West Somerset Railway General Discussion

He would have done if he worked out of 34A in the fifties

 

Did N2s have double chimneys and blinkers?

 

And then there's those who can't get used to it not running in apple green as 4472.
The BR livery is probably more authentic, but I don't think it looks as impressive and doesn't stand out from the crowd as it did.

 

I am sure you all know that the rights to "Thomas" are owned by a third party and the railway has to pay (and meet exacting standards) when it puts on a Thomas day. It's still a shame that we won't apparently have one in 2017 though as it's a great way IMHO to enthuse the next generation about steam.

 

Its also worth noting that the very succesful Thomas events in recent years have been organised by a team led by Frank Courtney. Frank is also leading the team who will be organising the Scotsman visit. It would be unreasonable to expect Frank to organise both Thomas and Scotsman in the same year, having rescued the WSRA this year he is, I am sure, looking forward to a quieter year in 2017!!!

Sent from my Lenovo TAB 2 A10-70F using Tapatalk

 

And deter potential teenage volunteers who want nothing to do with childish events with engines with faces and which talk.

 

In the world of Thomas and Friends 60103 is known as Gordon's Brother.
I found this out earlier this year when my Mum was watching the news coverage of 60103's return and she said " ooohhh, it's Gordon's brother!"
I asked her what she was talking about and she explained that she watches Thomas and Friends in the mornings on Channel 5 instead of the depressing Breakfast News. She said that Flying Scotsman has been mentioned a few times and is referred to as Gordon's Brother.

 

Must have been on one of its trips down south, judging by the headcode carried!

Tom

 

The post by Green Five suggests - and I am sure it is right on the money - that not only is Thomas appreciated by children but many older people find him and his friends quite charming. I have heard, on more than one occasion, that many older people enjoy watching the less depressing children's tv programmes. The news is depressing a fair proportion of the time, it is also repetitive. Some of the alternative programmes are of interest but much is not. I guess G5's mom is a much happier person for watching Thomas et al.

 

And deter potential teenage volunteers who owant nothing to do with childish events with engines with faces and which talk.

In my working life I occasionally had to visit Older Persons Care Homes. I well recall visiting one which specialised in caring for people with Altzheimers and seeing a group of residents sitting around a TV with a Thomas video playing.

 

Is there any evidence that this actually happens?

 

If nothing else the absence of "Thomas" will give a chance for the WSR to get about and look at what other places have devised as a substitute. The amazing financial demands of the licencees have been a spur and the increased margins more than compensate for any reduction in numbers. In one case known to me the replacement event attracts more visitors than "Thomas" ever did.

Paul H

 

But in my opinion the WSR should not get rid of Thomas and it makes a lot of money for the railway. It helps pay for keep the railway running and helps pay for overhauls. Thomas events still being in numbers for the railway and lines like the Mid Hants Railway. Other railways that got rid of Thomas and find a replacement event. It does not make as much numbers and not the same feeling. As Thomas and the licencees difficulty's. Should not stop the railways from doing the event and there is no reduction in numbers. It is still popular with family's and kids. Other heritage lines that still do Thomas are still have big numbers. The only other events that can match numbers with Thomas are galas and Flyingscotsman. Where is your example of where a replacement event attracts more visitors than Thomas. Even if you don't agree with how Thomas events run and that does not mean there are bad or need to stop. There is no evidence to say Thomas events are doing badly and I doubt you have actually been to a recent Thomas event.

 

Conversations with contemporaries of my daughter where the subject of Puff-Puffs and Thomas were widely disdained.

 

The trouble is that the licensing costs mean that the risk of running a Thomas event has risen, as the costs have gone up as a proportion of the likely revenues. That means that numbers attending may not be a good guide to the likely profitability of the events.

 

See the press release in the Somerset County Gazette of today

 

Link to Somerset County Gazette article:
http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/14953944.Full_steam_ahead_for_National_Rail_link_trial/

 

Sorry, that's not news - the press release was issued by the railway on Nov 28th.

 

Which tells us nothing new. Just the press release re hashed. A non story.

 

But do these "contemporaries" volunteer or have they actually stated that 2 days of Thomas out of 365 are sufficient to stop them volunteering for the remaining 363 days a year?
You could say exactly the same about Santa trains, (it's very easy to brand anything as "lame", I think that's still a word teens use to "dis" most things - sorry you can tell I can't keep up with the lingo). Be good to hear the view of a teen volunteer?