Preserved railways : passenger statistics

[Justin Smith]

Does anyone know if there`s a website which collates the passenger figures of preserved railways ?
If so, what is is ?
If not, wouldn`t it be interesting if there was ?

 

[Mvann]

The heritage railway association collated that type of information. Don't know if they publish anything though. Steam railway used to report on yearly figures for some of the railways as well.

 

[Justin Smith]

The heritage railway association collated that type of information. Don't know if they publish anything though. Steam railway used to report on yearly figures for some of the railways as well.

I know that the Railway Magazine often quotes passenger figures for various preserved railways, so they must be getting the info from somewhere !

 

[Mvann]

Cliff Thomas usually asks the railways in his monthly ring round.

 

[Justin Smith]

Cliff Thomas usually asks the railways in his monthly ring round.

If there really isn't a site with the passenger figures I could put some of them on here, but it'd be a work in progress, taking some time, and I'd want to update it each year, which might be difficult as this Forum "locks" the thread after so long !

 

[stationpilot]

The "high passenger loading" lines normally publicise their own statistics, I have seen the NYMR do this, the North Norfolk do in their leaflets at the start of each year entitled "what's going on" - If I recall correctly, there were 130,000 passengers travelling on the NNR in 2009.

 

[YorkshireBear]

i have a book with them all in.... for 2010 is there any you would like to know?

 

[Justin Smith]

i have a book with them all in.... for 2010 is there any you would like to know?

I'd be interested in all of them, for reference sake, and I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one interested in them ! Could you put them on here, or is that too big a job ? Or could you scan it and E Mail it to me ?

I'm currently reading back through my collection of Railway Magazines* (1962 at the moment) and think it fascinating to compare how many passengers were using Heritage railways in those days compared to today. Even more thought provoking is to read the regular letters from readers bemoaning the fact that the preservation movement at that time was trying to save too much and thus making it less likely that all, or any, would survive ! If the readers sending in those letters then (and most won't actually be around any more.....) could see the number and size of Heritage railways now, they'd be absolutely astounded !

* My bound collection (so far) goes back to 1941, with about 5 years missing !

 

[Wyvern]

i have a book with them all in.... for 2010 is there any you would like to know?

2010 would be an underestimate for the Ecclesbourne Valley Line.

Since they opened up to Duffield it's been heaving (as has the EMT 153 out of Derby)

 

[YorkshireBear]

I'd be interested in all of them, for reference sake, and I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one interested in them ! Could you put them on here, or is that too big a job ? Or could you scan it and E Mail it to me ?

I'm currently reading back through my collection of Railway Magazines* (1962 at the moment) and think it fascinating to compare how many passengers were using Heritage railways in those days compared to today. Even more thought provoking is to read the regular letters from readers bemoaning the fact that the preservation movement at that time was trying to save too much and thus making it less likely that all, or any, would survive ! If the readers sending in those letters then (and most won't actually be around any more.....) could see the number and size of Heritage railways now, they'd be absolutely astounded !

* My bound collection (so far) goes back to 1941, with about 5 years missing !

Well they are at my student address, which i cant get to till monday, will try upload sometime after then, will do main ones for 2010.

And yes of course ecclesbourne valley will be lower but i dont have 2012 book yet!

 

[Justin Smith]

Anyone know what the figures are for the Severn Valley Railway ?

 

[YorkshireBear]

I am going to list some of the bigger ones and will put any others up by request. I have figures for every standard gauge railway in Britain inc museums, also for some light railways in northern England and Scotland, so again ask if you would like to know any and i will get back to anyone as soon as possible.

1.All figures are for 2009/2010. Taken from 'Still Steaming-A guide to Britain's standard gauge steam railways 2010/2011'.
2.I may forget some so if i do no put it up it does not mean i do not think you are a big railway.

Avon Valley-80,000
Beamish-320,000
Bluebell-175,000
Churnet Valley-70,000
East Lancashire-110,000
Ecclesbourne-15,000
Embsay and Bolton Abbey-107,000
Gloucestershire Warwickshire-70,000
Great Central-150,000
Great Central (Nottingham)-15,000 (for comparrison)
Keighley and Worth Valley-150,000
Lakeside and Haverthwaite-170,000
llangollen-110,000
NRM Shildon-60,000+
NRM-800,000
Mid Hants-150,000
Midland Railway-130,000
North Norfolk-130,000
North Yorkshire Moors-330,000
Paington & Dartmoor-350,000
Peak Rail-60,000
Severn Valley-248,000
South Devon-100,000
Swanage-201,448 (exact figure for 2007)
West Somerset-220,000
ADDITIONS
Ravenglass and Eskdale-120,000
Northampton-20,000
Chinor-15,000
Wallingford-9,700
Crickdale-16,000

 

[ElectronicaL33]

Thanks for sharing this info rather fascinating if you ask me! Interesting that the Embsay & Bolton pulled nearly as many steam fans as The East Lancs did that year. & well done to the Lakeside & Haverthwaite, impressive for such a short line. But i guess they have a busy Northern station in terms of tourists.

 

[WSW]

Does anyone know if there's a website which collates the passenger figures of preserved railways ?
If so, what is is ?
If not, wouldn't it be interesting if there was ?

