Most boring preserved railway?

[Titfield]

I did hear a tourist on the platform at Swanage complaining that the scenery between Corfe Castle and Swanage was boring.

I was so tempted to do a Basil Fawlty and say Well may I ask what you expected to see out of a Swanage Railway carriage window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically…

I was also tempted to point out that the landscape had probably given Thomas Hardy inspiration to write such classics as Far from the Madding Crowd, Jude The Obscure, Tess of the Durbevilles and the Mayor of Casterbridge but as the tourist had probably read these for an O level in English Literature I considered he had suffered enough.

 

[bramling]

Earlier in this thread (post #139) I raised the line concerned (Lincolnshire Wolds); mentioning a (non-RailUKforums) commentator's fiercely "slamming and slagging" it, without having actually visited it -- his impressions got, "otherwise" -- my feelings thence: that the line did sound fairly dire; but, give it "fair do's" pending seeing it first-hand. @steamybrian's friend has done so, and indeed found it pretty "rubbish". In extenuation re the LWR: one gathers that its Society have hopes of extending it considerably -- to at best, something like ten times its present length (one has to feel re that -- "lots of luck -- you'll need it"). However: if it did happen -- from North Thoresby, way south through Louth, to maybe Authorpe or Aby (seemingly "all the A's", in these parts) -- that would be quite something, even through dull-ish scenery -- not all of Britain's acclaimed preserved lines are spectacularly scenic; there are other factors which may attract both railfans, and "normals".

I find self here sometimes, in the role of defender of often-disregarded-and-despised Lincolnshire: county of my birth, and held by me in great affection. Scenery-wise: the Lake District or Snowdonia, it ain't; but it's a huge county -- and like its (just) neighbour Norfolk, it isn't all flat -- and the flat and low-lying bits have a charm of their own. Lots of wide-open spaces and pleasantly bucolic sparsely-settled countryside, full of villages, many with wondrously crazy names; a long and fairly unspoilt sea-coast; plenty going on, on the wildlife scene; numerous architectural glories; as @eldomtom2 says, gently hilly areas -- the true Wolds; and Lincoln Edge; and the border regions with Leicestershire and Rutland -- it's good stuff ! (Honestly, I'm not in the pay of the Lincolnshire Tourist Board.)

The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway certainly has an element of potential. For starters, as you say, it's *not* flat round that part, the clue being in the word wolds, although the railway itself is. There's plenty of pleasant countryside round there. Then there's Cleethorpes just up the road, which as a coastal town is reasonably okay.

What the LWR needs is of course a longer length of track, which hopefully will come in time.

I must day parts of this thread are a little disparaging. For sure not every railway is going to be as picture-perfect as something like the Severn Valley, but they all have to start somewhere. Even a small railway is going to have had a hell of a lot of work put into it.

 

[D6968]

Hardly a day goes by that I do not earnestly pray that Harry Potter might be erased from the world's consciousness.

Why is that a bad thing?

 

[contrex]

Why is that a bad thing?

What, Harry Potter, or me not liking JK Rowling as a writer?

 

[Cowley]

(Just begging for a thread split.
Go on make my day, mention Harry Potter again, I dare you… )

 

[D821]

I thought it was Voldemort that you weren't meant to mention?

 

[Alanko]

The Pacer acquisitions smacks of 'penny rich but pound foolish' to me. Cheap to run now, but essentially a couple of old bus designs with all the inherent issues around transmissions, engines and bad metalwork to contend with.

I get that they are notorious for outliving their intended shelf life by a vast margin. I get that they are cheaply built and hard riding and therefore a curio. However, if you promise your kids a 'ride on the Thomas the Tank Engine/Harry Potter Train' and one of these things rattled into view? That is a downgrade for most people.

Surely they are going to be a problem for places like the Whitrope/Waverley Line outfit who are storing theirs outside as well?

 

[xotGD]

Therewillbea future money making opportunities for some of these railways when they organise "Take a Gas Axe to a Pacer" days.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

You musn't have thought about the height of the Moors and railways, going over the Moors would mean some very steep inclines, beyond the capability of standard gauge railways. The car park is about 30m from the end of Platform 2, with a footpath onto the platform. No idea where you parked!

They shouldn't have called it the NY "Moors" railway then, should they? ScotRail manage to get their trains quite high on to the moors, Druimuachdar Pass Summit being 1,484 feet above sea level, rather higher than Goathland summit at 532 feet.

And yes, there is a car park where you say, but it isn't very big and soon gets full on busy days. Most people then have to park in the big car park to the north which is about 1/3 mile from the station. This a long walk for elderly passengers and people who are mobility impaired.

 

[Alanko]

They shouldn't have called it the NY "Moors" railway then, should they? ScotRail manage to get their trains quite high on to the moors, Druimuachdar Pass Summit being 1,484 feet above sea level, rather higher than Goathland summit at 532 feet.

