Peak Rail Annual Report and Action Group

For the east midlands gcr and evr to me are the best. Dont know about crich that much only been once, lovely place, trams dont interest me hugely. MRC butterly is ok has a big collection of diesels and like the museum just has a bleak look about it, Again has a nice lms/MR coach collection in various states of repair or restoration

 

Peak Rail lost another market - Manchester - to the East Lancs. back in the day either could have had Manchester but the ELR played the breaks better and Bury was easier to get to by train even from South Manchester than Buxton.




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I visited the Midland Railway Centre about a year ago and I agree: the site just looked extremely tired. Swanwick felt like a huge desolate site with barely anything happening; the only part of the site which seemed busy, well-run and cared for was the West Shed. The coaches looked to be in very poor cosmetic condition, even the set in use; and I recall there being things like signals on running lines whose arms had largely rotted off but had not been repaired.

 

The Princess Trust and their West Shed know what they're actually doing and always seemed to have one or two volunteers turn up to be dedicated just to interacting with the public. Or will drop what they're doing in order to talk with you.

Much like mentioning certain people at Peak Rail brings in the scorn, the same can be said about the MRC-B and a few individuals there. It's a shame as they could be a half decent place but they were having financial issues back when I stopped volunteering up there, and it seems to have only become far more acute since.

 

I apologise to the moderators, but I would like to reply to the comment above re Crich.
If you have noticed that the National Tramway Museum [Crich Tramway Village] are advertising for more volunteers, then I would suggest they are doing exactly the right thing. As a volunteer at Crich I have not noticed a crisis in volunteer numbers, but it has to be recognised that volunteers are getting older and those who operate the trams have to retire at 75. Those that remember steam on our national net work, or first generation trams are now pensioners. Also gone are the days when it was quite normal to take early retirement, it is now more likely to be late retirement. I fear for the future of some of our Heritage Railways over the next 10 years including some in the East Midlands.
Crich is not an island, and there is a smaller pool of people to call upon who are interested in trams, although hopefully the modern generation of trams in Sheffield, Nottingham etc. will continue to generate interest in their heritage. That said there is not the proliferation of schemes as there are in the Heritage Railway movement, some of which are unsustainable, I would suggest.

 

Recent postings appear to me to be going well off topic.
Speculation about stone traffic might be better in a sub thread in the Peak Rail general thread

 

You know, for me these preserved railways are not about railways, they are about people who share a common interest in railway. In particular the reversing of the railway closures in the 60s and the preserving the railway scene in its entirety from that era. The original aim of of Peak Rail as everyone knows was to re-open the line between Matlock and Buxton.

If, in the ensuing 43 years, this had been achieved it realty would be one of the country's premiere lines. Although this has not been achieved, nearly 4 miles has been re-opened through the hard graft of a large number of people.

Now it feels like we are at a cross-roads due to Peak Rail's perceived financial situation, the potential EGM and Peak Rail's press announcement into the feasibility for re-opening the whole route in conjunction with the local quarries. So here are some questions to ponder:

What should the purpose of Peak Rail be now, noting that originally it was to open the line between Matlock and Buxton? Should/Could that still be a purpose?

What are the top objectives that Peak Rail should set itself to resolve the conflicts and issues that are clearly evident?

What would be the desired outcome by the end of the year, that would put Peak Rail in a good place to move forward and make progress on its purpose and objectives?

 

I think reorganising itself with maybe a fresh set of eyes and new vision for the end of year. From what ive read and understand it cant continue as it is, as its just going to fail and implode. I could be wrong mind due. I think buxton should be left as i dont see it happening at all. If the top rank changes. Then have a solid plan .
1) Get finances in order and money in the bank and get creative with revenue generation. Stop the pointless litigation its ends in disaster all the time.
2) give volunteers and members a new vision and realistic goals to achieve, open book ideas to get ball rolling from all. I believe morale not that high im guessing with the disputes. Move away from hostile management and show transparency and strong fair leadership thats organised
3) Get all the resident owners and groups together. Get a shared plan for rolling stock and co ooperation on improving facilities for repair and restoration and it should attract some good guests get it back PR as place to go for interesting haulage.
4) any extension going to be hard.1) should be look at what you have at the moment improve and build on whats there 2) get to rowsley village and upto old A6 bridge. Filling the gap gonna be a big task but not impossible and 3) Ithink bakewell would be an exceptable target. Remember the biggest point. Youve got be able look after it after youve built it all.

Hope that provide some ideas

Neil

 

I'm a long standing Peak Rail Plc shareholder and Peak Railway Assoc member. Midlandsouthern makes many of the same sensible suggestions that frustrated shareholders and members have been making to no avail in recent years. It has proved nigh impossible to remove ineffective Directors from the Boards or change the direction of travel.

There are some excellent people at PR striving to make progress, but unfortunately there is an entrenched managerial clique that lacks the skills to market and develop the railway, and it pretty much operates without reference to or consultation with shareholders and members. We play no part in shaping the railway's strategic direction and neither Board makes any effort to explain themselves, much less invite debate or criticism. I can't recall ever seeing any Board minutes of meetings, or strategic business plans, or costed project reports. Pete Waterman is now our President (zero details about his remit or the circumstances of his sudden appointment) and the Quarry Companies are going to be invited to help rebuild the line, apparently!

