Letter from the Chair

Association Chairman MIKE SHERWOOD reports.

When I last wrote to you, the railway was in the middle of what I believe to have been a successful summer season. While we didn't run to Minehead, we got to be pretty slick at running-around at Dunster, and the vintage bus service was well received by passengers. I saw nothing but happy smiling faces. As for the Minehead level crossing, pending final snags and a lot of training, we should be running back into Minehead next year, and in fact, I have now fired a loco all the way to Minehead as part of an ECS move. It is great to see an exciting programme including Winterlights trains is planned in November until Christmas. Santa trains also feature, with full details on the WSR plc web site. As the ops notice always says: “Other trains may run” and I'm booked for a light engine move or two before the winter programme starts. Despite all of the success in 2021, the need for ongoing support is still essential. The impacts of the pandemic on heritage rail in general have been hard. I reported in my last letter about the discussions we

were having with WSR plc on how we could work more closely and how we could best assist. Those meetings are now bearing fruit and a clear programme of what is needed and when is emerging. WSRA will translate this into welldefined fundraising appeals so that funders and donors have a good appreciation of what they are providing funds for. There is a growing realisation around the railway that this is essential. While the target that the railway needs to fundraise to ensure it can remain operational is still £1m annually, it is clear that folks will give more generously if they better understand how the money is to be used. Hence why WSRA will run defined campaigns. The other thing that remains essential is volunteers and their training. WSRA have a bit of a backroom role here, assisting with support for the creation of training materials or sometimes the funding of a specific training course, or even the provision of rolling stock to facilitate training. There are few things that the association can't help with as long as we aren't directly paying the wages of staff on the railway. While you wait for the detail to emerge, I can still say with confidence that infrastructure remains a central plank of our fundraising, and any donation to the WSRA rail renewal appeal will be most welcome and will allow the WSRA to make grants for rail, ballast, sleepers, specialist machine hire or even expert contractors or advice. I'll remind members again of two things. The first is the possibility of the WSRA being able to claim gift aid on donations, and the second is the certainty, due to the use of restricted funds, that members’

No. 7822 Foxcote Manor and No. 7828 Odney Manor coast downhill at Cottiford with the RTC excursion from Paddington on 14 August 2021. Photo: Tim Edmonds.

donations are used in compliance with their wishes. I must pay tribute to Robin White who recently stepped down as a trustee after working to support the railway in one form or another and on one board or another since she was 16. WSRA are grateful for her practical support, and wish her success in the challenges to which she is currently applying herself. Work continues to progress well on No. 4561 at Williton. As you may know, the news that we don't need a new axle is excellent, and the wheelset is now away for the required refurbishment to be done. I am assured that on their return, we will see a marked step forward to a rolling chassis by early in the New Year. Attention will then turn to the boiler, and members will no doubt be following the posts on social media from Williton on work they now confidently undertake on boilers. The blog which you can view via the Association web site will keep you up to date on No. 4561. It has emerged recently that we will need new piston rods, but this will not over-tax the Williton team. Working with the WSR plc the WSRA have taken a long, hard look at the Quantock Belle, and it has to be said it's not looking anywhere near its best. We have reached agreement with the WSR plc for them to operate it in 2022, and we are looking forward to the discussions about its longer-term use on the railway. It is likely WSRA will need to make a further investment on the set over the coming winter to ensure it can operate as agreed in 2022. However, the bigger question is how much it will cost to put the set into first-class condition so that it can offer a truly first-class dining experience. Once we understand this, the question of how best to fund it will follow closely. Of course, wear and tear and the need for ongoing maintenance are then going to play a part, and the railway family must calculate carefully. I remain much more hopeful than I was that we can secure a long-term future for the QB on the railway. The new realism emerging about what the railway costs to operate is refreshing and helpful to facilitating the discussions. You may all have gathered that following the AGM, the trustee board asked me to retain the chairmanship for another year, and I have been pleased to say yes. I will urge those members who perhaps are thinking about trusteeship in the future to ask me any questions about what it's like. I can only promise that I will tell you, warts and all, about the level of commitment and work needed. While it isn't a case of “come on in, the water's lovely,” it is worthwhile and often rewarding work. If you are teetering on the brink of offering yourself for election in September 2022, then do let me know.