How Not To Run A Heritage Group

[Driver74]

The sad saga of the March Wisbech (Bramley Line) will not go away.

It seems a local resident has put together a Government petition to retain the long closed Wisbech to March branch as a commuter line. Having been closed since 1968. It seems the chairman of the intended heritage group, who seems to dominate a number of heritage and railway websites with his ravings that one man is attempting to wreck their intentions of retaining the branch as a heritage line.

He also rants on about a so called opposition website www.bramleyline.com who themselves state they are nothing to do with this local group. Their photographic galleries do feature the line as it was and there are some interesting links to other photographic sites.

I don’t normally take up the sword, but I felt this continuing ranting has got out of hand and does nothing for the real Heritage movement who even offered assistance only to be ridiculed for their efforts. I just happened to visit the aforementioned site to check on how many people have signed this petition and it’s more than one. I also notice 6 comments had been placed on this section, (now removed) obviously from said deranged members of the Bramley line with one exception. Checking again today one more had been added from a Jack Anory which says a great deal against those within this Heritage group who don’t have a hope in hell of taking over this branch.

Regulations being what they are they couldn’t afford it.

From friends who were once members of this group and a couple who will not be renewing their subs next year, all is not well and never has been well with this proposed group. I also know there are and were a number of really enthusiastic members of this group who were and are led by inexperience. 13 years on the railway does not make one an expert.

Naturally I shall be watching this saga with the utmost interest.

If you happen to be an enthusiast who wants to see mainline railways returned for the traveller, then sign on the dotted line. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/WisbechRailway/

 

[Bighat]

The sad saga of the March Wisbech (Bramley Line) will not go away.

It seems a local resident has put together a Government petition to retain the long closed Wisbech to March branch as a commuter line. Having been closed since 1968. It seems the chairman of the intended heritage group, who seems to dominate a number of heritage and railway websites with his ravings that one man is attempting to wreck their intentions of retaining the branch as a heritage line.

He also rants on about a so called opposition website www.bramleyline.com who themselves state they are nothing to do with this local group. Their photographic galleries do feature the line as it was and there are some interesting links to other photographic sites.

I don’t normally take up the sword, but I felt this continuing ranting has got out of hand and does nothing for the real Heritage movement who even offered assistance only to be ridiculed for their efforts. I just happened to visit the aforementioned site to check on how many people have signed this petition and it’s more than one. I also notice 6 comments had been placed on this section, (now removed) obviously from said deranged members of the Bramley line with one exception. Checking again today one more had been added from a Jack Anory which says a great deal against those within this Heritage group who don’t have a hope in hell of taking over this branch.

Regulations being what they are they couldn’t afford it.

From friends who were once members of this group and a couple who will not be renewing their subs next year, all is not well and never has been well with this proposed group. I also know there are and were a number of really enthusiastic members of this group who were and are led by inexperience. 13 years on the railway does not make one an expert.

Naturally I shall be watching this saga with the utmost interest.

If you happen to be an enthusiast who wants to see mainline railways returned for the traveller, then sign on the dotted line. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/WisbechRailway/

From what I have seen and read on another forum, this is a battle between two individuals, who not only use forums like this for their own personal 'rants', but then inundates anyone who seems mildly interested in their sad little handbag fight, with e-mails and/or PM's.

I am all for prerservation, the EOR nearly fell because of petty empire-building, and it would appear that this one is totally doomed before it even gets going.

Perhaps the best way is NOT to give ANY of them any further publicity to fuel their superheated egos. May the best man win.

WHEN that has happened, and IF and WHEN something tangeable happens, THEN report it.

Until then it's a non-event needing no further comment.

 

[Driver74]

From what I have seen and read on another forum, this is a battle between two individuals, who not only use forums like this for their own personal 'rants', but then inundates anyone who seems mildly interested in their sad little handbag fight, with e-mails and/or PM's.

I am all for prerservation, the EOR nearly fell because of petty empire-building, and it would appear that this one is totally doomed before it even gets going.

Perhaps the best way is NOT to give ANY of them any further publicity to fuel their superheated egos. May the best man win.

WHEN that has happened, and IF and WHEN something tangeable happens, THEN report it.

Until then it's a non-event needing no further comment.

