Which railways will still be with us in 10 years?

Oh and on the tourist front, we run from Peterborough, a cathedrel city, to near the A!, a major trunk road. We are also one of the biggest tourist attractions in the area and the recent diesel gala attracted a decent crowd with most trains being full. Yes it was a diesel gala but hey its money for the railway. I won't complain.

 

I've read through this thread with interest and there are some excellent points made.

IMHO survival of an preserved railway is dependant on one thing - visitors (paying customers). Those that attract visitors in sufficient numbers will survive those that don't will not.
The attraction of visitors depends on a lot of factors but we need to be aware that the majority of visitors are not steam or diesel enthusiasts. Therefore the day has to provide a family experience if it's to be successful.
along side of this visitors need to be looked after. As an example just this Sunday I encountered a family on the platform at Minehead, they clearly needed to change their young baby but were unsure about the location of the changing facility, as was I BTW, but it only took me a minute to find out and help them. Yes it distracted me from what I was doing, I supose I could have said - It's not my job. As it was the family went on their way happy. (A lot happier than they had been 5 minutes before when they looked about ready to kill each other!)
Now lots of us when we start to work on preserved lines have come from proffesions where we perhaps don't need customer facing skills and we probably join departments where we don't think we'll meet customers that often but I think the key is to provide training to all those who work on the railway in basic customer relations skills. This will help ensure the best visitor experience.
After that it's about keeping visitors entertained and educated. It's not just about running preserved Steam or Diesel. Look at how museums have evolved over the years. Those of my age might remember them as unexciting places for a child. (OK I know there are exceptions and well remember spending hours in the engineering section in many museums when I was a kid.) But look at them now, and they are, in the most part, grant funded. We're competing with them, the NT, Altons Towers et al. Our visitor experience on preserved lines needs to be better than the competition. Those that get this right will be around in 10 years and those that don't, won't be.

I'll shut up now and get back to cleaning loco's

 

You just can't help yourself can you Chris, I think you are the one with a problem not the Bluebell.[/quote:1is329cz]

I beg to difer... I hear the bluebell is also very good at losing volunteers through uneeded snobbish behaviour (i.e. strict segragations between diffeernt departments!)

...that's from ex-bluebell people from which I heard that!

 

You just can't help yourself can you Chris, I think you are the one with a problem not the Bluebell.[/quote:2pq7xt3g]

I beg to difer... I hear the bluebell is also very good at losing volunteers through uneeded snobbish behaviour (i.e. strict segragations between diffeernt departments!)

...that's from ex-bluebell people from which I heard that![/quote:2pq7xt3g]

There will always be people with a difference of opinion, some accept that and get on with it, others move on. Unfortunately those that move on can be bitter and like to put their Ex railway down at every opportunity, which is a shame as it does no one any good.
Nobody is perfect and nobody is right all the time.
I never found the Bluebell snobbish and I know many working members who work in more than one depatment. I've done my fair share of moving around departments in the past without an issue.
Yes some indivduals can be, lets say cold, but they are by far in the minority, every where has them and they never stop my glass being half full.

 

An Apology is to follow...

I understand that a few people on here have taken my comments on the NVR to heart. The things I say MUST be taken with a pinch of salt - I say what I think and my typing doesn't filter out the bits which people may not agree with!

An apology to those people... plus I am a NVR member/volunteer so i'd best stop talking about it like I'm used to in NNR company!

 

Your comments are too harsh to be taken with a pinch of salt, the best thing you could do is remove the posts altogether......

 

Matt "Norfolkman" Simon,

I am ex NVR, as you well know, and I wish the NVR a long and secure future - I still have many good friends there.

I am also one of the founders of the NVR TPO group and was instrumental in building up the team behind it, which included a number of youngsters who have learnt many new skills along the way. They will also carry the TPO project along, even though I am not there. I am proud of what they are continuing to achieve.

Edit: Comment removed

Regards
Brian

 

You just can't help yourself can you Chris, I think you are the one with a problem not the Bluebell.[/quote:3d0k60s4]

Others have said worse remarks than myself, yet you have a go at me, not that I am having a go at you.

