Swanage Railway General Discussion

Looking on the internet the last GM of the SR left in 2018 for a job in the commercial railway sector.
Will the CEO role not be an exact replacement for the GM role?.

 

Lymington Pier, Bishop's Waltham, Hayling Island, New Romney, Dungeness, Allhallows, Leysdown...

Not forgetting the Isle of Wight too!

 

apparently there is but it is only available for 60yrs old Diesels having a weekend getaway!

 

"drinking little,eating less and talking lots" that is awfully non supportive isn't it. Sounds quite relaxing for the regulars and townsfolk that used it though!! Just the sort of thing that a lot of retired people with or without an interest in railways like to do.

 

But not really contributing to the Railway's financial health, and potentially getting in the way of those who might want to. Are you really advocating that the SR pander to them them rather than the paying customers? Oops, silly me, of course you are!

 

As any operator of a small cafe will tell you, having "customers" who purchase a cup of tea, make it last a couple of hours and spend the time holding forth on issues of local and national interest to all and sundry is not in the best interests of the cafe. It creates an atmosphere that can be offputting to other customers and can distract staff from their duties.

Whilst there may be good mark up on a cup of tea, ttv (total transaction value) is very important. Selling a slice of cake or sticky bun to go along with the cup of tea can be make or break for a cafes finances.

Cafes require customers to come in, purchase their food and drink, consume, enjoy and go. (and preferably tell their friends and relatives what a great time they had!) It is as simple as that.

 

Might not be as IIRC the last GM was also on the SRC Board as a Director.

 

In the past I've always enjoyed seeing the latest photographs and offerings about the Swanage Railway at National-Preservation. Recently though the tone has changed to being quite nasty. Obviously one or two of our members have a chip on their shoulders regarding the railway and spend their sad lives having a swipe at the railway. I find it such a shame. (BJ)

 

Do not know how the railway is doing this week so far, but there was an army of passengers got off the last train out of Swanage heading back to the campsites at HX when I was there earlier.
So hopefully half term and Jubilee will prove to be a good few days for the railway, and 257 and the U (as the only two steam here this weekend) cover the two train steam service OK.

 

Is it worth alienating your home town base "for a few dollars more". I last used the BNB about five years ago and I loved it and the location and obviously those thirty odd persons( a lot of them from Swanage) who commented on the petition site loved it as well. and there were nearly 400 signatures. Discount all those factors and the loss of social interaction with the residents and visitors,lets just see how the "nest" fares but as you point out Cafes are not for sitting around and talking in are they. Tell that to the French and most Europeans!
Is there any social interaction like that at Corfe Coal Yard. I doubt it.

 

Well, I sort of had that old(Yes I am) fashioned idea that people do like to have a coffee or two ,a slice of cake and some social interaction. You know,the lost art of conversation etc. Is that taboo at a Railway coach in very nice environs,in a Station yet overlooking a busy High St. Do you get thrown out of a Pub if you are not consuming enough, you certainly do not return if you get that impression, or the locals aren't friendly. It sounds as if SR value money above community interaction, its the very community that resuscitated this line and it would be unwise to forget that!

 

Are you saying if it aint warm and fuzzy dont publish it?.A new CEO is coming in,some will applaud what he/she does,others will be upset. THE SR will continue and members will continue to have their say. Messy thing, democracy isn't it?

 

No doubt we'll hear the views from Swanage Railway's No.1 follower from across the pond.

 

Got the street cred right here dated July 1981.
1. To restore the rail line to Wareham (done: about 6 or 7 yrs ago)
2. To run a daily DMU service to connect to the main line....etc
Founding principles from The Swanage Railway Prospectus
but to paraphrase e Elvis;"You gave us a mountain to climb"

 

Why don't you give it a rest please

 

Any fool can see that the wareham Swanage link will lose money the station is too far away from Wareham town and most people who use the bus have free travel if a toc wants to run a service that in my opinion would be the best way forward but i do not see SW Trains rushing to do this just because the link was part of the original aims of the Swanage railway does not mean they should stick to running it.

How many people go to heritage railways by public transport any way i never see hordes getting off at Kidderminster which is very convenient for the Severn valley but the car parks are always full i would rather see the Swanage Railway finish things like the water tower which would save them money

 

It would be interesting to learn how much extra traffic the Bluebell's East Grinstead link has generated - this is a line within easy reach of London particularly for those not having the use of their own car and is surely the most comparable situation to Swanage in terms of looking at the likely financial viability of the Wareham connection. Probably a pointless exercise, though, as logic and real world experience are not going to convince an obsessed fantasist!

 

I think Tom (@Jamessquared) has commented several times that the EG link doesn't bring in huge numbers of passengers, but is useful for bringing in ballast trains and PW equipment which the SR can already do with the physical link in place.
I suspect that this will not suit a certain someone, who will only be satisfied when the SR are running daily loss making trains to Wareham (because a 41 year old document said that they should try to do this), running catering facilities that make huge losses because they are 'social interaction' points and borrowing money to complete projects that they cannot currently afford but apparently must be finished at all costs (according to some).

 

Attention WENG Faction!!
Transport Extra Conference
Subject
Local Transport Planning entering a new era
Read the salient points
because you can be sure the attendees from all levels of government will be. and let us never forget who actually OWNS the trackbed
There is a world beyond Norden Gates!