Cleaning Up Your Act

[RichmondCommu]

G'day everyone,

Before I go any further I don't plan to give details of the preserved railway that we visited as I have no desire to harm their business. However......

A few weeks a go on the Friday my wife and I traveled up from London in good time to attend a wedding on the Saturday. With nothing else to fill our afternoon I suggested that we visit a nearby preserved railway which indeed we did. This was well before the school holidays and we didn't expect to see any trains running, so in theory there shouldn't have been any scope for disappointment.

Sadly what we found was very disappointing. Unsightly Portakabins, rolling stock that didn't look like it had a hope in hell of ever running gain, weeds everywhere (several hours with weed killer would have helped with that) and various little projects that had been started without any idea as to how they would be finished. Basically the whole thing looked like a disjointed mess.

Now, despite the lack of any timetabled trains much to my delight there was a class 08 shunting some stock around the site. I was thrilled to bits with this as it took me back to the days of the station pilot in the late 1970's / early 1980's. And yet when the shunting had finished and I asked a few well meaning questions all I got in return was little more than a grunt. Indeed there was not an attempt to make conversation despite my happy disposition and genuine interest. With the exception of one other volunteer who mentioned how nice the weather was no one else bothered to talk to us.

The museum had some interesting exhibits but there was no reference to the loco's parked up else where which included one rusting hulk. There was really nothing to encourage a repeat visit.

My other gripe is a footpath which is pretty much key to the whole site. Given how wet our summer has been my wife and I turned up in footwear suitable for walking along paths. However you would have thought that the railway would have made an attempt to put wooden boards over notorious wet "spots" to help visitors with less then ideal foot wear.

I was happy to put money in the donation boxes but there was nothing to entice me back.

Your thoughts would be very welcome.

Kind regards,

Richmond Commuter!

 

[Bald Rick]

Sounds almost exactly like an experience I have had, twice, with an also unnamed railway, located somewhere between Northampton and Lamport.

Oops.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Inevitably most heritage lines, for much of their preservation life, become dumping grounds for items of rolling stock which have been saved from the breakers but for which there are minimal funds to proceed with restoration work. Given that most such work is on a volunteer basis such projects will have timescales measured in years, if not decades, and will therefore continue to be eyesores for the hosting railway. Unless a sugar daddy suddenly provides significant funds it's difficult to see how this situation can change.

However it's noticeable that the longer lines (especially WSR, SVR, NYMR) have largely eliminated such problems, possibly because their very length demands a more professional approach. And I suspect that the scale of their operations makes it easier to generate funds for projects like carriage sheds which allow the remaining eyesores (it's always the rolling stock, locos get all the attention) to be kept out of sight.

The other line (of those I have visited) that comes to mind as having good housekeeping is the KWVR. That line is relatively short and has been going a long time so has long since acquired just about all the locos and stock it could ever need. This means that there is very little still needing restoration and their efforts can be focused on maintenance. Indeed much like the National Tramway Museum they are able to have a long term plan for the rotation of their rolling stock through the overhaul process, particularly steam locos which have to meet ever tightening regulations.

Of course if you think a heritage line nearby is looking down at heel why not volunteer for "groundskeeping" duties?

 

[birchesgreen]

Its an opinion thats been in one of the magazines recently about rusting rolling stock but to honest i always find these very interesting.

 

[Iskra]

Inevitably most heritage lines, for much of their preservation life, become dumping grounds for items of rolling stock which have been saved from the breakers but for which there are minimal funds to proceed with restoration work. Given that most such work is on a volunteer basis such projects will have timescales measured in years, if not decades, and will therefore continue to be eyesores for the hosting railway. Unless a sugar daddy suddenly provides significant funds it's difficult to see how this situation can change.

However it's noticeable that the longer lines (especially WSR, SVR, NYMR) have largely eliminated such problems, possibly because their very length demands a more professional approach. And I suspect that the scale of their operations makes it easier to generate funds for projects like carriage sheds which allow the remaining eyesores (it's always the rolling stock, locos get all the attention) to be kept out of sight.

The other line (of those I have visited) that comes to mind as having good housekeeping is the KWVR. That line is relatively short and has been going a long time so has long since acquired just about all the locos and stock it could ever need. This means that there is very little still needing restoration and their efforts can be focused on maintenance. Indeed much like the National Tramway Museum they are able to have a long term plan for the rotation of their rolling stock through the overhaul process, particularly steam locos which have to meet ever tightening regulations.

Of course if you think a heritage line nearby is looking down at heel why not volunteer for "groundskeeping" duties?

I've been on the KWVR today, and I was very impressed in how much tidier the railway is compared to when I last used to visit regularly around 15 years ago. In particular, the freight wagons at Oakworth and Ingrow, the P-way yard at Oakworth and the passing loop all look so much more well cared for and presentable compared to how they used to look. Even the areas the railway line overlooks at Ingrow and Keighley look so much cleaner and have been spruced up; industrial yards are tidier, some buildings reclad and it's all a lot less litter strewn.

I was on the NYMR a couple of months back and that was nice and tidy too.

I find the rusting hulks interesting, it's the state of the stations, yards and tracksides that make the difference for me and yes on some railways this is an area that needs addressing.

 

[fowler9]

Can I put a shout in for the East Lancs Railway. Always looks very well looked after to me.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

I think it would be fair to say that a general state of tidiness eventually arrives when a heritage line reaches a particular maturity. However it can take an awfully long time to reach that position especially if the line receives comparatively few visitors.

