Oh dear, as I feared, the Seaward Way level crossing renewal is going wrong.
Completion now not expected until September, so no  passenger trains to Minehead from Bishops Lydeard, let alone further afield this summer.

Most of the work is being done by the local authority, with some involvement by the WSR, don't know whose fault the delay is.

(advertising for a project manager some time AFTER a project was due to be completed, is a sure sign that it is all going wrong)

Various jokes are circulating locally mainly referencing the perceived incompetence of network rail (GW^▸ (Great Western) electrification), Hitachi (cracked trains), EDF (Hinkley point new nuke, delayed and over budget)

Several facetious signs have been removed, including "MANAGED BY EDF est completion 2032"
And "Network rail electrification works underway"
And  "preparatory works for the new class 800 trains underway"

[infoman]

Could the trains travel a certain part of the route,Dunster?

[Lee]

Could the trains travel a certain part of the route,Dunster?

A very quick glance at the timetable suggests that is indeed the plan, with bus transfer to Minehead - https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/timetables