SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

Wasn't Gloriana the nation Oceania was always at war with?

 

Depends what book the thought police made you read.

 

Can't help but wonder what 46201 would've looked like in purple!

I'll confess to the same feeling concerning the loco which will stop dead northbound on a certain border to change it's identity to Duke of Rothesay. That name I have no issue with, but it's English identity, celebrating a Welsh title seems a long way from logical (that, btw, is the one and only gripe I have with the entirety of the magnificent P2 project).

Can we hope any identity change is intended to last only as long as the purple livery?

I'm still hoping to see 21C123 in steam for the first time in my life. If it's wearing it's alter ego when I do, so much the better.

 

"Gloriana" is a brave choice - the opera of that name was not a success in Coronation year, even if the struggles of an aging and lonely monarch are somewhat relevant now.

 

Travelling back in time - but to a false theme park yesterday more like Disney than real life.
Do the museums show the number of railway employees killed and crippled doing their jobs ?

 

We always recreate the past as we would like it to have been/like to think it was.

(there's an interesting subtlety there because like to think it was isn't necessarily good, but definitely via the mirror of the current generation of administrators preoccupations/preconceptions).

 

Some do.

This sign displayed at my local museum certainly demonstrates how different things once were! :

 

I think many museums do highlight the hard nature of work in the past......but it should also be borne in mind what the alternatives to such work was....often no work and starvation, or press ganged into the navy, conscripted into the army etc.....

 

Just found this definition of a theme park from a theme park enthusiast website:

"A theme park is a defined, designed space whose design reflects a unifying theme or collection of themes."

This same website is keen that the term isn't used in a derogatory fashion too. For those that are interested the link is below.

https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201908/6960/

Interestingly this same site also includes Zoos and Wildlife Parks under the same definition. By nature these are places of education and have their place in communicating issues of conservation and natural history, as well as bringing people closer to wildlife and the environment.

Obviously, the term 'theme park' means different things to different people, but I too am not sure why the term is considered derogatory to so many enthusiasts. Perhaps Alton Towers and Disneyland spring to mind for many and are considered 'plastic entertainment', but they also provide enjoyment to many and have their own dedicated followers with similar levels of passion to us railway enthusiasts. In my view theme parks should educate and also be accurate if they are specialising in a certain area - be that the best rides for adrenalin junkies, accurate film props for Harry Potter fans or a steam hauled train from the 1950's. There are many Disney and Potter fans who would be quick to point out an error, just as we have livery and rivet experts on here! We are all experts in our own areas of enthusiasm!

However, theme parks also exist to have fun and provide entertainment to large numbers of people. They are also businesses, with high levels of costs and overheads.

In my view railways shouldnt be afraid of being considered a theme park. This term needn't pigeon hole and allows you to specislise in a certain area. In fact we need to embrace the fact that the general public views heritage railways as such and will compare to other 'similar' attractions.
However, customers will also expect the same level of entertainment and also value for money - increasingly important as costs and therefore prices rise.

 

I was about 15 when Disney world opened, and there was all this publicity about scenes and characters, and I remember thinking, 'yes, but what do you do?' I was somehow very disappointed when I heard that actually it was just fairground rides.
But are train rides just fairground rides without screaming? I'm not sure I know how to answer that. I find a distinct pleasure in riding on a standard service EMU on a nice spring day through the Surrey hills, and a greater one riding through Sussex countryside in the Bluebell's 4 wheelers, but at Didcot I'd rather wander round the buildings than take a trip on the demo line.
It's the middle of the night, I'm rambling and not sure what the conclusions are...

 

1940's events on heritage railways. Need I say more.

 

Yup.

 

Worth a mention, 1501 has been given an extension to its boiler ticket which now ends on 8th January 2023 according to the official owning group Facebook group.

 

Regarding the Purple People Eater, hasn’t a great big trick been missed here?

Surely an original spam-can is the ideal tribute loco? Just look at the acres of ‘canvas’ available.

Get the vinyl artists at work - pics of her Maj, Buck House, Windsor Castle, the Family (at least those not under investigation), corgis etc.

Park her up on a bridge over the river - hell you could even use the flat-top for a firework display …..


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4498 has arrived at Bridgnorth this evening by low loader.

 

EMF March update: Erlestoke Manor's boiler was refitted in February. Bradley Manor's boiler was lifted on 15 March.

https://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk/march-2022-update/

 

At the reopening weekend (also Open House), the planned locos are 7714 + 813 on CN1 (Bridgnorth set), 50035 on CS1, and 1501 and 43106 on S2 and S3 (not necessarily in that order for the last two).

 

I'm quite surprised by the indulgence of double heading given the current coal situation has already lead to the railway dropping operating days.

 

It's a special event. Speculate to accumulate....

 

Think that’s only with the smaller engines, I think it’s trying to find a balance between coal usage and mechanical wear on locos like 813 and 7714 compared to say 43106 or 75069.