Foxfield Summer Gala

That should become the NatPres motto.

 

This thread talks about air displays and Vulcan. I'm confused! Are they planning brake van rides by fitting a 3-link coupling to a jet bomber? That would be some serious thrash...

 

My personal experience at a Foxfield gala involved walking the line approx. four years ago due to its length. I arrived at the colliery, only wishing to watch the loco shunt and then leave again, but was told I needed a ticket to do so. At the time, there was no notice on the entrance to the colliery, and only a small makeshift hut with a man sitting in it (which could have been anyone). I didnt pay, as I felt uneasy of the whole situation and just walked back. At least now the railway now seems to be making it aware that you will be charged for access to the fields surrounding the colliery (see http://foxfieldrailway.co.uk/event_article.php?Summer-Steam-Gala-15):

I don't agree with this though, and feel the railway will put off visitors (myself included). What if you only plan to visit the `adjacent fields' for 10-30 minutes - you have to pay for a full rover? Whats the point if you don't plan to ride? Had the railway suggested a donation of, say, £5 a head, i'd have been more than happy to contribute.

 

So if you went to a sporting event but only wanted to watch the first half, lunchtime session only, the first set etc., should the organisers let you in cheap? It's not the railway's fault you don't want to savour the action on Foxfield Bank for the full day. For the fireworks it produces, the cost of entry is very reasonable IMO.

 

In previous years the "day rover" fee doesn't seem to have dissuaded many from paying as there's invariably a good crowd in the fields. I think £5 would be under pricing it.

 

Hmm, thinking back to certain years...!

 

Based on your example (sporting events), you would suggest people who go and watch the fifth day of a cricket test match should pay the same as those who saw the first day?

The fact that I don't wish to stay there for the full day is something for the railway to think about. I had no intention of setting up a tripod and video camera, etc - I just wanted to watch the 0-6-0 red loco (the name of which escapes me) push a couple of wagons into a siding and run around its train. Not really £15 worth in my opinion - regardless of which railway you are at. I completely understand that the Foxfield is a smaller line, but like I say - why pay £15 if you have no intention of riding? At the end of the day, I was prepared to give a donation (£5 used as an example), but in the end the railway got nothing and I started walking back.

I also don't believe that what I am saying is completely unreasonable, as I wasn't the only one in that situation on that day. I spoke to three other gents who also had just arrived in a car (one of which had a camera IIRC), all told the same thing.

 

How do you police it then? "I'm only staying for an hour so I'll just pay the £5 reduced rate." How does the railway know that you will have left the site on schedule? As for the cricket example, the final day of each of the Sri Lanka tests were by far the best days of the series so a full price ticket would still have been good value. I'm going to the Who gig in Birmingham in December so can I have a cheap ticket as I don;t want to listed to the new album material? Doubt it. Whilst I'm sure you would have been honourable and left after seeing the shunting, I have no doubt at all that many others wouldn't be so honest.

 

Another point worth considering is the railway may have to pay some sort of fee to the farmer for allowing observers access to the fields. In which case the £15 may well reflect that as well as limit numbers to avoid to much trampling of the pasture.

 

..

 

I trust you weren't actually walking along the line as this is trespass and people found doing so will be asked to remove themselves from the line and all railway property.

We have always made it clear that access to any area of the railway is subject to purchase of a day rover ticket and, as mentioned above, how can we police things such that we know you are only going to be there for a few minutes. Most people come for the day, arriving at Caverswall Road Station and then making use of the 'free' bus service to access the colliery site. Obviously there are overheads to be covered and as most of the action for the enthusiast is the 'coal' trains on Foxfield bank which are obviously not capable of earning revenue through normal means (i.e. passengers) we do have to ensure that the costs are met. Without the contribution of the enthusiasts who are more than happy to pay the entrance fee we would not be able to put on the spectacle that we do on Foxfield bank. So to those who continue to attend and contribute I would like to say 'Thank You' and we look forward to seeing you very soon.

 

So per the Foxfield website all locos are working passenger AND(not or) freight trains, so which passenger trains is the crane tank working please?

 

All locos will work the freights, all loco's save for Dubs will work passenger trains. The "Glasto" vs field event is interesting, but at the end of the day 2/3 of the coal bill will be spent on the bank for the enjoyment of our paying guests. The Society is a charity, but if it cant generate a return on events it will have no future, its as simple as that. In truth when marketing, transport and coal is paid for we make a few bob - if it rains we are on the wire - or worse.

Vulcan is in the shed, no sign of wings when I last looked !

The "Beyer" is back with us and is being repainted, it will look a treat next to Vulcan. As Sidmouth said we have been very busy with the heritage train - it will be on display over the weekend. Look forward to seeing you all over the weekend, we have a cracking event planned.

 

Live long and prosper head board for Vulcan has gone missing, thought to be something to do with the clingons but we cant be sure. I know a great deal of you are fond of headboards and may find this sad news hard to take.

 

In that case, it needs a 'Headboard farewell' headboard pronto!

 

Probably still there -just using a cloaking device

 

Not considered that, but how would we know - it could be a trick ?.

 

It's a headboard Dave but not as we know it.

 

If only we had a driver called Jim.