Disabled access at preserved railways

As mentioned in the types of preserved railways thread, which railways are suitable for disabled persons and what facilities do they have available

 

Okay, I'll contribute, I've dragged my mum around a few over the years.

I'll start with the biggies.

NYMR

Toilets at major station.
One wheelchair coach, others use either van area, with seat added for accomp. passengers. Often a TSO marshalled next to van with tip up seat in 1st bay to allow disabled passengers to travel in main saloon however, the door width into saloon limits those that can get through

SVR

Mk1 set and Gresley set, both with toilets. I think one GWR set has a wheelchair space as its an ex guard with wall taken down...

Toilets at major stations, although the Bridgnorth station, although radar key operated needs the narrow handled version as the doorframe gets in teh way with the larger ones!

GCR

One wheelchair coach with toilet. No station toilets that I can think of.

Access at all stations except Loughborough are easy, although surface of car park and path to platform ramp far from ideal

 

WSR

Good access to major stations, with toilets at most stations (certainly BL and MD) Wheelchair carriage, with electric lift on one set and all others fairly pleasant. Probably one of the best for wheelchair access

ELR

Used to have a wheelchair carriage, was burnt out, as of last visit yet to be replaced. Wheelchair carried in BSK with cage etc still in situ. Was not a popular choice last time we went! Toilet facilities at major stations.

MRC

Toilets ok, improved now there is some sort of hard standing path from Butterley stn to the toilet block. Disabled facilites in West shed are very nice. On train, usually carried in either the BSK with cages etc or the BG used for parties, so not totally unpleasant

 

KWVR

Toilets at Howarth and I think Oxenhope, no specific provision on trains

MHR

Toilets at ALton and Arlesford

Very nice Bulleid brake to carry wheelchairs on one set although no toilet

 

At the Ffestiniog we have recently put a ramp into the booking office and then the floor is flat through all our building at Harbour station. To get onto the train we use a metal ramp that is about 6 foot long and reaches from the platform up to the carriage's. If a disabled passenger is wanting to travel with us we will have the ramp ready in place and they go through one of our wider doors and then they can either stay in their chair or sit on our seats. All our trains carry portable ramps and these fold out to give the required length to safely bring them down from carriage to platform. We also have to make sure our trains toilets are big enough for a disabled person and most disabled bays are next to or in the same coaches the toilet so they don't have to travel very far if they need to use the facilities. Porthmadoc, Tanybwlch and Blaenau Ffestiniog all have disabled toilets too and the facilities at Porthmadoc and Blaenau also include a baby changing facility.

 

My daughter's wheelchair has been carried (with her in it) in the brake area of the Mk 1 coaches on the NVR. They carry a ramp there to aid getting on & off.

One niggle with some disabled people is that no one has yet found a way of getting a wheelchair onto a footplate. Hmmm... if a loco was nearing completion of a restoration and was not yet reunited with it's tender, some planking might be use to provide an access.

 

Nene Valley

Toilets at Wansford

Although no specific wheelchair coach, as the mk1 brake is used as a buffet, the environment in the brake section is quite pleasant

Swanage

Toilets at Swanage

Although no specific wheelchair allowance on train, removal of cages and separate buggy storage elsewhere on train make it ok for the length of journey

 

embsaay and bolton abbey steam railway fully acsessable toilets a disabled carrige in each train with seats next to guards compartment car parking at boath stations is on the level with the platforms and toilets

 

MAINLINE STEAM CHARTERS

complete waste of time

Nothing whatsoever, unfortunately preserved lines have shown them up. Even with mk2 rakes, although wheelchair spaces are found, it seems impossible to guarantee these will be on teh train until it turns up on the day

 

Ravenglass and Eskdale,

Toilets at each end, access to carriages via removable side panels and seats. Very good for a 15" gauge line

 

Bluebell has a special page devoted to it on its website

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/blueb ... ccess.html

There is also the converted Mk.1 no 5034

 

they cant do that its disability discrimination there re plans afoot for a disabled loco for wheelchairs

 

RHDR also have converted carriages for use on their trains

http://www.rhdr.org.uk/rhdr/stock.html#disabled

 

An interesting thought is that I was told that the rules have been changed from reasonable changes to it must be accessible. Most disabled people I know accept that they cannot gain access to everywhere, but appreciate the efforts when made. Quite who has altered the rules, shutting the upper floors of many shops that cannot justify a lift is beyond me.

 

On the Kent & East Sussex we were the first railway to provide a coach for the disabled that included a toilet. We were told by BR experts that it couldn't be done, so we did it!

Petros was originally a BSO which was donated to the K&ESR by BR to mark the Year of the Disabled 1982. Much of the work was undertaken at Stewarts Lane by BR apprentices under the direction of a founder member of the K&ESR’s C & W Department who himself has a disabled son and named Petros at their request. The coach was inaugurated into service by the late Queen Mother on a visit to Tenterden. During 1986 the guard’s compartment was reinstated to give the vehicle additional flexibility.

There are also disabled facilities at Tenterden, Northiam and Bodiam stations.

 

The IOW has a vintage carriage which which has been converted so expertly by taking two side panel's and turning them into opening outward doors and one seat removed with wheelchair restraining straps.

Has anyone looked at the "Project 62" which has bought back recently from Bosnia a USA TC tank for conversion for the disabled. It is based at Ropley on the MHR.

CCT MAN

 

East Lancashire Railway

There are disabled ramps in each brake coach of all running sets.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, there used to be a Wheelchair Access Coach but was burnt out one Wednesday/Thursday evening a few summers ago whilst marshalled in Platform 4 at Bury. The coach was in the centre of the set and as a result, the coaches at either end received smoke damage.

All stations are mostly on the level...
Heywood has a purpose-built ramp for disabled persons to get onto the platform.
Bury Bolton Street has 3 means for disabled persons to get to the
platforms. A lift from the over-bridge down to Platforms 3 and 4, and also a road by the side of the station to get onto Platform 2. To get from Platform 2 to 3 and 4 there is a barrow crossing.
Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall stations are on the level, although Ramsbottom has a barrow crossing to get disabled persons from Platform 2 (station building side) across to Platform 1.
There is a disabled toilet at Heywood, Bury Bolton Street, and Rawtenstall.

 

Something I thought while reading this, would it be possible for some lines to take an out of traffic tender engine (for example 1618 on the Bluebell) and line it up with the cab facing a cattle dock (such as at the southern end of platform 5 at Horsted, obviously with turning) to show the locomotive cab off to customers in wheelchairs? Obviously with the tender removed...

 

Thanks everyone for the contributions so far and for making this a "sticky" topic, too.

You should see the antics when we are out and about with our wheelchair-bound son Matt - we are also very keen "island hoppers" so make use of the various ferries (and you all thought providing access to a brake van was not easy!).

Although many railways suggest we make arrangements for a visit, we prefer to just turn up, like everyone else does. What happens next is "interesting".

A trip to the Fairbourne was excellent - they just wheeled out a special coach and coupled it on the back for us.

If a railway can only offer a trip in the brake van (and we done a few like that!) then fair enough - it's better than nothing but doesn't really make for much of an experience and definitely not good value for money when we are charged full fare (by the way, we do not expect discounts but do expect a reasonable experience just like everyone else).

Keep the info flowing...

WSW

 

There was a plan with LSWR 1520 on the Bluebell to restore her to be a disabled access vehicle in the vintage train, but I can't find any information on that, has the scheme been axed?