It's some years since I last visited the East Lancs Rly. It struck me then as a little ragged round the edges but close to a decent standard of presentation. Perhaps it has reached the state of maturity I was suggesting. And since we are naming the better lines I'd say the Bluebell Line is also worth a mention.

 

[yorksrob]

There's also a risk of being so tidy as to be unrealistic. Some preserved railways strike me as being a bit too chocolate box.

The East Lancs is for me the best of them all. Tidy and well looked after, but still realistic (and lots of good pubs).

 

[RichmondCommu]

Its an opinion thats been in one of the magazines recently about rusting rolling stock but to honest i always find these very interesting.

The problem is it doesn't look great in the eye's of none enthusiasts i.e. people like my wife. And as we try and spend our weekends together when we can (my wife working shifts and all that) my wife is going to be less than keen on a repeat visit to an "eye sore".

 

[fowler9]

The problem is it doesn't look great in the eye's of none enthusiasts i.e. people like my wife. And as we try and spend our weekends together when we can (my wife working shifts and all that) my wife is going to be less than keen on a repeat visit to an "eye sore".

Yeah I can appreciate that. Some of us would be happy walking around a scrap yard, we have others to consider though.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Yeah I can appreciate that. Some of us would be happy walking around a scrap yard, we have others to consider though.

This is the thing. I find any rolling stock fascinating, no matter what it's condition is. However, when it comes to trips with my wife a gleaming Pannier tank (no GWR bias here by the way) is a much easier "sell" than a rusting diesel locomotive.

 

[fowler9]

This is the thing. I find any rolling stock fascinating, no matter what it's condition is. However, when it comes to trips with my wife a gleaming Pannier tank (no GWR bias here by the way) is a much easier "sell" than a rusting diesel locomotive.

Yeah of course mate. This is very true. Me and the ex enjoyed trips to the East Lancs and Keighley and Worth Valley despite her not having a massive interest in the trains themselves. Both very good railways in my opinion. Her one trip on the East Lancs was for a Diesel Gala and she enjoyed it (The preserved railways weren't the reason we split up, ha ha).

 

[birchesgreen]

Different things appeal to different folks, shock horror

 

[RichmondCommu]

Different things appeal to different folks, shock horror

However surely preserved railways owe it to themselves to maximize their appeal to the general public, especially those people with money to spend? As opposed to enthusiasts who just want to photograph trains and not actually pay to ride on them?

 

[Amy Worrall]

Why not put a sign on each of the rusting ones, explaining why it's historically interesting, why it's not being restored right now (i.e. how much funds are needed), etc? Even if it's a handwritten board, it'd give some context for people who don't know much about this stuff.

 

[DarloRich]

it is interesting that many of the steam locomotives we have operating now have been restored fomr derelict condition over long time periods. Everything has to start somewhere

 

[Deepgreen]

There's also a risk of being so tidy as to be unrealistic. Some preserved railways strike me as being a bit too chocolate box.

The East Lancs is for me the best of them all. Tidy and well looked after, but still realistic (and lots of good pubs).

OK, but don't forget that the railways of yester-year were actually often very tidy - ballast was trimmed, lineside vegetation burned way frequently by steam engine exhaust contents, stations well-maintained by the then generous staffing levels, and so on. Not to mention that the image that many non-enthusiasts want is that of exactly to what you allude - "chocolate box" versions of history, accurate or otherwise.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Why not put a sign on each of the rusting ones, explaining why it's historically interesting, why it's not being restored right now (i.e. how much funds are needed), etc? Even if it's a handwritten board, it'd give some context for people who don't know much about this stuff.

I concur.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

it is interesting that many of the steam locomotives we have operating now have been restored fomr derelict condition over long time periods. Everything has to start somewhere

I absolutely agree with this. However as Amy Worrall has suggested some information on the vehicles wouldn't go a miss. We walked past a vehicle with LMS stamped on the bearing covers; I would have loved to know more about the vehicle and the railways plans for it but there was no information. There was another carriage with a wooden body (which must surely date it pre-BR) with no information available to public about it's history.

Go to many other railways and there are financial appeals for this and that through which the public can learn about projects and contribute towards them. All it takes is a bit of enterprise and thought.

 

[cin88]

Can I put a shout in for the East Lancs Railway. Always looks very well looked after to me.

Speaking (hopefully) humorously as a working member. That's because we hide our rubbish stock at quarter mile or in various corners of Buckley Wells yard

The C&W department are quite quick turnaround wise with rolling stock though, they don't tend to stay eyesores for long.

 

[fowler9]

Speaking (hopefully) humorously as a working member. That's because we hide our rubbish stock at quarter mile or in various corners of Buckley Wells yard

The C&W department are quite quick turnaround wise with rolling stock though, they don't tend to stay eyesores for long.

Ha ha. Spot on. Keep up the good work.

 

[The Lad]

It helps if you have corners of your site that are out of sight, many projects just have the basic route with nowhere to hide the 'works in progress'

 

[alexl92]

I think the point about keeping a footpath around the site in good order is an important one - surely most heritage railways could spare a few quid and an afternoon's volunteer power to put gravel down on a path or at least keep it in decent order for visitors for cases of worse weather? Likewise with keeping weeds in order in the parts visitors can access? The site has to be appealing to those who aren't hardcore enthusiasts!

And as for rusting hulks around the site - I love seeing locos and rolling stock around in any condition but surely it woudn't be too difficult for railways to put up some small signs - even if they're laminated card with a brief explanation typed up on MS Word - explaining what's there and why.

Most do a great job though. I do like it when weather-worn (rusty/delapidated in some cases) stock is on view to visitors though. There's something fascinating about it!