I find the above comments rather confusing. I live in the area concerned and I am not aware of conflicting parties regarding the Heritage attempt. I believe this has been instilled in peoples heads that there is a conflict of interest involved here? There is a general call for the line to be reopened as a commuter line, something both the County and local councils support. I wouldn’t go so far to say this was a conflict of interest.
The only person ranting about it is the Vice Chairman of the Bramley Line group who see any opposition to plans that were not his in the first place, to be a threat. He never mentions the local press who use his rantings to gain favour with the reading public at large. Now the press has stated that the Council will not give public funds to the tune of £20,000 to cover their legal fees, fees they have known about for over three years but still unable to get even close in getting the funds together

His ranting about an alien website only tells me he watches too much Sci-Fi. The chat line types of replies to his ravings on this site doesn’t do a great deal for Heritage Groups anywhere if these are the types of people supporting the heritage interests. I have always fully supported Heritage railways via my visits. But I have always held back on joining one in view of the politics involved with so many of them. There will always be a power struggle within such groups members never get to hear about until it’s too late.

 

[John]

Loads of prima-donnas around in the heritage movement. Stirling Alloa Kincardine line is currently being refurb'ed - costs around £65M and still rising - similar length/type of railway

 

[Driver74]

Originally posted by Bighat.
Perhaps the best way is NOT to give ANY of them any further publicity to fuel their superheated egos. May the best man win.

WHEN that has happened, and IF and WHEN something tangible happens, THEN report it.

Until then it's a non-event needing no further comment.

Placing ones head in the sand in the hopes this situation will go away is not the answer. Interested parties need to be kept informed of either venture. Living locally myself gives me access to any progress taking place on either venture.
Currently the situation becomes even more confusing. The local Council having refused the Group £20,000, they now offer professional guidance to the group in their putting a business plan together for another attempt. Something they have never been able to accomplish since their beginning. It gets even more confusing since this assistance goes against the Counties Rail Strategy plans for the area. There’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s going to be interesting to watch developments over the preceding months.

 

[16CSVT2700]

Has Wisbech station still retained its trackwork? Quail book 2 seems to think so (up to date to 2005/06).

 

[Driver74]

Has Wisbech station still retained its trackwork? Quail book 2 seems to think so (up to date to 2005/06).

Someone is 40 years out of date or just not paying attention? Both the station and the point work was ripped out in 1968. There are plenty of websites to put you right. Key word Bramley Line will clear up matters?

 

[16CSVT2700]

Someone is 40 years out of date or just not paying attention? Both the station and the point work was ripped out in 1968. There are plenty of websites to put you right. Key word Bramley Line will clear up matters?

Touchy!
That is exactly the reason I ask as Quail seems to disagree with Bramley Line website.
As Anglia area is not my local area of expertise, I think I have a valid excuse in not knowing

 

[Driver74]

Touchy!
That is exactly the reason I ask as Quail seems to disagree with Bramley Line website.
As Anglia area is not my local area of expertise, I think I have a valid excuse in not knowing

My comment was directed at the publisher not you personally. You did create an interest though and to that affect I have ordered a copy from Amazon just to satisfy if their intent was to show a was not is detailed track work at Wisbech. The old site of the station is now occupied by an old peoples home.

 

[Driver74]

My comment was directed at the publisher not you personally. You did create an interest though and to that affect I have ordered a copy from Amazon just to satisfy if their intent was to show a was not is detailed track work at Wisbech. The old site of the station is now occupied by an old peoples home.

I now have my own copy of Quail Track Plans and I can confirm again, that there is no station at Wisbech. Metal Box was disconnected from the branch about 1989 although the points are still there. The line does not continue beyond Weasenham Lane crossing although the crossing gates are still there. I think the last train to use the branch was in 2001. But you would have to check this fact out by visiting one of the Bramley line websites, in fact I think there are three such sites? I would recommend the site dedicated to returning the branch back to commuter use that has the most information about the branch.

 

[Menace Dennis]

I now have my own copy of Quail Track Plans and I can confirm again, that there is no station at Wisbech. Metal Box was disconnected from the branch about 1989 although the points are still there. The line does not continue beyond Weasenham Lane crossing although the crossing gates are still there. I think the last train to use the branch was in 2001. But you would have to check this fact out by visiting one of the Bramley line websites, in fact I think there are three such sites? I would recommend the site dedicated to returning the branch back to commuter use that has the most information about the branch.

I would try www.bramleyline.org.uk first as this is the Official website for the Group and so far more accurate with information, having just looked at them all. The supporters one is now out of date for some reason, so leaving the official and history one who are using the group's name, yet not connected with it, so using their name for his own gain.