WSR PLC AND SDRT WORK TOGETHER TO SETTLE DISPUTE
Published at 17:47 on Saturday 20th June 2020
Tags: WSR, S&DRT, Washford, Dispute
On 23rd March 2018, during the West Somerset Railway's Spring Steam Gala, two double-headed trains were alongside each other at Washford station. Approaching with the 15:40 train from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard are Manor 4-6-0 No. 7822 'Foxcote Manor' and Hall 4-6-0 No. 6990 'Witherslack Hall'. On demonstration shunting duties in the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust yard are Barclay 0-4-0ST 1219 and Peckett 0-4-0ST 1788 'Kilmersdon'. Tim Edmonds
The Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust Ltd and the West Somerset Railway PLC have confirmed in a joint statement that they are working together to resolve the current dispute over the lease of the Trust's site at Washford.
An initial teleconference meeting, facilitated by the Heritage Railway Association, has been held to discuss the future of the site, and a frank and constructive review of each party’s objectives included confirmation of a need to urgently discuss the long term future of the Trust’s locomotive, SDJR 7F class 2-8-0 No. 53808, which is currently on hire to the Railway and is viewed by the PLC as having a potential long term future on the line.
A follow up site meeting has been arranged, at which it is intended that all options for the future of the Washford site and locomotive will be explored and developed. Both parties confirmed their intent to work collaboratively, and although it is acknowledged that there are still matters on which agreement has to be reached, there is a shared the desire to achieve a mutually satisfactory outcome.
