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Is it really so bad.......

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by GWR4707, Sep 14, 2012.

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  1. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    Here is the issue

    Loco's, rolling stock and infrastructure are all getting older and needing more complex repairs
    The movement is successful and growing , but more railways and more passengers mean more days running and lots more attendant wear and tear . Preservation relies on ten year tickets , but engines increasing require more ££ to get them through to ten years

    The youthful volunteers who started all of this are now well into retirement years and that knowledge is inevitably lost as people pass on . the latest SVR news notes that with retirements 160 years of cumulative experience has recently been lost . Mirror that across the movement and its frightening.

    What attracts the young into railways today . H&SE makes it harder for them to be hands on (both good and not so good)

    Railway's costs are exponentially rising whether it be fuel or labour or contact costs , whilst peoples real income in declining

    The harsh reality is that we will see main line engines decrease . There are a number which have very little money in the kitty after many years running to fund what will be a six figure overhaul cost

    I also suspect that we will see a high profile line (and I have no idea which) get into financial difficulties and maybe even fail . Many lines rely on donations , legacies etc to keep them afloat and it will only take something to send them over the edge . There thankfully is a resilience in the movement (witness SVR great flood , GWSR embankments) bit will that continue

    Enjoy things while you can
     
    Sidmouth, Sep 17, 2012
    #21
  2. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

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    buseng, Sep 17, 2012
    #22
  3. steamdream

    steamdream Member

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    steamdream, Sep 17, 2012
    #23
  4. Crazy Train29

    Crazy Train29 New Member

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    dont forget that we have also had 3 narrow gauge engines return from a 60 year exile in canada this year. winifred, ogwen and glyder are now back in the uk and will be restored in due course. not bad eh? hang on whats that? 3 locos not enough you say? well how about we bring back king of the scarlets, liassic and michael aswell? And so 6 locos thought never to return to there native soil are now back where they belong. id say thats something we can be proud of as a preservation movement.
     
    Crazy Train29, Sep 18, 2012
    #24
  5. pete2hogs

    pete2hogs Member

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    As usual, the red-tops are focusing on the wrong issues. One steam loco more or less does not the preservation movement make. The real issue is bringing on board - and training - enough volunteers to replace those getting too old to contribute, especially bringing on youngsters that in the future will be potential team leaders, chief engineers etc. Industry is not going to do that for us any more, it no longer needs those kinds of skill.
     
    pete2hogs, Sep 18, 2012
    #25
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