A Christmas Message from the ESR Board
Credit: Unknown
With the festive period now on us and our Santa Season drawing to a close, the East Somerset Railway is able to reflect back on a very busy year. It has not been an easy year but the position that the ESR finds itself in at the end of 2004 is much improved on 12 months ago. That doesn?t mean that there isn?t a great deal of hard work to go but the Board of Directors / Trustees are encouraged by the progress made. As a summary the ESR over 2004 has:- - Seen rapid growth in the number and popularity of its Wine & Dine Services under the stewardship of Frank Barrett, Jerry West, Diane Hopkins and Marge Sugg and the many volunteers who help out. - The Commercial organisation of the business has seen a major reorganisation and improved service in 2004 under Frank Barrett?s guidance and with help from Becky and Georgia supported by Vera and Cathy. Specific changes have lead to an improved shop layout, vastly improved quality and a wider range of stock and efficient management of the railway?s finances under the stewardship of our bookkeeper Julia. - Seen the high profile return to traffic of locomotive 30075 afetr two years of hard work by Steve Masters and the Workshop team. the loco, owned by the Project 62 Group continues to give sterling service on passenger trains. - Seen considerable work undertaken on our Coaching Stock with the repainting of two of the Wine & Dine vehicles (the first by CTMS and the second by ESR volunteers) and the internal refurbishment of the third. - The visit of a number of guest engines, both steam and diesel, from 75096 on the Cathedrals Express to 41312 for the popular Enthusiast Gala. - Seen CTMS, the contract Carriage maintenance and restoration arm of the East Somerset Railway has carried out a number of high profile jobs consolidating its position in the market place with customers ranging from Mendip Rail to the Mid Hants Railway. 2005 promises to be just as exciting with work building on the successes of 2004. The new timetable and events reflects the growth of our Wine and Dine Services and other popular events such as ?A Day out with Thomas?. The railway also plans significant investment in infrastructure projects with the planning of major sleeper renewals and re-ballasting, a big step forward in the work to obtain funding for the restoration of the E1 as well as building on the progress made with carriage restoration and progress on the project to re-instate the shed roof. Our winter work parties during the closed season (see separate story) will be a valuable kick-start to many of these goals. The Board wish to thank all those who supported the ESR over 2004 both as a volunteer and as a visitor and looks forward to welcoming you again in 2005. If you have never thought about volunteering ? why not come and find out why we think we are the friendliest railway. If you haven?t visited us before, why not come and sample one of our popular enthusiast or family orientated events. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Dick Masters (Chairman), Roger Cooke, Paul Martin, Jerry West and Gavin Moore
News item added on 22nd December 2004, by GM
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