Mid Hants

I have been around most of the preserved Railways in England and Wales most very friendly some not so but i went to the Mid Hants a couple of weeks ago [The last time was about 1990] it seems the people who work on this line have got their heads up their backsides just so arrogant is this a general thing on this line. I was at the swanage line the week before they were totally the opposite very friendly.

 

I would recommend emailing or ringing the railway directly if you have a complaint. I think there is contact information available on their website.

*I am not representing the railway*

 

Speaking as I find, I have always found Medstead very friendly and I usually spend most of my time there when I visit the Mid Hants. It has a great country station atmosphere and there is a decent pub in the nearby village!

 

A question if I may?, was the problem with heads and backsides in 1990 or in the present?

Can you be more specific or were you having a bad day too?, (which of course we all have), or are you having a wind up.

Kind regards
Chris:

 

I've never, ever, had a problem at the Mid-Hants.

Regards

 

Hmmm - no date, no location, no explanation of the problem - not a lot to go on here....

Was this during the Gala?

 

To have a head up ones backside, usually needs one's self with a backside exposed.

I don't suppose you were having a bad day too ?

Ive been to mid hants several times and never complained,really am impressed with the line, at the gala i had a good natter at the shed and learned a lot about s15's, that said I did show up at Swanage and was offered a footplate ride without even asking... But I'd consider that above and beyond friendliness and it was much appreciated.

 

We do our best, as do most at every other preserved line. However we do find that there are those who, unless everything is as they want it aren't impressed.

I'm not suggesting that this is the case above, but until the specifics are revealed it is hard not to be a tad cynical.

 

Heritage railways have lots of volunteers, and even volunteers have bad days sometimes. I'm sure the railway will welcome any feedback you give to them DIRECT, with as much detail as possible. Date, location, time, was it ticket office/platform/cafe/shop/train/loco staff? Were they responding to something you asked? Otherwise, the railway is going to struggle to change anything.

Richard

 

nine elms fan, I had a similar experience at a heritage railway which I will not name in April this year. It was my first visit and I found that staff were generally disinterested in the visitor, and one in particular was quite obnoxious to me. I don't deny that it has coloured my view of the railway. However, I most likely will visit there again in the future as one individual's attitude need not reflect that of the railway generally. If I found the same attitude time and again I probably would be moved to complain/stop visiting.

 

I visited the Mid Hants on the sunday of the Gala and was disappointed at the end of the day to get thrown out of the yard. I appreciate that bringing the locos on to shed is a dangerous business, and the light was fading but there were a small number of us and we were all happy to move out of the way and stand where we were asked. This is always my favourite part of the day at Ropley and I couldn't make it the night before when the organised photo session was taking place. I felt that the volunteer who asked us all to leave was a little heavy handed at the back end of an excellent day's gala.

 

...who'd probably been there since 6 in the morning working his socks off!

I can't particularly comment or make a judgement on this post except to say that the yard on Sunday night was not a place where you wanted extra people. I brought the 9F home with the U that night and we were really pushed for space, the yard at Ropley obviously not being a huge area. As a driver, given the constraints I've outlined above together with fading light I have to say that I think it was the right decision to clear the yard - it's one less thing for us to worry about.
As I alluded to in a previous post there are 'enthusiasts' who are a right royal pain in the butt, are difficult to deal with and can detract from the enjoyment of those who try and put on galas etc. (yep, we try and enjoy it too) - perhaps the person who gave you your directions had had a few of these to deal with before you. Even as a driver I had a few of these on the Sunday, they really do try your patience.

 

Whilst I quite agree with your points regarding the closing of the yard, just because you have been there since 6am does not in any way allow you to be heavy handed with visitors. Yes, the railway wouldn't run without volunteers, but no visitors will have the exact same result. Manners don't cost anything, and even when faced with a right sod of a visitor - I've met them too - you are representing the railway, they are merely representing their own ignorance.

 

I agree with everything that you say here, its just at the time it was a real shame. I've been in the yard before at the end of the day and was really surprised when we were asked to leave.

 

It was an attempt at levity - perhaps a bit above your head....

 

As he is looking at this thread as I write this, perhaps "nine elms fan " would like to comment?

Or is their a hidden agenda?

Regards
Chris

 

In 1990 everyone was very friendly i went to ropley and was looking around the loco"s a chap in overalls come over to me and gave me a personal tour of the works then went to alresford everyone was great, my wife and i had been to dorset for a break as said went to swanage railway had a great day on the saturday and said we"ll look in on the mid-hants on the way home went to ropley to see the engines and was told to leave the premises straight away by someone in blue overalls not the same one as 1990, i know theres Health & Safety laws but there is a way asking someone to leave telling them to get out and dont park your car there its staff only if you open your eyes. with that my wife who was sitting in our car said we are obviously not welcome here lets go home.

 

Being what!!! I feel an attitude already

 

I don't understand why you have singled out the MHR for? When you say "most of the preserved railway in England and Wales most very frendly". Which tells me that other railway are also not friendly. You can't base how friendly the MHR is by one visit. Reading the gala thread there seems to be a very positive note towards the MHR unlike your post.

 

A bit more detail - that's clearly not acceptable. I would make your feelings known to the people down at Alresford, even if it's just to vent your feelings. I'm afraid I don't have the numbers, although I suppose I should have learnt them by now after 26 years volunteering.