Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

The point I feel will be down to good marketing, if you know that certain facilities are only going to be at stations, then you can plan in advance. I think it was @RailWest that pointed out that it is not so much we, the enthusiasts, but the family that needs to know the state of play, do you have clean toilets? Are food areas kept clean to the same standard you would find in a restaurant are walkways clear of clutter? all basic stuff really, but sometimes forgotten about.

Watching the hotel inspector reminds me that it is the little things that the non-railway enthusiast sees which will make all the difference, and as Ken Burnett (Fundraising Guru) will tell you, you are trying to tell a story that will appeal to everyone that in the end will help you raise the money you want for your project.

 

Thanks, Rob that is most helpful

 

After an experience in a Caernarfon hotel, I can confirm wearing my non-enthusiast hat that hotel management in this country leaves a lot to be desired. At this hotel we had to eat at 6.30pm or 8.30pm, and it became obvious that this was because of the necessity to feed at least one coach party. While these customers are their 'overhead recovery' I object to being treated this way as an ordinary customer. But the final straw was when we elected to eat in the bar, and it was invaded by the local brass band who could not fit in the adjacent room with the rest of their party. We got a bottle of wine (of their choosing) but we shall choose smaller accommodation in future.

 

No, no, you room nine, you table six !

 

It would depend how membership cards are produced. If they are produced at a print house then I guess they may not be ready to go out with the AGM paperwork.

 

That may well be relevant given what I understand the membership secretary's business to be

 

Why does the vision of Fawlty Towers come to mind when I think about the L&BR trust?

 

well, it would appear that Fawlty Towers and similar establishments that were equally rude to patrons, were quite successful. Maybe there is a lesson here.

 

I believe that is the case. But in the case of the WSRA, the journal is synchronised so that the AGM papers and the journal can go out in the same mailing.
Ian C

 

Many years ago now, we were guests at the wedding of friends on a HOT summer Saturday in Devon. The reception was held in a hotel in the Paington/Torquay area and the access from the 'wedding breakfast' room to the (quite nice) gardens was via the windows! Needless to say, there were many shouts of 'Manuel''and other FT-related memes during the afternoon

 

Is there any news from the Planning Committee?

 

White smoke or grey smoke ?

 

I believe the Committee is meeting next Tuesday, @echap

 

'Sandbach services still makes me wince when I pass it,'

It is one of the few service areas I religiously avoid... I much prefer Gloucester M5 N&S, and Tebay M6 N&S. Haggis with the breakfast cannot be beaten.

 

I completely agree. And now I’m past the small kids stage, Sandbach is readily avoidable. Gloucester, however, is a nice stop en route to Devon.

 

We’re about an hour in at that point so tend to keep driving.

usually go on the way back though

 

At the risk of adding to the peculiarly British fixation with toilets, I think that corridor connections on 2ft gauge might be best avoided, but that a non corridor centre lav coach in each set might be a nice to have for those who for whatever reason do not feel entirely comfortable with a hour journey without access to a toilet. I think it is unlikely that more than a handful of people would use the loo at an intermediate station. They will far too scared of missing the train, and far too embarrassed to ask it to wait.

Can’t believe I’ve contributed to this sub-thread

P.S. I say hour because it feels to me that the achievable maximum railway for now would be Barnstaple to Blackmoor Gate. (11.5 miles roughly).

 

P

Presumably hauled by LEW ?

 

There's a planning committee? Who'd have known ?

 

I had assumed the OP was referring to the ENPA, but I begin to wonder now if perhaps he was thinking of the Trust?