Track trouble

How much damage has been done to the Railway by the recent rail grinding machine? I'm not meaning the actual rails but the fact that it happened at all. No plausible explanation of just how the work was allowed to continue unchecked has been issued by the Railway so we can only sit here and spectulate. I don't think anyone wants a witch hunt, but I do think everyone wants to ensure nothing like this happens again.

And although our visitors have been wonderfully patience and forgiven, the Railway simply does not live up to the Heritage Railway of the Year. Such titles and awards, not long ago, were raining in on a regular basis. The diesel boys have been magnificent, turning out capable machines and crews at short notice, so at least the trains have been kept running. But the Railway attracts visitors because they expect the steam locomotives that the Railway shouts about on all its publicity and promotional material.

There have been times when I have been so ashamed of the debacle that I have considered closing www.wsr.org.uk because I too have been guilty of promoting a product that cannot be delivered. But I chose instead to keep posting what information I could get to allow folks to make their own minds up about trekking out to Lydeard or Watchet to buy their tickets and ride the Minehead Branch.

At the time of writing, the steamers are back and everything seems to be normal again. But there is bad feeling around and some folks will not allow this to be easily forgotten. And if faith is lost...