Steam engines available for traffic in 2014

Much the same experience as mine in fact. Because you disagree it does not mean my, or anyone else's, argument "falls apart".

Facebook is not by any means an infallible source and can be grossly unfair but the comments are free from the inhibitions imposed by politeness or cowardice when face to face. One does tend to hear candid comments about other lines though, e.g. "Don't like the ******, the seats are too hard on me bum and I like a bit of comfort in me old age" from someone who was Bertie Wooster's Aunt Dahlia to the life and was an acute observer.

PH

 

It's a good point PH, people might only being polite when they're there, but browsing tripadvisor I've never seen any complaints about jnk in sidings, plenty of other things yes, but no complaints on things languishing in sidings, and that's not just on the GWsR, I've looked at a few railway's tripadvisors. I think looking at that is better than faceache personally.

 

Interesting post. As enthusiasts we must remember that what seems important to us is not necessarily the same as what is important to the non enthusiast visitor and vice versa.

 

Surely the greater concern with the NVR is that there's a real risk of visiting Peterborough…?

;-)

Simon

 

Indeed, and it's always best to ask the public what they're concerned about, not just guess, as shown by that survey.

 

I can only speak from a footplate point of view - I don't know what questions platform staff are asked. But I'd say the most common ones we get include "what type / class of engine is this?", "does it have a name?", "when was it built?", "would it have worked on this line originally?", "how much coal do you shovel each day?" and "what time did you get up this morning?" Which suggests a level of interest in the motive power rather deeper than not caring provided it goes chuff! People never cease to be amazed that it is highly likely that the engine pulling them is over 100 years old.

Tom

 

Don't really want to say publicly who gets in it the neck on Tripadvisor for "linear scrapyard" issues but if anyone is really interested get in touch with me OP please.

Paul H.

 

Just dipped into Tripadvisor.
Railway A. Three reviews in the "terrible" category. Two about overcrowding on Santas and one about a diesel substituting for the booked steamer. Three reviews in the "poor" category. One about not very wheelchair friendly, one about declining Santa standards and one about dirty carriages.
Railway B. Nine reviews in the "terrible" category. Cost of ticket, poor staff attitude, having to pay £5 to access the buffet when all they wanted was a cup of tea, shabby rolling stock, poor food, poor refunds policy. Fourteen reviews in the "poor" category. Ticket prices, having to pay to get to the restaurant, unenthusiastic staff, overly commercialised, poor service in restaurant.
And so it goes on. Whilst not every visitor will record his/her views on Tripadvisor and I haven't go time to search every heritage railway's reports, the above sample seems typical of what I've seen so far and nobody seems to worry about unrestored items in sidings.

 

I've found it interesting when taking my in-laws, who have no interest in 'steam trains' [sic], to preserved railways. They have a great day wallowing in the nostalgia of the old stock (even though that was only mk 1s on the Bluebell most recently), the sounds and smells, and the paraphernalia at Sheffield Park, and a gentle amble through the countryside for no particular reason. I don't think it even occurred to them to go and look at the big metal thing pulling the train.

I'm not suggesting that they're representative of all visitors, more that with 'engaged'/interested visitors (e.g. me), there will often be an array of others with them who are just there for a jolly and a nice cup of tea (e.g. my partner the rest of our group).

Simon

 

As in most things in life there is a balance to be struck. Providing the unrestored items do not dominate the railway, and providing that at least the majority are obviously awaiting their turn in the queue I don't see that there is a huge issue with the majority of our visitors. Saplings growing out of the roofs of carriages are not a good sign though and suggest that all is not well. I suppose the issue is one of not permitting an air of decrepitude to creep in.

 

That's fair enough. Did it get many remarks about this issue?

 

Yes, there will always be a range of levels of interest, and by definition, those who have come and talked to the loco crew have presumably done so because that is where their interest lays. But I wouldn't universally categorise such people as hardcore enthusiasts: often it is a mum or dad who has come with their young son / daughter, but who nonetheless have interesting and relevant questions. It is certainly true that, as a movement, we rely overwhelmingly on the patronage of non-enthusiasts; but equally, we would do those non-enthusiasts a disservice if we assume that they have little interest in or knowledge of what they see around them.

Tom

 

Let me clarify things. I only listed the negative comments on the two railways quoted. I did not list the positive reviews which were the vast majority. Another railway got almost all positive reviews with none in the "terrible" category. So by "typical" I meant that few reviews were negative and none of those quoeted were worried about unrestored stock in sidings.
Other railways have had poor reviews on Santa, not being open on a Friday, overcrowding at special events, "it didn't excite me," journey too long, journey too short, food, underwhelming Peppa Pig (not confined to the one railway), no train heating, damp carriages. So across the spectrum it seems that there are many recurring gripes but unrestored stock isn't one I've come across so far. Must contact you for the review you mentioned.

 

The one I have in mind seems to generate extreme reactions, both in favour and against. I have not been there so cannot comment from personal experience. An overall average score of 3 stars out of five suggests those running it need furiously to think about everything from lavatories to bits of grot lying untidily around, which are amongst the things mentioned.

PH

 

3/5 average does put it in the "must try harder" bracket it would seem.

 

How many railways would you give 5 stars to for mean that means you would have to be almost perfect that would mean no poor quality toilets at any of your stations that means a lot of even the premier lines would be down to four stars.
Also you can not look at all lines in the same light some have been operating for over 40 years to get to a standard where there are not long lines of scrap where others have been running just over 10 and if you want to get suitable coaches you have to get them now or they will be gone.

 

Where the general public is concerned they won't be interested in whether the railway has been going for 50 years or 50 days. If the experience they get is a poor one, they are less likely to return.

 

There are actually quite a few which rate 4.5, some a trifle generously in my view but there we are.

This business about "Premier lines" seems a bit "Steam Railway" for my comfort! Some of those I think the best are amongst the smaller ones.

"We" may be prepared to make allowances for certain newer organisations but "they" (i.e. the non-enthusiast customer) may not. Why should they? They pay quite a bit to travel and expect to be able to look out through clean windows at scenery not at times obstructed by rusting bits of machinery, broken windowed, derelict rolling stock etc. They won't be pleased if light coloured summer clothing gets soiled or if the upholstery in a carriage is so worn that the moquette is no more than a stain on the backing. All these things I have experienced and more.

I don't want to be too much of a Jeremiah for there are plenty of good things around. For example, Horsted Keynes buffet, the IOWSR carriage standards or the easy charm of the South Devon. The only thing I would plea is if you can't bear to bring a much needed gas axe to stuff which will never get used again, at least tidy it up and, preferably, hide it away.

Hopefully my last observations on this matter

PH