It is reality I am afraid , not just the Bluebell as others are having the same problems.

You know who i am so may I have the pleasure of knowing who you are?, or do you always hide behind another name?.Better still do we know each other?.

No offence to you, just asking.

Regards
Chris Willis

 

Matt & Brian

As I said, looking back at what I actually have written, I have deep regrets in putting that content up on this web-forum... and if I could, yes would delete them! I wouldn't like to geton the bad side of either of you and hope that you wish to accept my apology and start afresh.

 

Matt,

As a mod I could remove the post or edit it, but as I am involved in the thread and have been at the concerned railway, it is not my position to do so - it would be an abuse of power. However, you are at your own discretion, allowed to edit your posts after they have been sent.

Your apology is noted and accepted.

Regards
Brian

 

Brian,

That's much appreciated... Thank you!

 

Matt,

I too have edited one of my posts following on from your edits.

Keep at the voluntary work on the NVR and NNR, I am sure both railways will benefit.

Brian

 

Nice one gentlemen, a heated debate is one thing , slagging off is another, and yes I am just as guilty as the next man when it comes to slagging off..

Mind you, one should see the almost all out war on the Bluebell Yahoo group between the pro and against Deisel fraternity, it,s like world war 3 has started.

My opinion is that deisels are wrong for the Bluebell expect for use as plant.

As Chris ward said in an earlier thread , unless they are careful the Bluebell will be a shadow of it,s former self in a few years time.

This post is not meant to be contraversial, it is just an opinion.

Funny how poser 500 has not replied to me?, ho hum.

Regards
Chris Willis

 

I disagree about Diesels not being used? I think they should as long as they fit in? As in correct paint tones and design??? SR 73 or a SR painted 33 for example such as which is at the MHR? Less the 73 of course! Although once upon a time we could of had 2 of those!!

 

I suggest that most of, if not all, of the present operations will survive in some form or another. Over the last sixty years or so, very few have succumbed to the wildly fluctuating economic conditions and the moist eyed sentiment that started it all.

Think about it. Swanage; West Somerset; Gloucester and Warwickshire; Peak Rail and many more were regarded as 'basket cases' by 'those who knew better'. They are still with us.

Perhaps the greatest danger lies with a generation that cannot spell the simplest of words; knows nothing about punctuation; capitalisation and, apparently, doesn't care.

If I happened to hold a position in, say, Local or Regional Government and was presented with a plea for help by someone who didn't know the difference between 'of' and 'have'; I would consign the plea to where it belonged.

For Heaven's sake have some regard for your language. Incidentally, I am not English.

Meic Batten

 

Andy, please read my posting properly please , I was referring to the Bluebell not generally.

Regards

 

World War Three is obviously much smaller than the other two, as there only seems to be three very persistent people on one side...

Pil

 

The identity of 'Poser 500' is fairly obvious to any working members of the Bluebell as he has had the same nickname there for over 20 odd years.

Long time no see P500...

 

You just can't help yourself can you Chris, I think you are the one with a problem not the Bluebell.[/quote]

Others have said worse remarks than myself, yet you have a go at me, not that I am having a go at you.

It is reality I am afraid , not just the Bluebell as others are having the same problems.

You know who i am so may I have the pleasure of knowing who you are?, or do you always hide behind another name?.Better still do we know each other?.

No offence to you, just asking.

Regards
Chris Willis[/quote]

I'm sorry for the delay in responding, I didn't know there was a time limit.
I know you are not having a go at me, but you are at the Bluebell, thats why I responded.
I did meet you once at HK. Just ask Wardy who I am next time you see him. No hiding behind another name, poser is an old nickname from my younger years at the railway. I have signed as Dave G on other posts. Dave Gillam in full for your information.

 

It’s hardly World War 3 to describe just 4 people out of a total of 472 members who have expressed dissatisfaction about the Bluebell's decision to run the Wealden Exclusive, a special passenger train hauled by Class 73 No.73136 (E6043) "Perseverance" to raise funding for the Northern Extension. And in any case, discussion has now moved on to 34059 "Sir Archibald Sinclair".

Chris