What *would* attract you/your family to visit a heritage railway?

From memory, the UK eats almost twice as much cod as haddock. No doubt local variations exist, but nationally there's a clear difference.

Simon

 

Steering away from the fish and back onto topic:

I'm probably a bit of an unusual case. Most of my heritage railway visits are with my Mrs (who's also a keen enthusiast rather than dragged along) and our dog.

Neither of us drive so public transport accessibility is top priority for us to visit anywhere. We aren't big fans of taxis and most won't take the dog anyway, and my partner can't walk very far due to a dodgy leg. This does restrict our ability to visit some railways to only special events where a shuttle bus is provided.

As well as being close to a railway station/bus stop, it helps if the timetables actually align where possible. With a frequent NR service like Kidderminster, it's less of an issue, but if your 2-hourly heritage railway train departs 5min before the 2-hourly bus arrives (or even just after but with not enough contingency time for delays), then we're probably not going to bother!
This stopped us visiting the NYMR during a recent short break in York, the connection at Pickering was just too tight for comfort!

In terms of what entices us to attend:
- Ideally multiple steam locos in service (except on the shortest lines where that's not realistic).
If we're planning a trip from home or have a choice of dates while staying in the area, we'll pick a two train service day over a one train service wherever possible.
However, if we only have one suitable date, then we will probably still visit.
Although we don't mind taking a ride behind diesel at some point during the day, we won't attend if there's no steam at all.
- A loco roster showing what's running on what day, so we can pick a day with a loco that is of more interest.
- Not needing to pre-book for normal travel, being able to hop on and off, and on a shorter line, having the option for multiple round trips during the day.
- The ability to get a decent cup of tea/coffee at each station (except minor halts). At any 'main' station, we'd expect to at least be able to get a bacon sandwich or a bit of cake as well.
I was quite surprised at one fairly well established railway in the south east whose main boarding station had no facilities for hot drinks, only pre-packaged chocolate/crisps and cans from the shop!
- Although we don't expect to always be able to take the dog with us into catering outlets (though it's greatly appreciated at the railways that do allow it), we do want some covered outdoor seating, especially on damper days.
- Ability to see/photograph the out of service locos. Doesn't have to be a full on museum (though those like Highley, Sheffield Park and Oxenhope are very nice), but at least a viewing gallery in the sheds. My Mrs takes numbers so as long as it's visible, it counts!
- Ability to actually see/photograph the loco that's hauling us. Some nice viewing areas for watching a run-round or passing trains are great.
- Step free access to platforms wherever possible (my Mrs can do steps, but slowly and would rather avoid them). Many railways are great at providing this with staff to manage flat crossings etc, but can be a bit of a pain at some trying to flag down someone to see you across safely.

Value for money is less of a concern, as we're happy that it's going to a good cause, as long as you aren't tacking the mickey (e.g. offering Kids for a Quid but charging £10 for the dog... as a certain railway in Staffordshire does!).

Although we don't travel with kids ourselves, we do appreciate there being facilities and activities provided for them, as it often makes the journey more pleasant for everyone!
Chinnor often do 'on-train' crafting sessions for kids, which I think is a great idea. Much better than having them babysat by a noisy iPad!

Given all of the above, we appreciate that it's a 'use it or lose it' situation with heritage railways at the moment, so we're taking every opportunity to visit that we can, rail strikes permitting.

 

To bring it back more on topic "Is your coal sourced locally (or at least in the UK)?

and staying on topic - what ever happened to the chocolate bar of that name?

 

Try this… https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topic_(chocolate_bar)

 

When I started reading this thread I found it quite interesting.
However, it’s now deteriorated into a load of cod’s-wallop.
Or should that be haddock’s-wallop?

 

It’s just a bit fishy isn’t it?

 

Noooo!

 

If we are looking at this from the perspective of parents looking to treat a few close family members to celebrate the birthday of a one year old (who has a train mad older brother), the first requirement is for the attraction to be open. We will keep this nice and anonymous re geography, but the standard gauge railways near them are all closed that weekend in March so a miniature railway has been chosen instead. If this visit goes well the miniature railway will probably be chosen for the next family jaunt at Easter or whenever…..

