If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

GWSR Broadway Developments

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Breva, Aug 1, 2014.

  1. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Again, few people seem to know the actual facts, more hearsay and rumour! (I don't know either!) The point about Sustrans not maintaining the route was also my understanding too, and makes the potential acquisition of the land for the GWSR a tad easier if true, as we'd be releasing them of a burden.

    One thing I did hear is that when Sustrans were planning a cycle route through bishops cleeve and racecourse they asked the council for permission on their bit, who said "yep, fine, have you asked the owners of the trackbed?" To which the reply was "er, who?" Again, all just rumour though! :)

    Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk
     
  2. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2006
    Messages:
    1,868
    Likes Received:
    1,588
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    White Rose County
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    After a little more research I have discovered amongst other things, that the official GWSR response to a question asked on Broadway-Honeybourne trackbed ownership was as follows:
    [​IMG]
    Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
    The trackbed north of Broadway is currently owned by Sustrans. There are no plans to go beyond Broadway at present; that position may change in the future but there are a number of things to consider like: increasing average age of the volunteer workfo...See more

    7 February at 12:33
    Remove
    [​IMG]
    Nigel Billett Thanks for your reply. Everything is much as I thought but I just thought I would check as some people have got slightly the wrong picture and it would be good to inform them of the facts. Yours sincerely.

    7 February at 14:17

    Therefore I can only deduce, at least from the official GWSR response, that the current legal owners of the aforementioned trackbed from Broadway to Honeybourne are indeed Sustrans.
     
    flying scotsman123 likes this.
  3. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    At least that foresighted provision of a platform for future G-WR services at Honeybourne Stn will allow sufficient space for a the largest cycle rack outside China. :(
     
  4. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2006
    Messages:
    3,080
    Likes Received:
    1,291
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Very comfortably early retired
    Location:
    1029
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Which local council? Broadway - Honeybourne runs through several.
     
  5. AndyY

    AndyY Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2013
    Messages:
    433
    Likes Received:
    480
    I note that GWSR response includes "Studies in the past have shown that the optimum length for a heritage railway is 12 miles, this takes account of the time that visitors can reasonably be expected to spend on a single activity".

    So the NYMR, SVR and WSR to name but three have got it all wrong, they'll never become successful..............

    Andy
     
  6. Breva

    Breva Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2010
    Messages:
    2,158
    Likes Received:
    3,790
    Location:
    Gloucestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Well, quite.
    And we're not here to develop an 'optimum length' railway, but to restore the Honeybourne line.
    I have used all 3 above lines as a tourist, and enjoyed the experience without growing bored. Even the long WHR! Especially after a man came to my seat and asked me, mid journey, whether I would like a Gin and Tonic. I most certainly did !
     
  7. AndyY

    AndyY Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2013
    Messages:
    433
    Likes Received:
    480
    You say what I like to hear!!!
     
    TommyD likes this.
  8. toplight

    toplight Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2009
    Messages:
    1,351
    Likes Received:
    1,288
    Location:
    Swindon, England
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    One of the things that probably helps with the Broadway Honeybourne situation is that there is no cycle track there. Is one ever likely to be built ? Who wants to cycle to Honeybourne ?
    I don't agree with Sustrans anyway, I think it is disgraceful that they have been given so many trackbeds and according to Wikipedia well over 100 million pounds of public money. Just corruption really for very little in return, (a few tarmac cycle paths that few use). It is the sort of thing that is ripe for journalist investigation.
     
    jnc, Felix Holt, gios and 3 others like this.
  9. Sawdust

    Sawdust Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2015
    Messages:
    508
    Likes Received:
    884
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    To be joined in that regard by the GCR once the gap is bridged. And by the Strathspey if they reach Grantown.

    Sawdust.
     
  10. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The version of this study I've always heard is that that's the realistic limit for operating a railway relying virtually exclusively on volunteers. I accept that in years to come it's inevitable that we'll have to have more paid staff, but the reason many volunteers drive past other railways to come here is that they prefer the all volunteer atmosphere so it's a careful balance to strike.

    Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk
     
    jnc likes this.
  11. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2006
    Messages:
    1,868
    Likes Received:
    1,588
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    White Rose County
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    You got me there.
     
