Strathspey Steam Railway

[johnsgovan]

Dear all train enthusiasts, (I'm a current student at the University
of Stirling, studying Marketing, and i have a project to conduct
regarding the Strathspey Railway line in the Highlands)

Could you please spare 5 minutes of your time to give your opinions 
and/or knowledge of the Strathspey Steam Railway which runs from 
Aviemore to Broomhill. With an extension to Grantown on Spey 
proposed.
Could you please write a short description / answer for the following 
questions? Thank you

Have you heard of the railway before?

If you have visited, please write a short description of your 
experience? (enjoyable, dissatisfactory)

If you have not been on or visited it, why not? (i.e. never heard of 
it, doesn't appeal, too expensive, too far)

What would maybe attract you to use the railway or pay a visit?

Also if you could give an answer to the poll attached this would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks, John

 

[90019]

I've been there a couple of times before, however that was a few years back, so I don't really remember it.
I'm not sure about a museum there. It would certainly be a nice addidtion, but I''m not sure I'd be any more likely to visit.
Certainly, it wouldn't make me travel from Edinburgh specifically to see it, so no change there (The Bo'ness and Kinneil is closer for that anyway) but if I'm already nearby, I would be likely to go to the railway anyway.

 

[scotsman]

Have you heard of the railway before?
Yes - I'm a Travelling Ticket Inspector there

If you have visited, please write a short description of your 
experience? Extremely enjoyable!

The Grantown Extention will be a great benefit to the railway and the local are once it is completed, and when the issues surrounding the Level Crossing/Tunnel at the A96 are solved.

 

[johnsgovan]

Just wanted to say thank you so far for the responses and to let you know that the results will be able to be viewed once the poll has finished in 2 days. Also i hope to make my research available to yourselves once it is completed.

Regards

John

 

[CallySleeperKid]

Have you heard of the railway before?

Yes, visited twice during visits to Inverness.

If you have visited, please write a short description of your 
experience? (enjoyable, dissatisfactory)

The Strathspey for me is one of the most beautiful preserved railway I have ever visited, I am a huge train fan and love to be able to see loads of preserved steam and diesel locomotives in a depot, but The Strathspey does not need this as for once I was won over by the stunning scenery rather than whats in the sidings. Yes it has a small mixture of steam, diesel and DMU, nothing on the scale of some others, but it has enough, and like I say, the stunning scenery, especially in winter, is a huge winner.

In an answer to the poll, I don't think it would make me want to visit any more or less, but for people looking to visit for the first time it could make a difference.
We are keeping a close eye on the extension and will be visiting again each time we can when were in the north. The Strathspey is simply stunning. I would always recommend the lovely first class compartment coach for any trip, the service and staff are superb and make the trip that little bit above others ive visited.

 

[Mvann]

I've heard of the straphspey railway. Never visited as have never really been to Scotland. My parents have been and brought me back a guide book.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I've heard of it, I've been on it (August 2008 IIRC). The stations on route were nice, clean trains, great scenery. I have a fairly good knowledge of persevered railways close to current operational railways in Britain, hence why I've heard of it.

The station they have on the side of Aviemore NR station is nice, well-stocked (book) shop (and I picked up a first hand book there that was out of stock at the publishers there!). I would fully recommend it to anyone, just a shame it is so far away from anything, and I would certainly visit more often if I was up in North Scotland more often. Overall, a very good, very enjoyable day out!

I think the reason more people haven't heard of it is that the name doesn't give much away, for example, everyone, from the name, will know where the East Lancashire Railway and the West Somerset Railway are, Strathspey, not so.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I have to say, its a hard challenge to travel on the mainline between, say, Inverness and Perth without being very aware of it. Much like travelling on ThamesLink and not noticing the River Thames!

I usually make a point of looking out the window when passing to see if there's anything going on, but have never alighted there nor travelled on the preserved line - maybe one day, but it will be because I have time to spare (which doesn't seem to happen to me - esp when travelling), rather than the cost.

I do find it annoying that most preserved lines' stations are segregated from mainline stations. It makes them less useful for practical travel and condemns them to the status of a museum.

 

[scotsman]

I do find it annoying that most preserved lines' stations are segregated from mainline stations. It makes them less useful for practical travel and condemns them to the status of a museum.

Practical travel - exactly!

When I was coming up in the Summer, I got off my 170 and was on to my Mk1 in about 30 seconds!

 

[chris89]

Have you heard of the railway before? Yes been on it many times whilst visiting Relatives in Aviemore who i believe are also members of the Railway

If you have visited, please write a short description of your 
experience? Was a very long time ago before the extenstion north of Boat of Garton, all i can really remember was being pulled behind a Black 5 and 828


What would maybe attract you to use the railway or pay a visit? If i ever was in that part of Scotland again, Occasionally in Edinburgh more oftern though. Most likely time would be if holiday or seeing Relatives would make a visit certain.

Chris

 

[craig87034]

Have you heard of the railway before?

Yes been to Aviemore many times great area. Done the railway a couple of times scenry is superb and a nice atmosphre on train. Only problem is the railway's anti diesel policy.

What would maybe attract you to use the railway or pay a visit?

Diesel running with 27050 and the 26's we can dream....
on an extra diagram crossing the kettle at Boat of Garten

 

[scotsman]

I'm interested to see these comments - are you sending them to the Railway too?

I'd just like to point out that we're advertsised as "Strathspey Steam Railway" on local signs and tourists pay for steam. (Off the record, I'd like to add that I find the diesel policy irritating - they are rarely used on passenger trains, surely there are times when the high heid yin could advertise and diagram a few diesel runs...)

 

[Bittern]

Yes, I've heard of the railway before, and I've traveled on it. Got behind 828, settled down to a nice coffee and watched the scenery go by (albet with some loud passengers infront!). On the way back, I got into a quieter coach and slipped my head out the window (and yes, I got some coal from the loco in my eye).

To put it simply; it was awesome!

It's quite far from where I'm from and my shifts at work are all over the place, so finding the time to visit the railway isn't easy and there are other railways I'd like to do (Keith and Dufftown, Caley and Deeside. However, while I'm not too sure a museum would make much of a difference, it'd might make me decide to pick another trip to Aviemore for a day out. So I'm saying "yes".

Also, I plan to be on one of the earlier trains across the Grantown extension once it's up and running.