Lineside Permits

Not a guide for a specific line, but more a guide for you photographers who would like to go lineside. I have compiled a list of information on what various lines offer on going lineside to take pictures.

GWSR
·Day pass £8 / Year £35
·Members £15 per year, Membership £14
·Check the website for more details
http://www.gwsr.com/html/lineside_passes.html

SVR
·Available to members only £20
·See website for membership costs

Bluebell
·£32 to non-members, £16 to members – Annual passes only
·See website for more details
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/blueb ... eside.html

WSR
·£19 Feb-to-Feb for non-members, £13 Members
·Further details on website
http://www.wsr.org.uk/photographers.htm

NYMR
·Members Only at £16
·Pass £20 plus PTS course at £20 (PTS valid for 2 years)
·Contact; Lineside Permits, NYMR, Pickering Station, YO18 7AJ.

KWVR
·Members only, Membership £16, Pass £16 too
·Contact; Stewart Reid, 15 Charles Court, Oxenhope, Keighley, BD22 9HG

GCR
·Annual passes, £25 members, £35 non-members
·Available Loughborough Booking Office
·Check website for more details
http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/more/photnews.htm

NNR
-Available to anyone over 14 (14-17 must be accompanied by over18)
-50% discount for members
-Check website for details
http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/linesidepasses.htm

Spa Valley
-Available to members only at a cost of £25
http://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/SpaMembership_04.htm

No Passes available at the following:
Churnet Valley
East Lancs
Llangollen
Lakeside Haverthwaite
Mid-Hants
Swanage

If anyone has anymore info tell me and I shall update the list, be it an apdate for a line on the list or info for one that is not presently listed.

*Note: BBCode's not working for some reason?

 

You had Disabled BBCode in your post.

 

Churnet Valley are advertising day passes for their gala on 23/24 February. Don't know if they are available on other days.

 

Its a one-off trial, shall see hwat their results are however.

 

Just curious about somethings.

What area around the line does a lineside pass cover?

How do they enforce a lineside pass?

If you are standing on a road, or public path, how could they enforce the pass.

Asking as I am planning on returning home to England sometime in 2009 and would like to visit some of the old lines I used to visit, and some I never have and don't want to set a foot wrong!

 

I know they generate the line some money but you can simply put some money into one of their collecting boxes instead. It may just be my photographic style as it has evolved over 40+ years of camera linesding but personally I find if I research in advance I don't feel the need for one. There are a few exceptions to the rule (the now inaccesible Grosmont tunnel south end shot is one) but the right side shots I can get from public places give locations as good as, or better than, the close up opportunities I would get if I had a wrong side lineside pass.

With regard to paying the railway concerned it is about personal honesty I suppose and not free-loading. I make sure I spend some money in their car-park, in the shop/cafe or whatever if I visit a line but that day I am not riding. Example going up to the SVR on Saturday to take some photo's at Kidderminster and attend the afternoon "Electric Forum"/SLS meeting and the SVR will get some income from me on the day even though I won't have time to have a train ride to Bewdley and back.

 

Generally the lineside pass is not considered as revenue earning for heritage lines. Most railways now insist on lineside safety training (PTS) before allowing you to wander alongside the track, in the same way that staff working on the lineside are required to be trained. This is for your own safety and that of the travelling public and staff. The fee charged is to cover the cost of training and administration.

 

I believe the Spa Valley also offer lineside passes but you would need to call Tunbridge wells west to find out for sure!

 

Yes- the Spa Valley started issuing them last year. Cost was about £25 including a year's membership.

 

I've just recently signed to lineside passes with the KWVR and SVR but have never do it before, you wanted to take a photo of say for example, a train arriving at Damens loop (KWVR). Will you have to ask a member of the volunteer staff or just walk by the side of the line being cautious? Wearing of course an orange visability vest.

 

If you have a lineside pass it is okay for you to go to your selected location so long as you stand in a safe position, with your hi-vis and acknowledge any whistles given by a train.

However a lot of footplate crew / rly staff do appreciate it if you inform them of what your plans are so that they can keep an eye out for you.

 

if you have a full PTS from another presrved line ....do you think that it could be used as a certificate to say you know how to walk a line or do you think that most lines would still insist on making sure you know how they like you to do things?

or would it be best to just phone about and ask first if its a possible thing to do?

 

Does anybody know if the K&ESR issues Lineside Permits? (and if, how one gets one)

 

On the KWVR you don't have to alert nobody, you can just walk onto the track side wear your badge and follow the rules posted to you and you'll be fine, when i first started doing trackside on the KWVR it was the first railway i did trackside on and they don't require you to have PTS experience etc... so i didn't know you had to whistle at the train [-( but i soon got told, but on the NYMR i had to go sit the exam and you have to alert the nearest signalman or ring a number and tell them where you intend on going on the line and then they make a note of it in a book. I suppose different railways will do it differently, i know on the GC you have to have PTS or something, but i don't know if i'd be able to use my NYMR but im not 18 yet so i can't get one #-o

 

You don't have to have PTS or anything like that, you're giving a safety briefing as well as the rules which are set out for the safety of the photographer, as well as a high vis vest with a number printed on it, which makes it easy for anybody to report you to the booking office for flouting the rules.

I know one photographer who managed to get his pass revoked in the space of two days from it being given to him.

 

*deleted*

 

No lineside permits are available on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. Too much red tape (partly with our original LRO) and responsibility on our shoulders. Besides, loads of footpaths which give better views!

 

Does anyone know which railways would issue a pass to a 15/16 year old?

 

I'm sure the North Norfolk offer these, I certainly did it when I was 16 & 17, but apart from that, I can't think of any more. I had the same predicament last year, but to be honest, you don't need a permit for most railways.

Thanks,
Lewis