One of the problems is that the methods of counting differ so a published figure may mean different things.

The WSR carried 208,326 passengers in 2011 - that's actually the number of tickets to travel sold (regardless of single/return, or to/from which stations, and not including platform tickets or any other method of counting "visitors" who may not travel).

I may be wrong but I believe some heritage railways count a return as two journeys and therefore two tickets. Some attempts at regularising the stats have been made, I understand, although I'd consider the interpolation and supposition would give wildly inaccurate results.

Ideally I think you need a standard method of counting.

Steve
www.wsr.org.uk

 

[Justin Smith]

I am going to list some of the bigger ones and will put any others up by request. I have figures for every standard gauge railway in Britain inc museums, also for some light railways in northern England and Scotland, so again ask if you would like to know any and i will get back to anyone as soon as possible.

1.All figures are for 2009/2010. Taken from 'Still Steaming-A guide to Britain's standard gauge steam railways 2010/2011'.
2.I may forget some so if i do no put it up it does not mean i do not think you are a big railway.

Avon Valley-80,000
Beamish-320,000
Bluebell-175,000
Churnet Valley-70,000
East Lancashire-110,000
Ecclesbourne-15,000
Embsay and Bolton Abbey-107,000
Gloucestershire Warwickshire-70,000
Great Central-150,000
Great Central (Nottingham)-15,000 (for comparrison)
Keighley and Worth Valley-150,000
Lakeside and Haverthwaite-170,000
llangollen-110,000
NRM Shildon-60,000+
NRM-8000,000
Mid Hants-150,000
Midland Railway-130,000
North Norfolk-130,000
North Yorkshire Moors-330,000
Paington & Dartmoor-350,000
Peak Rail-60,000
Severn Valley-248,000
South Devon-100,000
Swanage-201,448 (exact figure for 2007)
West Somerset-220,000

Good work Jimmy.
Is the NRM 8 million or 800,000 ?
As I'm reading through my back issues of Railway Magazine if I come across any figures from the 1960s I'll put them on here, they'd make interesting comparisons

 

[YorkshireBear]

800,000 .....

 

[Justin Smith]

800,000 .....

Well done Jimmy, now for this, I`ve found an interesting snippet (from RWM March 1962), the Ravenglass & Eskdale achieved 75,000 passenger journeys in 1961, I wonder what it is now ? ! ?

 

[MK Tom]

Are there any stats for shorter lines? I'm thinking especially Northampton and Lamport, Chinnor, Wallingford, Swindon and Cricklade, lines like that.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Well like i said i have every standard gauge and some narrow gauge so ask away.

Ravenglass and Eskdale-120,000
Northampton-20,000
Chinor-15,000
Wallingford-9,700
Crickdale-16,000

 

[WSW]

Well like i said i have every standard gauge and some narrow gauge so ask away.

Ravenglass and Eskdale-120,000
Northampton-20,000
Chinor-15,000
Wallingford-9,700
Crickdale-16,000

And what exactly do all of your figures mean, Jimmy?

Steve
www.wsr.org.uk

 

[YorkshireBear]

Estimated annual visitors.

 

[WSW]

Estimated annual visitors.

Thanks. But the figures for a "visitor" are not calculated the same way across all railways so isn't it a bit pointless comparing one with another?

Steve
www.wsr.org.uk

 

[YorkshireBear]

Thanks. But the figures for a "visitor" are not calculated the same way across all railways so isn't it a bit pointless comparing one with another?

Steve
www.wsr.org.uk

okay, well its taken from a book i have im sorry. Dont pay attention if you dont think they are representative.

No notes in the book about method used for counting.

 

[Justin Smith]

okay, well its taken from a book i have im sorry. Dont pay attention if you dont think they are representative.

No notes in the book about method used for counting.

I don't think it's pointless Jimmy ! ! ! Even if the railways don`t use exactly the same definition it`s still a good indication of their visitors.
As you add any requested data, could you add it to the main list ? That`s what I do with my pet project as and when I get any new info (British railways seat leg room, see my signature below).

 

[YorkshireBear]

Done it justin, will do that in future too.

 

[Justin Smith]

I read an article (on the Bluebell Railway's proposed purchase of its line) in the December 1961 edition of the Railway Magazine which really does throw into sharp focus the achievements of the preservation movement in this country.
To quote :

"Even if the line could be bought, it includes a tunnel and a viaduct - luxuries which no society can reasonably afford to maintain"

Just look at JBs figures for the Bluebell line last year, 175,000 ! And how many lines in operation these days have both of those features which the RWM thought unsustainable. It`s incredible really.

 

[skittles]

In their press releases (see http://www.bkrailway.co.uk/something-for-sunday-programme-has-successful-first-year/) it says they have 65,000 visitors a year. It means passengers who make up the bulk and visitors to the Museum of Scottish Railways and the site in general.

Hope this helps.

 

[Justin Smith]

In their press releases (see http://www.bkrailway.co.uk/something-for-sunday-programme-has-successful-first-year/) it says they have 65,000 visitors a year. It means passengers who make up the bulk and visitors to the Museum of Scottish Railways and the site in general.

Hope this helps.

It all helps !