Paignton Zoo

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/gallery/best-pictures-memories-paignton-zoos-6533885


Paignton Zoo's Jungle Express packs up after 80 years of service

 

The arguments about accessibility as the reason are frankly BS and someone in management trying to pass responsibility from themselves. It certainly would not be impossible to make the train accessible.

 

Agreed, but at what cost, and would that be the best use of finite resources by the zoo's trustees?

 

So be honest and say that it is the cost.

 

I looked again at that quote, and also at the zoo website. The paper has removed text from a news piece on the website that makes sense of it - they’re reorganising how people get round the zoo, which will take over some of the trackbed. By extension, the railway’s fallen victim of that, with (by implication) accessibility a factor in why they’re closing rather than changing the railway.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

https://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/news/the-jungle-express-is-now-departing/

An interesting read and the full story

 

So because a small percentage of visitors cannot use the train, they will prevent everyone using it.
I'm all for accessibility, but I am also in favour of common sense and practicality!

 

Not actually what they say or suggest.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

That’s not quite what they’re saying. They’re redeveloping bits of the site, and the railway, which already discriminated against some of their visitors is affected. They’re not scrapping it, it’s going somewhere else (I know not where).

It’s also a zoo, not a railway museum, and I suspect there’s a point at which the cost and effort of sustaining a railway is greater than the value it brings in.

Simon

 

As far as I know it has gone to Trago Mills, which is a large retail outlet.

 

From the photo captions Prince Philip's visit was in 1978 -he was fortunate to see a loco in a livery not then introduced on BR.

Jon

 

One loco was on display there over the weekend, before going to a private owner. The other loco has gone to Ropley Miniature Railway. No idea about the stock though.

 

As it is inherent in the size of miniature railways that people with mobility issues will find them more difficult, if not impossible to use, to quote accessibility as a reason to close one down seems to me to be just an excuse.
To be fair to Paignton Zoo, yes they were redeveloping part of the site and the railway was in the way. So closing it down to make way for something else is fair enough (however dissappointing that may be to us railway enthusiasts), but making accessibility part of the reason seems like just trying too hard to justify their decision.

 

Stock has gone to the North Cornwall Miniature Railway, which is private with occasional open days

 

So, youhave a minature railway, its in the way of remodelling proposals.

It may well be possible to remodel it, BUT its not 'accessible'

So you spend all the money remodelling it but it remains inacessible, which apart from causeing potential legal issues now or later probably doesnt fit in with how you want to present your Zoo.

You COULD re-equip the line but thats very expensive & you are a zoo not a railway

I can certainly see that accessibility is the 'deal breaker'

 

As someone kind of involved with miniature railways AND a Dad of a disabled child, accessibility is pretty easy on anything 10 1/4" and upwards, and I find it exceptionally rare to find railways that aren't at all accessible these days, heck even most club run 7 1/4" railways are or are putting mitigating factors in place. It feels like an excuse from Paignton to me, not a reason

 

I am also a dad of a pretty severely disabled child. Access is pretty easy on anything 10 1/4" and upwards IF you are dad. A mum with a couple of kids, one disabled, might find the same situation quite impossible. And if your disabled visitor is not a child, but is now a study teenager, or older....I suggest it is not just an excuse.
Same but different. I once visited a place, and the kids decided I wasn't broke enough, so we went to get ice-cream. There was another family with 3 children. Child 1 (the youngest) had been supplied with a large chocolate ice cream, and looked delighted. Suddenly the sign is noticed saying " all the ice creams may contain nuts, or traces of nuts", and the middle child absolutely starts yelling "mummymummymummy- there are nuts, WE can't have these ice creams" and the Mum went along with it. "Clive, get the children away, there are nuts!!!" At this, the oldest child says "Dad, its not fair, only Persephone is allergic. You promised us ice cream", and the youngest one quietly legged it with his ice cream. Dad is trying to reason with the eldest kid, who amongst many trials was saddled with the name Magnus, so I did have some sympathy. Then children 2 and 3 spotted the youngster's masterful move-"Sebastian got an ice cream, that's not fair" Mum is yelling for Sebastian to bring back his icecream, Magnus is yelling at Dad that its not fair, Persephone is yelling at the ice cream seller that they shouldn't be allowed to sell ice cream with nuts. The Ice cream seller is yelling at the dad that the signs are quite clear, and can he please have six quid for Sebastian's two scoop waffle cone. Dad looked into my eyes, seeming to say "this is my holiday, please kill me" and my lot are trying to suppress giggles because they have spotted the fugitive sitting in a tree 50 yards away, swinging his legs and enjoying his ice cream apparently without a care in the world.
Offerings that are not available to all can cause unhappiness and bad reviews on trip adviser

 

Deleted

 

The locos are already in service elsewhere. I caught a clip the other day, sorry can't recall where, showing one in use and another on shed..

 

Post No.14 suggests where they have gone.