Unfortunately any attempt to make changes, modernise and learn from successful heritage attractions is resisted with extraordinary zeal. Dissent is not tolerated, as many exasperated former Directors, staff and members have found to their cost!

I'm heartened by the stimulating debate about PR's future, there is still some goodwill out there and a desire to see PR prosper. Let's hope that enough shareholders see through the current Board spin and have the opportunity to make themselves heard at an EGM.

 

Peak rail should have no reason not to have a good future. I find it mystifing why learning of the big league for ideas and events cant apply to peak rail its works for them very well as they wouldnt do it other wise. Is met with such resistance amd ruthless zeal. I mean what does it achieve what do they invisage the railway to be and look. I would be surprised if they actually know what they want, another thing well big thing is continuiaty. Who will replace them. They wont be there forever, who step into the shoes is the future? I support vulcan works and the others who are keeping going adding bits to the railway improving as they go.

 

This makes for interesting reading, but as with all dysfunctional dictatorships, (if that is an accurate description) once it ceases serving the needs of the majority, it gets overthrown and we start again. Its abundantly clear that the best organisations, and this is especially true of Heritage Railways, have the most success when there is a team mentality and that team is pulling in the same direction and singing from the same hymn sheet. Culture is set from the top, but leadership can come from anywhere.

I find it little short of incredible that PR isn't already at Buxton. The line is virtually clear, the Park Authority sound generally supportive, and there is a very decent population base from which to make a market...

I would suggest, form my uninformed perspective, just from reading this, that if there is a significant body politic who want more say, they should take the initiative and get more say Bolshevik style.

This line has the potential to be easily one of the best in the country, the potential is huge. Nay. Massive.

 

Back in t'day this wasn't the case, the old Buxton Railway Centre site wanted to expand down along the Peak Forest Line towards Monsale Dale station, British Rail authorities at the time just weren't interested about a line along their Peak Forest track. If I remember rightly as well, the Peak District Park wasn't overly enthused at the time either. It's partially why Peak Rail took the (now somewhat short sighted decision) to flog bits of the Midland Station site off, with a hospital and old people's home now threatening to eat up as much of the site as possible, with "legal consultation" now allegedly being sought by the developers.

These days there's 60-odd years laying bare the enormous benefits that heritage lines bring to the table thanks to various lines maturing. On average for every £1 spent generally on a heritage line, a further £2.70 gets spent in the vicinity be it on accommodation, restaurants etc.

I am honestly a little surprised that there aren't more railways like the Dartmouth Steam Railway, a purely for-profit operation running steam trains because the business case for such an operation, especially somewhere as outstanding as the Peak District, seems so strong.

 

My understanding - others may correct me - is that there are genuine challenges with landowners and how a reinstated railway might integrate with the path that uses part of the trackbed. That said, I also find it incredible that 30 years after reading how Matlock to Buxton would be restored in fairly short order, the line is still what it is.

 

I hope they get out of this rut. Peak Rail have the potential to be the most scenic railway in preservation.

 

Is it the case that haddon estate arent too enthusiatic about it returning i heard that one abit. Buxton is nice town, PR returning i would say is remote but not impossible seeing it back. Times moved on and lack of space for sufficent at tbe midland site probably be a challenge. Any extension should least get to A6 missing bridge and old station and go from there.
Is there plans already drawn up plans for rowsely village extension lying around somewhere waiting?
A whole different culture of leadership and direction is needed. Just take look at elr or svr for success and p&dsr as commercial profit company.
I do have soft spot for the peak route.

 

The push from Riverside to Matlock helped to focus effort leading to a successful outcome. This is similar to the extension of the Bluebell line to East Grinstead, though there there was the added impetus in the form of changes to landfill taxes. As with any push it needs to be followed by a period of consolidation but that time has now passed. What is needed is another achievable task. Unfortunately Buxton is too ambitious to fit this goal.

 

But is it? I mean, you could consider an RVR/GCRN-style "spin off" organisation (Monsal Rail, anyone?) that could set up shop down at Buxton and begin biting into those 12+ miles of stunning rail line from Buxton-Bakewell. Do it in stages, different fundraising pools, grants etc.

The political climate for the railway has certainly changed meaning planning permission is unlikely to be as much of an issue, and a number of stations just need a bit of sprucing up in order to have trains arriving at them. Monsal Dale is kept in good condition as a stop on the Trail, with platforms 1 and 2 kept clear of the trail proper in order for the railway to return and would be a great first aim and stop.

 

Peak Rail have had their chance but missed it. The Monsal Trail is phenomenally popular and allows more people to experience the most dramatic section of the line on foot or bike than would be the case as a steam line. To close the trail for tourist trains is unthinkable now. Even to put a single line in with walkers and cyclists alongside will still meet with a lot of resistance.

 

Would a push up A6 be the next focus push get back up too rowsley village station. Get nice station location. Can be your own broadway station rebuilt a fine MR station. Beyond there would be challenge. Do plans exist for a rowsley extension waiting to be used?

 

Has the number of heritage lines within the UK reached saturation? If not could Buxton provide the location for a new heritage railway completely separate from PR, with different directors but with a similar ambition to that of PR? I haven't been to Buxton recently but if the number of visitors to that town is anything like the number that flocked to Matlock and Matlock Bath on Thursday last week there should be a ready made market for a new visitor attraction even if the running line is initially (by necessity) very short.