And yes, there is a car park where you say, but it isn't very big and soon gets full on busy days. Most people then have to park in the big car park to the north which is about 1/3 mile from the station. This a long walk for elderly passengers and people who are mobility impaired.

The NYMR didn't lay the track themselves. The original line was not devised with tourism in mind.

The ScotRail comparison is fairly dubious at best.

 

[Cowley]

They shouldn't have called it the NY "Moors" railway then, should they? ScotRail manage to get their trains quite high on to the moors, Druimuachdar Pass Summit being 1,484 feet above sea level, rather higher than Goathland summit at 532 feet.

But it’s still the North Yorkshire Moors - as in the National Park isn’t it?
If a railway ran along the Teign Valley on Dartmoor it would still be on Dartmoor (or maybe in Dartmoor) wouldn’t it?
Now you’ve got me doubting myself.

 

[Falcon1200]

They shouldn't have called it the NY "Moors" railway then, should they?

Doesn't the North Yorkshire Moors Railway run through the North Yorkshire Moors ? If they had called themselves the 'North Yorkshire over the Top of the Moors Railway' I could understand some disappointment, but not otherwise.

I recently visited the Somerset & Dorset Railway at Midsomer Norton, which I imagine some would think boring; It has a short line, only one station, and not a great deal of stock. However I enjoyed the trip, there are some nice views from the train, which incidentally consisted of a DMU I used to manage years ago in Control. It did help perhaps that it was a glorious sunny day !

 

[Dai Corner]

Doesn't the North Yorkshire Moors Railway run through the North Yorkshire Moors ? If they had called themselves the 'North Yorkshire over the Top of the Moors Railway' I could understand some disappointment, but not otherwise.

I recently visited the Somerset & Dorset Railway at Midsomer Norton, which I imagine some would think boring; It has a short line, only one station, and not a great deal of stock. However I enjoyed the trip, there are some nice views from the train, which incidentally consisted of a DMU I used to manage years ago in Control. It did help perhaps that it was a glorious sunny day !

Some pedant will probably complain that the (present) Somerset and Dorset is in neither of those counties! Thanks for reminding me about it, I'll put it on my to-do list for a day when the DMU is out.

 

[D6130]

Some pedant will probably complain that the (present) Somerset and Dorset is in neither of those counties!

I thought that Midsomer Norton was in Somerset?

 

[Dai Corner]

I thought that Midsomer Norton was in Somerset?

Not since 1974. From then until 1992 it was in Avon and is now in Bath and North East Somerset unitary authority. (I did say I was being pedantic )

 

[D6130]

Not since 1974. From then until 1992 it was in Avon and is now in Bath and North East Somerset unitary authority. (I did say I was being pedantic )

Fair enough! Perhaps it should be renamed 'Midbathandnortheastsomerset Norton'

 

[The exile]

Not since 1974. From then until 1992 it was in Avon and is now in Bath and North East Somerset unitary authority. (I did say I was being pedantic )

And staying pedantic, it is not in Bath, so it is in North East Somerset. (Which the Northeastern part of Somerset, not somewhere to the Northeast of Somerset) QED!

 

[Dai Corner]

And staying pedantic, it is not in Bath, so it is in North East Somerset. (Which the Northeastern part of Somerset, not somewhere to the Northeast of Somerset) QED!

B&NES is one area on the local authority map so there isn't really a concept of not being in Bath but being in North East Somerset at that level.

However if we consider Parliamentary constituencies we can separate the two. The S&D is in the NE Somerset constituency of a certain very knowledgable, witty and eccentric MP currently devoted to increasing the efficiency of Government and working his way through the signing in books at various ministries to note who has and who hasn't been in the office.

Or we could take ceremonial counties. Midsomer Norton is in the ceremonial county of Somerset which is based on the pre-1974 Local Government area.

 

[Western Sunset]

However if we consider Parliamentary constituencies we can separate the two. The S&D is in the NE Somerset constituency of a certain very knowledgable, witty and eccentric MP currently devoted to increasing the efficiency of Government and working his way through the signing in books at various ministries to note who has and who hasn't been in the office.

I think this is closer to the truth...

However, if we consider Parliamentary constituencies we can separate the two. The S&D is in the NE Somerset constituency of a certain very knowledgable, witty and eccentric MP currently devoted to increasing the efficiency of Government and working his way through the signing in books at various ministries to note who has and who hasn't been in the office.

 

[Dai Corner]

I think this is closer to the truth...

However, if we consider Parliamentary constituencies we can separate the two. The S&D is in the NE Somerset constituency of a certain very knowledgable, witty and eccentric MP currently devoted to increasing the efficiency of Government and working his way through the signing in books at various ministries to note who has and who hasn't been in the office.

