East Lancs Railway

To be honest, if anything its someone at the ELR having a go at the chairman. If anyone needs to raise his social media game, then it's him.
One of the characteristics of natpres is members seeing a conspiracy behind everything. I think nothing to see here. If you actually click the link, it is all obvious.
Awkward wording yes, but just a coincidence.
Ian

 

The reality is that there are now millions in the population in the category of treating their social media presentation as a serious sport! It's a very serious business now for many having the right photos in the right places.

I strongly suspect it is a reference to that with the ELR tapping into what will be a huge market in Manchester, and not a reference to other troubles.

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I agree wholeheartedly with you; you are silly.

 

Probably something like this…

https://www.blockpartyapp.com

I suspect accident rather than conspiracy.

Simon


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For the second time in a month Simon I’m going to agree with you.
Although I get the feeling a massively huge testicle was dropped by Mr Kelly who compounded his error by saying his account was hacked.
I guess he must have a similar phone to Joleon Lescott

 

Probably a lot of truth in that, but he had to make the choice of using that service. And the timing was very suspicious, given the industry commentators with no preservation interest (e.g. Roger Ford) who ended up on that blocklist just at the time of the initial exclusion.


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I think social media is far more inclusive than any private photos taken on a camera. As free advertising, any mention on social media of family or friends enjoying a visit to ELR is to be encouraged, so I can fully understand why ELR would want to encourage that by mentioning it on their own FB page.

As for it being a dig at Joanne, only those in the know might think that. Having read about it on here, I could be considered one of those 'in the know' but I don't see it as having a dig at anyone.

 

Whoever does the ELR social media has at least half a brain. If you search ELR or have things about the ELR coming up in your social feeds they don't want them to be about Joanne. So by encouraging visitors to "to up thier social media game" as they put it, the are getting people to flood social media with things that aren't about Joanne. Or at least that is what they hope will happen.

It is quite a common tactic. Boris Johnson was a big fan. Whenever there was a scandal he'd do an interview where he talked about nonsense like making buses out of wine boxes. Then everyone searches for that rather than whatever he'd made a complete shambles of this time.

 

I don't know what it is about seeing people referred to by their surname in this way that has always annoyed me, but in an argument about respecting others this does seem more than a little ironic.

In a row about sexism should a female general manager be subject to threats of violence as a result of all this? Categorically not.

Have the ELR management handled this in the best way, No. Has there been reputational damage to the ELR caused by Joanne's statements? Hells Yes, now.

I may have missed something but international women's day flooded my social media before all this became public, with an all female crew on the Flying Scotsmen at Bury, Joanne was not on the footplate, but no men were.

To be clear i believe that any sexual discrimination has no place in society let alone railway preservation.

Looking from the outside the though, the relationship between the railway and Joanne looks pretty unfixable now. If I were in Joanne's shoes I would take my tools, skills and locomotives elsewhere.

 

I see your point but surely the reputational damage has been caused by the ELR’s mishandling of the situation, not by Joanne’s statements which appeared only after the ELR told her she could no longer volunteer. Did they genuinely think she should quietly go away?

 

By locomotives, what are you referring to?

 

Completely agree. Whatever the issues, and whether or not Joanne’s manner contributed to the relationship breakdown, it was ELR that chose to “dismiss” her, and ELR that has chosen to issue statements that are, at best, tone deaf.

That the grievances have both been upheld suggests something is seriously awry at ELR, and the silence about what is being done to make the railway safe for staff and volunteers given the confirmed sexual harassment is unsettling.


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If Joanne has been a drain on their resources, I will do my bit to try and be a drain on their finances, starting with the diesel gala.
Fortunately, I have been able to cancel my B&B.

 

A correct move. I would feel very uncomfortable visiting this railway for ethical reasons on their treatment of women and volunteers.

 

A better move surely is to attend the event but not pay any money to the ELR - e.g. stay at the lineside where the ELR assures visitors that many lineside opportunities are available.

 

That's an option, but could lead to antagonism if someone comes around the lineside with a donations bucket...

 

You could leave an "alternative" deposit in the bucket.....

 

Now that really would be fanning the fire!!

 

It would still allow the ELR to interpret that as 'look at all these crowds that have come out to support us', the ELR still make no money off you, but (unlikely as it might be) an empty lineside and coaches would be a very clear and visible message that people were not in support of their actions.

 

Same, I may have a day off next week and am looking to spend it on a heritage line. But it won’t be the ELR.