Trust Council of Management summary – January 2010

The Trust Council met in Swanage on Saturday 29th January. This was our first meeting of the year as the meeting scheduled to take place on 10th January had to be cancelled at short notice due to the snow. Here is a summary of the main points discussed:

It was with great sadness that we recorded the death of former Trust Council member and longstanding volunteer, Trevor Bagley.

During the open forum prior to the start of formal business we received a representation from Mick Hatton regarding this year's Great Dorset Steam Fair. We are pleased to confirm that a number of volunteers have confirmed that they are happy to assist in manning an official Swanage Railway stand at this year's event which takes place between the 1st and 5th September. If you are interested in helping out but have not yet come forward please contact Trust Council member Mike Stollery.

Everyone involved in the Herston track relaying project during the shutdown was praised for their work. In particular the project leaders Arthur Yarney and Barry Light.

We have agreed to enter into a formal lease of the rooms we rent from the Methodist Church at 103 High Street, Swanage. A management plan will be drawn up to maximise use and the Marketing Committee are also due to consider future printing requirements there.

The transition of the 71b.co.uk web pages to the SRT website is progressing and testing is taking place.

Rolling stock. Car 14 is due to be sent off-site to Ramparts for maintenance. If covered accommodation cannot be provided in the foreseeable future then the possibility of leasing the coach to another heritage railway will need to be considered. The SK(O) will hopefully enter traffic this Easter. Meanwhile overhaul of the Bulleid CK coach no. 5761 continues at Ramparts and a fresh appeal to members will be sent out in the near future. We are seeking quotes for the overhaul of the diesel shunter 'May' and are also looking into the restoration of the SR 'Walrus' hopper wagon. A quote received for the latter indicates that the cost would not be as high as we originally anticipated. The restoration of Bulleid TSO no. 1457 has however been deferred.

Finance. Trust and Company accounts for 2009 are due to be audited by our external auditors - Shipleys LLP - during March. We anticipate good net profit figures for the year but as always we must caution against complacency. The list of capital expenditure programmes is long and far exceeds any likely final profit figure!

The following list of designated funds has been reviewed and their ongoing allocation approved:

• Loan to SRC to facilitate the recovery of the Salisbury Water tower £25,000
• Cosmetic restoration of "May" £3,250
• Churchill Coach £8,319
• B Van (Sygnets fund) £1,650
• Norden Facilities £5,297
• Corfe Sidings £2,937
• Harman's Cross Building £15,000

We are pleased to confirm that the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum Group (PMMMG) have successfully passed the first qualifying stage for an EU grant to aid their development at Norden. The experience gathered by this success will hopefully be used to good effect with future grant applications.

Following the success of last year's annual draw the Trust Council has decided to hold a grand draw in 2010. Proceeds will go towards the development of the new eight coach carriage shed at Herston South. Work on the ground works for the new shed will take place this spring with the structure itself not being built until 2011. Please support this year's draw in any way you can.

The Trust Council intends to issue long service awards to all staff (paid and volunteer) who have worked for the Railway for 25 years or more. We will be working closely with departmental managers in order to try and ensure that all qualifying colleagues are correctly identified.

Future CoM meeting dates have been revised as follows: 27th February - mini, 24th April - full, 22nd May - mini, 26th June - full, 31st July - mini, 21st August - full, 25th September - mini, 30th October - full, 27th November - mini and 8th January 2011 - full. Full meetings start at 2:00 pm and shortened 'mini' meetings at 4:00 pm.

Many Trust members and supporters of the Railway will have seen recent press reports regarding the need to urgently identify £3m of funding required by Network Rail for signalling and other infrastructure work in order to fully reconnect the Swanage branch to the national rail network. We wish to assure everyone that we are working very closely indeed with all levels of government - local and national - to try and ensure that the funding is found and the dream of regular train services between Swanage and Wareham becomes a reality once again.

Mark Woolley

Trust Secretary