devon_belle
Member
The preservation scene has evolved significantly since inception. I am wondering what the preservation scene may look like* in the coming decades.
Will steam prevail? Eventually, the generation that remembers steam will be mostly gone, plus difficulties in obtaining coal may mean that steam becomes less viable in future. On the flip side, steam attracts crowds other than railway enthusiasts, which must be crucial for railway finances. If steam does prevail, I wonder if the rate of preservation of more modern stock will fall in favour of continued maintenance and possible new-builds of steam engines. There is finite money, volunteers, track, and shed capacity on heritage lines, yet more stock will continue to be withdrawn.
Will there be a mass loss of EMUs, as heritage lines will not be able to run them and many modern units simply do not have the facilities/appeal to run as railtours? To that end, what makes a good train for passengers in service does not necessarily translate to an enjoyable preserved run. This is why I am surprised so many Pacers have been saved, other than because they were cheap and because the present preserver demographic is likely to have nostalgia for these trains.
Say IETs are withdrawn when the demographic who remembers them replacing the trains of their childhood are leading the preservation movement; will none be saved for the generation who remembers them being the trains of their childhood? And so on.
I'd like to hear your musings.
*ignoring the possibility of heritage lines closing/being forcibly acquired by the national network.
Will steam prevail? Eventually, the generation that remembers steam will be mostly gone, plus difficulties in obtaining coal may mean that steam becomes less viable in future. On the flip side, steam attracts crowds other than railway enthusiasts, which must be crucial for railway finances. If steam does prevail, I wonder if the rate of preservation of more modern stock will fall in favour of continued maintenance and possible new-builds of steam engines. There is finite money, volunteers, track, and shed capacity on heritage lines, yet more stock will continue to be withdrawn.
Will there be a mass loss of EMUs, as heritage lines will not be able to run them and many modern units simply do not have the facilities/appeal to run as railtours? To that end, what makes a good train for passengers in service does not necessarily translate to an enjoyable preserved run. This is why I am surprised so many Pacers have been saved, other than because they were cheap and because the present preserver demographic is likely to have nostalgia for these trains.
Say IETs are withdrawn when the demographic who remembers them replacing the trains of their childhood are leading the preservation movement; will none be saved for the generation who remembers them being the trains of their childhood? And so on.
I'd like to hear your musings.
*ignoring the possibility of heritage lines closing/being forcibly acquired by the national network.
