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Toddington update - Chcken Curve slip

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by audlin, Jan 16, 2011.

  1. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Which is why WE - the enthusiasts - also need to both keep supporting the appeals and getting the message out that the GWR is still in business !
     
  2. Belgrade

    Belgrade New Member

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    Steve,
    I think Richard has a good point about the home page sending a message that's too negative. It depends who most of your customers are (Joe Public or heritage supporters) and what proportion of them come in response to seeing what's on on your web site. If they are Joe Public and the first page of information they see is "Disaster", then it may put them off turning up and spending their money.

    In reality, if you add together the two lengths of line that are/will be operational, it still represents a very sizeable length of run, so the aim should be to attract as many existing and new customers to get to the line as possible, and any negative message from the web site home page may not tactically be a good selling point! However, this aspect of getting the punters in is so crucial to GWSR building up some financial resources that it deserves discussion at the highest level, rather than relatively arbitrary decisions about web site content being made in response to a railway forum.

    Wishing you all the best from cold Belgrade,
    Steve
     
  3. Merlin

    Merlin New Member

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    I think the point about the website homepage being far too negative is right and important. Our experience is that a very significant and a growing number of visitors use the website. Often they will know about the railway but want to check its running times etc.
    I would have thought a bold come and ride and help us message would be a good ploy. Once you get them there you have a much better chance of getting their help.

    Mike
    Rudyard lake steam railway www.rlsr.org
     
  4. daveb

    daveb Member

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    I agree with the last few posters.

    If the top item in the RHS menu on the home page was the "2011 timetable and events" entry, you would get the "2011 season - 2 railways in one!" picture up by default. Add a news item regarding the 2011 timetable and events and that would make the home page so much more positive.
     
  5. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Here's a screenshot of the Severn Valley Railway's homepage from September 2007, just after their floods (taken from the Internet Archive "Wayback Machine" http://www.archive.org/web/web.php) - click on it to see a full-size version. It's saying "Business As Usual", with an extra link to the Flood Appeal.

    svrhomepage.jpg

    Compare this with the image on the GWSR homepage:

    [​IMG]

    Remember, it's not just enthusiasts who look at the website - it's the general public, coach tour operators, and tourist information people too.

    Richard
     
  6. SteveG

    SteveG New Member

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    Thanks for the feedback, very valuable.

    The initial thrust following the Chicken Curve collapse was to emphasis the seriousness of the situation. A re-working of the homepage to a "we're open, this is what we've got this year" look id happening in my development version. I shall have to speed this through!

    Steve
     
  7. Chelt Rail

    Chelt Rail New Member

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    Excellent update to home page. Now clearly a railway (or two) open for business.

    Chelt Rail
     
  8. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    What he said! Good stuff!
     
  9. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Only one question has anything come of a linking bus (vintage or otherwise) service to link the two together? If that was to happen that could help!!!

    Another interesting fact I have noticed is the railway is actually running on more days during the main season with trains 5 days a week from April to September and then 4 days a week during October. (Ignoring the fact that it is 5 days vs 7) that is actually a longer period of running than the SVR, which is interesting.
     
  10. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Steve,

    Wow - excellent make-over of the homepage! My only (tiny) suggestion would be to add a hyperlink to the text saying "2011 timetable and events" under the photo, so people don't have to go hunting for the right place to click for more info.

    Just spotted the photo changing when you mouse-over the navigation bar. Very swish!!

    Richard
     
  11. RASDV

    RASDV Member

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    Good update! Now it is much clearer that the GWSR is (or rather will be) very much open for business.
     
  12. SteveG

    SteveG New Member

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    Thanks for that. I put the full reworked version live in the small hours, hopefully we now have a more positive outlook on the homepage.

    Steve
    GWSR webmaster
     
  13. RASDV

    RASDV Member

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    Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway Appeal Event at the Great Central Railway (Loughborough) Saturday 9th - Sunday 10th April 2011.
    The GCR is holding a GWSR appeal event on 9/10th April to raise funds for the landslip appeals.
    Locos running:
    LMS 8F 48305
    LMS 8F 48624
    GWR 38xx 3850
    and an as yet un annouced guest from the GWSR, that according to the GCR is a: 'locomotive that has never visited another preserved railway before abd is also new into working order and has an interesting story to tell'
    Also the owning group of No:3850 have agreed to let their locomotive stay on for an extended period and in addition will be donating their steaming fees to the appeal.
    More details to follow.
    Find more information on the GCR website.
    Read the Totally-transport.co.uk news item here.
    It could be worth adding this to the GWSR website for maximum publicity.
     
  14. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    Reading heritage railway mag today in WH Smith’s. There is a small article regarding landslips on all preserved railways. All new claims won’t accepted by insurers. I take this would only come in to effect when the new premium is due or can they change the current insurance cover?
     
  15. burnettsj

    burnettsj Member

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    That narrows it down then! I wonder if it's black?
     
  16. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Eight coupled?
     
  17. SirTophamHatt

    SirTophamHatt New Member

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    and a "delight"?
     
  18. paul372

    paul372 New Member

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    Don't forget that the 8F ran on the Swanage Railway after return from Turkey, it is more likely to be 2807, ie new to steam and never been to another preserved railway!
     
  19. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    2807 ran for several weeks at Llangollen
     
  20. Duty Druid

    Duty Druid Resident of Nat Pres

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    Well what a difference a day makes!

    I've just been on the homepage of the website, and must say well done to the GWSR web team.

    It looks nice & clean, uncluttered, informative & very positive & inviting whilst discreetly keeping the appeal in the concious mind with out being 'in your face'.

    Well done folks ( and well thought out)I really do hope that it produces the right result & Joe public keep on coming to the railway.
     

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