I do think he's knowledgable, on the history and workings of Parliament in particular, and have laughed at his jokes along with the 'victims' of them. I don't share many of his political views and would ask that this thread doesn't stray into that topic - unless there's a political angle on why some heritage railways are boring, I suppose.

 

[Paul Hitchcock]

I do think he's knowledgable, on the history and workings of Parliament in particular, and have laughed at his jokes along with the 'victims' of them. I don't share many of his political views and would ask that this thread doesn't stray into that topic - unless there's a political angle on why some heritage railways are boring, I suppose.

Sadly, you started it.

 

[Runningaround]

The Pacer acquisitions smacks of 'penny rich but pound foolish' to me. Cheap to run now, but essentially a couple of old bus designs with all the inherent issues around transmissions, engines and bad metalwork to contend with.

I get that they are notorious for outliving their intended shelf life by a vast margin. I get that they are cheaply built and hard riding and therefore a curio. However, if you promise your kids a 'ride on the Thomas the Tank Engine/Harry Potter Train' and one of these things rattled into view? That is a downgrade for most people.

Surely they are going to be a problem for places like the Whitrope/Waverley Line outfit who are storing theirs outside as well?

If one turned up instead of bus it'd be a disappointment, I think passengers were actually relived when a comfy coach turned up on RRB duty instead of having to endure another Rattler.

 

[DarloRich]

A new one for me: West Somerset Railway. Long. Dull.

 

[D6130]

A new one for me: West Somerset Railway. Long. Dull.

Really? It has a wide variety of inland and coastal scenery....hills, valleys, woods, fields, the bay and harbour at Watchet, Dunster Castle, etc. - not to mention quite a variety of railway interest at Bishop's Lydeard, Williton, Washford and the working turntable at Minehead.

 

[DarloRich]

Watchet was the nicest bit.

I think there is a difference between what posters here want and what real people want.

The best bit was the brewery ay Bishops Lydesard. The starion is small and quite dull. Williton was dead. The turntable was not in use.

Even the peeping level was low! Zzzzz

 

[Paul Hitchcock]

Watchet was the nicest bit.

I think there is a difference between what posters here want and what real people want.

The best bit was the brewery ay Bishops Lydesard. The starion is small and quite dull. Williton was dead. The turntable was not in use.

Even the peeping level was low! Zzzzz

So right!

 

[railfan99]

A new one for me: West Somerset Railway. Long. Dull.

I am a foreigner so my view may differ, but on a forthcoming visit, WSR is one I hope to do. It's priority #1.

It's an outstanding preserved railway from what the internet shows, and deservedly popular. There are always passengers using some intermediate stations, and the scenery looks great.

I couldn't disagree with you more, as for the general public, short journeys are available from say Minehead to Blue Anchor.

 

[Cowley]

I must admit that I like the West Somerset a lot, but as with all these things it’s personal opinion. We all like different things.

@railfan99 - If you do make it to the WSR when you visit, send me a pm and if I’m free I’ll come along for the ride.

 

[4COR]

I must admit that I like the West Somerset a lot, but as with all these things it’s personal opinion. We all like different things.

@railfan99 - If you do make it to the WSR when you visit, send me a pm and if I’m free I’ll come along for the ride.

Oddly, we popped in at Minehead yesterday (though a fleeting visit). It has a very long platform which was nice to just wonder down and take a look around : there was no train in the station (but a nicely turned out Foxcote Manor and a randomly solo BR green tender). It's no Horsted Keynes (and how could it - not SR!), but pleasant half hour or so.

Will say it's possibly the nicest bit of Minehead though....

 

[DarloRich]

I am a foreigner so my view may differ, but on a forthcoming visit, WSR is one I hope to do. It's priority #1.

You have your priorities wrong then imo. The North Yorks Moors Railway or Severn Valley railway are many times better.

It's an outstanding preserved railway from what the internet shows, and deservedly popular. There are always passengers using some intermediate stations, and the scenery looks great.

How is it an outstanding preserved railway? Can you expand on this point further?

Popular? We visited in the summer holidays and the trains were lightly loaded. We got the final train back to Minehead and there were more staff than passengers.

BTW - there were few passenger using intermediate stations. some but not many, especially on the way back!

I couldn't disagree with you more, as for the general public, short journeys are available from say Minehead to Blue Anchor.

There wont be many short journeys made. Not when there is a decent bus service alongside.

I must admit that I like the West Somerset a lot, but as with all these things it’s personal opinion. We all like different things.

I am not saying it is a bad railway ( although there seems to have been some problems in recent years) but simply that I found it boring. I know my partner found it boring but as i say i suspect real people have different expectations to posters here for a day out on a preserved railway.