Robert Taggart
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- 31 May 2012
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Online details are now available for their latest desperate track bashing outing !
http://www.branchline.org.uk/events.php
http://www.branchline.org.uk/events.php
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Why Is it desperate may I ask?
Robert Taggart
Member
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- 31 May 2012
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Where are the 'BRANCHES' ? - like all their tours these days - they be reduced to the 'Stubs' (sidings) and 'Twigs' (loops) !
MidnightFlyer
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 16 May 2010
- Messages
- 12,856
I remember well your intense dislike either for BLS or the Tracker concept or something or other.
The BLS has been around for five decades now and that combined with the amount of rare track tours other operators do these days means there is very little you can do these days that's fresh and worthwhile without tediously messing about around Immingham for about six hours. It's just a new (and dare I say more interesting) take on the old classic way of doing matters, which also crucially sustains the viability of such operations and gives benefits to all involved parties (the members get their track, a random charity get four or five figure cheques and the TOCs get the publicity thereof). As much as I loved the way Mr. Hill ran matters (he's one of the very few people I've ever met that I'm genuinely quite scared of), I love the way the society has come on in the past couple of years and is now firmly rooted in the 21st Century. The strong relationships they've gained with the likes of Chiltern, MerseyRail, EMT, FGW and TPE can only be worthwhile to their future and the current management deserve all the credit they get for how well they've done.
As 'desperate' as you may deem it, I'm sure there are hundreds of people who are grateful for their efforts. I don't know how much longer they could have held onto the old 0530 Crewe-random quarry / port / ground frame with loco and Mk2 set-up.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Any examples you can think of, specifically those that haven't been touched in a while ergo would be worthwhile for them to look into? I believe they listen to just about any decent suggestion thrown at them...
The BLS has been around for five decades now and that combined with the amount of rare track tours other operators do these days means there is very little you can do these days that's fresh and worthwhile without tediously messing about around Immingham for about six hours. It's just a new (and dare I say more interesting) take on the old classic way of doing matters, which also crucially sustains the viability of such operations and gives benefits to all involved parties (the members get their track, a random charity get four or five figure cheques and the TOCs get the publicity thereof). As much as I loved the way Mr. Hill ran matters (he's one of the very few people I've ever met that I'm genuinely quite scared of), I love the way the society has come on in the past couple of years and is now firmly rooted in the 21st Century. The strong relationships they've gained with the likes of Chiltern, MerseyRail, EMT, FGW and TPE can only be worthwhile to their future and the current management deserve all the credit they get for how well they've done.
As 'desperate' as you may deem it, I'm sure there are hundreds of people who are grateful for their efforts. I don't know how much longer they could have held onto the old 0530 Crewe-random quarry / port / ground frame with loco and Mk2 set-up.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Any examples you can think of, specifically those that haven't been touched in a while ergo would be worthwhile for them to look into? I believe they listen to just about any decent suggestion thrown at them...
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Robert Taggart
Member
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- 31 May 2012
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- 124
One has an intense dislike for hard going, expensive, days out !
One was also a member of the BLS for around a decade - until it became boring AND threatening ! - a notice was once issued (c'04 ?) to members advising them that they could be liable for the losses (£) the society was making from its activities. :eek:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
NO :cry: !
Not off the top of our head !!
It be not the fault of the BLS - it be simply the actuality - there being so few branch lines, particularly of the Freight Only variety, left :-x !!!
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This year marks the 60th anniversary for BLS and in celebaration of that centenary the Fixtures Committee plan to offer their membership at least 60 fixtures..i'd say the Society is in the rudest of health.
It is true that sidings, stubs, cross-overs and even shed/washer lines have features heavily in most of our fixtures. But the society's heritage is far from forgotten and it works hard to ensure branch lines that haven't seen passenger carrying trains for decades feature in its tours.
Early November 2014 at The Telford Steam Railway comes to mind. The BLS hired an external rail safety consultancy (Green Dragon, smashing people) to prove the safety case to run a train probably half a mile beyond Doseley station. (MP 163.23 was achieved). An amazing experience when you consider the rudimentary state of the track - but managed in an entirely professional,controlled and safe manner.
For me, the membership cost of the BLS is probably one of the country's most under-priced bargains that brings countless hours of added value to my hobby in many, many guises.
The 'new guard' committee is young, motivated and professional. I can't speak for the finances other than that which is published annually, and nothing I see causes me concern. What i see is a vibrant, motivated and flourishing society with a membership enjoying their passion of railways.
It is true that sidings, stubs, cross-overs and even shed/washer lines have features heavily in most of our fixtures. But the society's heritage is far from forgotten and it works hard to ensure branch lines that haven't seen passenger carrying trains for decades feature in its tours.
Early November 2014 at The Telford Steam Railway comes to mind. The BLS hired an external rail safety consultancy (Green Dragon, smashing people) to prove the safety case to run a train probably half a mile beyond Doseley station. (MP 163.23 was achieved). An amazing experience when you consider the rudimentary state of the track - but managed in an entirely professional,controlled and safe manner.
For me, the membership cost of the BLS is probably one of the country's most under-priced bargains that brings countless hours of added value to my hobby in many, many guises.
The 'new guard' committee is young, motivated and professional. I can't speak for the finances other than that which is published annually, and nothing I see causes me concern. What i see is a vibrant, motivated and flourishing society with a membership enjoying their passion of railways.
theblackwatch
Established Member
- Joined
- 15 Feb 2006
- Messages
- 10,889
I agree with Garnon - the BLS has come on leaps and bounds in the past couple of years. The old typewriter has been replaced by Twitter, Facebook and a PDF version of Branch Line News, and excellent relationships have been built up with main line TOCs and preserved railways. The amount raised for charity over the past 2-3 years shouldn't be forgotten either.
Individual tracks and loops don't particularly interest me (my marking off is to Baker level only, not Quail!), but I still find there's plenty of interest. The BLS now seems to recognise the traction interest too, a good example being the Bodmin 'all available tracks' I did in 2013, which featured the Class 08, 10 and 33. I'm doing a tour at Embsay next week, which I consider will be a sociable day out, good company, some mileage behind the Class 04 and put some money in the coffers of a local preserved railway.
Individual tracks and loops don't particularly interest me (my marking off is to Baker level only, not Quail!), but I still find there's plenty of interest. The BLS now seems to recognise the traction interest too, a good example being the Bodmin 'all available tracks' I did in 2013, which featured the Class 08, 10 and 33. I'm doing a tour at Embsay next week, which I consider will be a sociable day out, good company, some mileage behind the Class 04 and put some money in the coffers of a local preserved railway.
Robert Taggart
Member
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- 31 May 2012
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- 124
Agreed, but...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oneself was once a 'Quail Basher' - before Quail were even heard of !
Now though - one has settled down to be nothing more than a 'Baker Basher' - which was how this gricer started off !!
Alas, as a perusal of the latest 'Baker Bible' will show - freight only branch lines be few and far between - at least those which amount to something more than 'twigs' or 'stubs'.
This makes for a much easier and cheaper life, but, at the 'expense' of a loss of interest - for some of us anoraks any way !!! :cry:
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Robert Taggart
Member
- Joined
- 31 May 2012
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- 124
Howe and company siding has now been cancelled.
Ergo...
More of a 'Trekker' less of a 'Tracker'
!
Ergo...
More of a 'Trekker' less of a 'Tracker'
!
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