 

I just want to visit a line where it looks like people care - which usually means less of the linear scrapyard and things to be generally at least clean even if they are not that interesting.

Decent food is a bonus. Like earlier posters I generally take my own if it's a full day away but would make exceptions for the following, who actually have sensible quality offerings:
South Devon, Chinnor and Northampton and Lamport.

I don't know if it's the expected clientele, but too many seem to think 'bacon/sausage sandwich, tea = job done.' As an interesting thought experiment I'd like to see what railways came up with if we somehow banned those items from sale. My heart sinks even when I see them on the menu (and they are on the menu at the three I've mentioned above!) as it's just lowest common denominator options for the terminally unambitious.

Other than that, as I say, I just want to feel that the people involved are actually interested.

 

I've booked the Cream Tea on offer at Chinnor for a birthday treat with my parents, sister and her boyfriend.

I've never been there and was an excuse to finally visit, will have lunch elsewhere before heading to the railway for a few hours.

We did the WSR fish+chips and cream tea offering last Fathers Day.

Simple food I think is an easy win for railways. They have been on the increase in recent times but think they should be the norm really.

 

Great, great little railway. Absolutely quintessential GWR branchline. If I hadn't got married and moved away, I'd volunteer there.

 

I think you under-estimate the amount of time and money it takes to employ sufficient staff to batch-prepare interesting items for a comprehensive menu and then refrigerate/freeze them for quick service later. Twice my local line has had a really good menu produced by good cooks*... and twice it has fallen by the wayside for reasons I'm not party to. Heavens, in times past I used to go to the café just for breakfast or lunch even on non-running days! Sometimes a bacon/egg/sausage bap is all people want - something quick before the next train.

*Those of us who remember Chris will know what I mean.

 

I really don't.

However, I take my own food generally because in far too many cases I'm not prepared to eat what a line is serving.

 

Have you tried working in Hospitality at the moment?

 

Yes recruiting and retaining kitchen staff has become increasingly difficult over the past few years. Many staff employed in such a role at tourist attractions were on National Minimum Wage. One of the consequences of the regular increases in the nmw (and I am not suggesting that those on the nmw did not deserve the increase) was that it made some catering operations less viable particularly at heritage railways low season and on the non running days. Cooking and serving food to the standard demanded by customers takes some skill and sadly many heritage railways have discovered just how difficult it can be to do that day in day out. Furthermore many staff want a year round job not just seasonal as it is on so many hrs and thus recruitment and retention becomes more challenging.

 

Unfortunately in this country we really don’t seem to value those who work in hospitality.
I’ve had some very interesting conversations with a couple of people who used to manage me sounding me out if I’d like to return…
They’ve been politely declined.

 

The issue to me regarding Catering at an HR is a total irrelevance as I eat to live (much to my wife's annoyance) and like many would take my own for sheer convenience if nothing else.
However I accept for many it is important part of the visit and there the location of the line must make a great impact. So if you think of Whitby, Swanage, Minehead, Dartmouth to name a few there is little point in any great investment in catering as there are so many options within a few minutes walk. Now somewhere like Sheffield Park it is far more important as you have a captive market forced by the location.
But for all the benefits say a Sheffield Park has it comes with that big downside of providing good food to meet the demand and not having loads of stuff ending up in a waste compactor. So on a bad day your benefit may become a negative. Thus risk and reward are not always easy to match.

 

There are a lot of good points being made and a common theme is that HRs should try to make more of an effort at telling/explaining more about what is in view. Often the staff/volunteers do this as part of their job when asked, but perhaps there could be a coach in the train with a "storytelling/explaining" guide?
I know the GCR has offered "Boscastle" guided tours of the engine shed once a month, but this has been temporarily deferred due to covid and now the engine shed refurbishment. Many visitors have appreciated this facility.

 

Swanage Railway sort of do this with the Devon Belle Observation Car when an onboard Pullman liveried steward gives a potted history of the Observation Car and how it came to be at Swanage. The £3 supplement is worth paying particularly when travelling from Norden to Swanage (and the loco is at the other end and thus the view is uninterrupted.)

 

I think the railways have a lot to learn from some of the heritage museums about telling the story. For example one reason I go back to Aerospace bristol museum because they are quite good at having displays etc that explain the heritage and history and not just a collection of artefacts