Trainguy34
Established Member
Oh that 395 was insanely warm, I was starting to feel ill from it considering they didn't have any AC in the carriage where they were holding people. Still not got a clue who thought that would be a good idea...
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Ashford Depot Open Day 24/8/25
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Islineclear3_1
Established Member
I saw people queuing/going into the cab of Clan line around 3.30 and there was still a queue at 4pm. The maintenance and yard bit where the 73, 66 and 69 were stabled wasn't closed; yes most of the crowds had gone but I managed to walk around the yard and the shed. Maybe the marshals were stopping some people?
It was a great day; well turned out but the only gripe I had was the small number of food stalls and some over-zealous marshals. I found the SE staff more accommodating and welcoming
Class73Electro
Member
Didn't see any, but the free bag they gave you coming in was really good
Trainguy34
Established Member
At about 3.15 the maintenance and yard were shut, then we went to Clan Line but that was also shut, with most stalls beginning to pack up soon after. Did the maintenance and yard stuff reopen? The whole bit to get to that was blocked off when I looked.
Sounds good . I wanted to go but unfortunately could not get the time off work. Pleased to hear it was a success
SteveOfTheStow
Member
- Joined
- 16 Dec 2017
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- 182
Overall I’m glad the day happened, but it could have gone smoother.
As it happened, I didn’t get into the shed because I started in the yard first. By the time I was ready for the shed sometime after 2, I was told it had shut. I’d be gutted if I allowed myself to be. Nowhere was such a cutoff advertised, and the trains in there were pitched as the main attraction!
The management of the cab visits could also have been more rigid. I totally understand that the cab minders were drivers and technicians and were just there to talk about their roles - I’m not going to fault them, they were fab - but some guest groups were sitting in cabs for almost 10 minutes. I got into one cab and the driver I was chatting to in the queue said they’d even opened up extra trains. It really needed a customer-facing person to move people on to try and give everyone a chance.
I’d even say they could have charged per cab visit (since the profits were going to charity anyway) and made it timed, to make it more organised.
The clear ramp down from 3pm was a shame given the event info had been updated to say it was now going on until 5.
Seating was very lacking for the number of people there, as were the food trucks. The pizza one ran out of pizzas and the ice cream man had finished his fresh ice cream by 3:30!
Overall, it felt as if the ticket sales had been unbounded but the food and activities had been planned for only so many.
All this is meant as constructive criticism. It was a good day and it was great to see so many interested families and people come.
What would be a shame now is to lose any learnings from the event, as well as the clear declaration of interest in it from the public. How much organisation it took, I don’t know, but if it was to become an annual event every August Bank holiday, it could be really tightened up by learning from this year, and I think there’s enough recurring interest from the public to make it worthwhile.
As it happened, I didn’t get into the shed because I started in the yard first. By the time I was ready for the shed sometime after 2, I was told it had shut. I’d be gutted if I allowed myself to be. Nowhere was such a cutoff advertised, and the trains in there were pitched as the main attraction!
The management of the cab visits could also have been more rigid. I totally understand that the cab minders were drivers and technicians and were just there to talk about their roles - I’m not going to fault them, they were fab - but some guest groups were sitting in cabs for almost 10 minutes. I got into one cab and the driver I was chatting to in the queue said they’d even opened up extra trains. It really needed a customer-facing person to move people on to try and give everyone a chance.
I’d even say they could have charged per cab visit (since the profits were going to charity anyway) and made it timed, to make it more organised.
The clear ramp down from 3pm was a shame given the event info had been updated to say it was now going on until 5.
Seating was very lacking for the number of people there, as were the food trucks. The pizza one ran out of pizzas and the ice cream man had finished his fresh ice cream by 3:30!
Overall, it felt as if the ticket sales had been unbounded but the food and activities had been planned for only so many.
All this is meant as constructive criticism. It was a good day and it was great to see so many interested families and people come.
What would be a shame now is to lose any learnings from the event, as well as the clear declaration of interest in it from the public. How much organisation it took, I don’t know, but if it was to become an annual event every August Bank holiday, it could be really tightened up by learning from this year, and I think there’s enough recurring interest from the public to make it worthwhile.
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I and my brother had a great time there yesterday. We booked for 11 (actually arrived a little early), and glad we did reading the other comments. We got to see everything. Skipped most of the cab visits though when we saw the queues. Did do the Thumper one (which was a lot shorter) though. We skipped eating there and headed for the Outlet Centre instead.
A few from the open day. I was one of the first ones having the 10:00 admission but I left at around 1pm as wanting go for lunch instead of getting some pricey chips (plus bit a queue for that).
Attachments
Did you guys get to see the train rerailment that was going on?
A selection of my photos I took at the event.
A selection of my photos I took at the event.
Attachments
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
You wouldn't have missed anything. My wife and I spent the whole day there, arriving at 10am. I did not see anything shut.
Here’s a video I saw earlier on YouTube from the Train World (Railway 200) channel on that platform. It is about 12 mins long and shows a walk around the Open day looking at the various exhibits on Show, both inside the shed and outside.
Snow1964
Established Member
A video exists of it on a road transporter at Ramsgate 8 Sept
EDIT nighttime movement to Ashford
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