GCR Ending of Lineside Passes, ex-Bridge that Gap: Great Central Railway News

A tad unfair I think. Many people were attracted to the GCR (often travelling great distances and staying in hotels) because they had the privilege of an LPP. The door to that was membership of the Friends...so no problem. Those who like to travel AND phot are not going to stop visiting and buying tickets, but they don't need a friends membership to do that.
I'm not going to feel guilty by not renewing my Friends membership as I also support several other railways and locomotives, none of which involve LPP's.

I think the GCR have made the right decision for them and, as I said earlier, I don't have a problem with it.

 

There's more locations than those two but not many I'll admit.

 

So true, and can you even begin to imagine how clogged Kinchley Lane is going to be? There will be a few tempers flying!

 

Yes I am disappointed but I agree that the GCR have made the correct decision given the circumstances.
I just hope it doesn’t effect the excellent galas they put on for us but I do feel it is bound to have some consequences if it leads to a loss of revenue.

 

It was chaos up there at the ASG, with the field at Woodthorpe being fenced off. Quite a few would head to Rabbit Bridge and on the other side of the fence too.

 

I am, I admit, at a disadvantage when discussing the GCR as it's many many years since I last visited. But my experience at other galas this year WSR, MHR, GWSR & Bluebell has been that trains have been well filled, although there does seem to be something odd about train loadings at galas, some trains run almost full and standing while others run almost empty.

 

Some people go for 'haulage' I think, so visiting locomotives tend to attract more to their coaches.

 

If gala finances are genuinely knife edge and bringing in visitors is a vast expense, one questions the wisdom of continuing to do so.

I think there is evidence out there that with the right visitor, bringing in a visiting loco can be very profitable still. However, I think you get rapidly diminishing returns: every additional loco adds to cost (and risk to the organiser), but I strongly suspect doesn't increase visitors by the same proportion. Sooner or later, adding more locos becomes pure cost with almost no impact on ticket sales.

One means to defray transport and hire costs is to hold private photo charters before or after a gala appearance. However, even there - if you have several visitors, it is difficult to hold several photo charters in the few days immediately after a gala; just because of the availability of enough photographers to make it worthwhile. So again, one visitor can be worthwhile, but when you start getting three or four, I strongly question the economics.

It's probably for another thread, but I suspect the days of the "mega gala" are probably numbered.

Tom

 

To me it looks very laxed in the way it is to get your line side pass against the WSR where you are sent on far more information than the GCR have on their web site and, then do a 1/2 day course and take an exam before you can get your PTS and line side pass. Also the DVD is passable but not hard hitting enough and points could have been made better or to me were missing.

So I am not surprised that their insurance and other bodies don't like the way it is done.

 

The classic one round here was a redevelopment of a former industrial site where the developer/estate agent was alleged to have told prospective buyers to not worry about the local railway line as it was "closed". When the first 66 sat "yinging" away at the adjacent signal at 03.00 in the morning, they suddenly realised it wasn't.
Moral: Do decent research if you buy a house adjacent to Derby Road passing loop on the Felixstowe branch..............

 

Lineside permits are a useful way to get away from the mass hoardes of people who are more interested in riding trains or just spectating & have little or no interest in photography or are happy with a snapshot type picture. Certainly not essential but by having a permit, it does open up more opportunities for otherwise inaccessible & in some cases more photogenic locations.

As to supporting lines just because they issue a permit, that's each individuals choice but each person has their own 'focus' within the hobby, be it steam or modern traction, riding, track bashing, photography etc etc

If a railway issues permits it increases opportunities for someone specifically interested in railway photography, therefore it becomes more of an attraction & it is usually mandatory to become a member to gain a permit. Withdrawal of such an attraction, then to some that will mean no longer supporting a line by being a member because that is their 'focus' of interest.

 

Surely this should just come down to reading the report your conveyancer should have prepared for you detailing exactly this kind of thing?

 

Golden rule for moving into a new area, go to the local pub and ask questions. In the 80s a new development near me was built on what I thought was waste land and we did look at moving there. A word with the wise old man of the village, now sadly no longer with us told me that the site was the former claypit of the local brickworks and there was also a spring located near the site. Over the years five of the houses have suffered from subsistence and in some of the back gardens the ground is always soaking wet winter and summer.

 

I'm not sure the wagon group at the GCR who have put much time and effort into the restoration of the goods trains will agree. Rather than being run purely for photos I would say its more about recreating the past and putting on a good show for visitors (who have paid higher ticket prices for a special event). The galas are the opportunity to get the full 'train set' out the box and show off the great work that's been done on the non passenger vehicles.

 

I dot think withdrawing the freight trains wouldn't make much difference to the Galas. I think the former GC head, Bill Ford, wanted to get rid of the windcutter set. They do earn a bit from charters though.

 

What is its broader purpose?

 

A well known northern preserved line regularly publishes pics clearly taken on the 'wrong side' of the line until its pointed out.

 

well, if he/they are there it must be ok is the usual consideration, so all or none must be the rule

 

Will they start enforcing platform tickets at £5 a punt?
The GCR has never 'floated my boat' so never been, nor likely to