  12. Phil-d259

    Phil-d259 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2015
    Messages:
    703
    Likes Received:
    736
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    However I question your 'averageness'

    Once again I remind people that the bulk of revenues on heritage railways DO NOT come from enthusiasts - they come from families having days out, coach parties and special events such as Santa specials. Respected research shows that amongst such customers (particularly with young children who have a naturally short attention span regardless of how interested they may be in a particular thing), an overall 'ride time' of between 1 and 2 hours is ideal - which based on a 25mph line speed equates to a 12 mile length.

    I would also point out that if you double the mileage - the wear and tear on locos, carriages and the track also doubles, but if you double the fares to match you will soon drive away visitors. Once the line gets beyond a certain length and waiting times at stations get beyond what is acceptable for a casual visitor who turns up on spec then you might end up having to put on another train - yet more costs for relatively fare revenue.

    Naturally not everyone conforms to this model - or otherwise , as you say, the longer lines you mention would be in trouble, but the point still stands that mere length is a pretty pointless way of rating Heritage Railways.

    One way round this is to develop intermediate attractions like the Engine House at Highley - those fancying a shorter ride can take a trip from Bridgenorth or Kidiminster to highly and back while still offering a long journey for those who wish it. However developing such attractions takes considerable time, money and the availability of suitable land - none of which the GWSR has to spare at present.

    To pt it bluntly the GWSR has quite enough on its plate to attend to for the next decade or more without the distractions of going further north (or south). Just as with the Bluebell and Ardingly, what I see in the GWSR statements is basically a holding operation going on - i.e. making sure that the option of going north of Broadway is not put beyond reach / made needlessly expensive by the decisions of others going forward (say replacement of one of the decaying overbridges by an earth embankment, or a cutting filled in with spoil both of which would not be incompatible with a cycle route along the formation).
     
    Paul42 and paulhitch like this.
  13. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2008
    Messages:
    1,898
    Likes Received:
    2,517
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Though all three of those do go to a pretty established destination attractive to non enthusiast "normals" where a trip on the railway can form part of a whole day out. Broadway may tick that particular box, Honeybourne does not come near.
     
  14. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2006
    Messages:
    3,080
    Likes Received:
    1,291
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Very comfortably early retired
    Location:
    1029
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I always buy a small bottle of brandy at Tesco in Portmadoc and then top up my several cups of coffee on the return journey to Caernarvon.
     
  15. huochemi

    huochemi Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 6, 2008
    Messages:
    2,751
    Likes Received:
    1,393
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    UK
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Or get the bus one way which I would recommend on the WHR, also giving you more flexible to spend time at the destination.
     
  16. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2006
    Messages:
    3,080
    Likes Received:
    1,291
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Very comfortably early retired
    Location:
    1029
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer

    My bus pass doesn't work in Wales - however my TRPS Life Membership does get me Priv Fare on the WHR.
     
  17. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Whilst I can fully appreciate the G-WR could use a period of consolidation, especially bearing in mind Broadway isn't even open for public sevices as yet (!!), I tend to question the veracity of experts who insist on publicly brandishing their "perfect length". I seem to recall, about forty years ago, another set of eminent authorities claiming all evidence pointed to a 5 mile run being optimum. Perhaps the additional seven miles is down to inflation over the intervening years?

    Has anyone told either the Durrango & Silverton (45 miles) or Cumbres & Toltec (64 miles) that they've got it all wrong? Maybe American sproggits just have a longer attention span....... that must be it.... We just need to force feed our kids Ritalin or Attentrol .... simples!

    (And before anyone says it....No, I'm not advocating the (IMO) seriously irresponsible fad of clinicians routinely medicating 'problem' children, just so we're clear, I'm taking the pi...... rise out of the ghastly notion.)

    For pities sake, it's horses for courses! If a longer line such as the G-WR (or WHR for that matter) identifies an additional market for dedicated shorter trips (and parents with very young children seeking something lasting under an hour may well be one such market), it's their choice whether or not to develop it. There's always comment bemoaning the lack of regular "Branch Line" type services, well perhaps there's a way to usefully integrate some into full-line timetables. GW Autotrain stock seems to me to be a near perfect choice for that sort of operation on the G-WR. Photographers won't hate you for adding a few different 'cops' either.

    Soviet style central dictats famously couldn't ever get the number or type of tactors right with all the machinery of a superpower behind them, so would anyone please care to tell me how the same "one size fits all" thinking is supposed to be equally applicable to individual lines with demographics as disparate as Bo'ness, Minehead, Haven Street and Toddington?
     
  18. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Indeed I do! Not that the GWR is the worst, or even a particularly bad offender in this regard.

    PH
     
  19. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    And we replicate the more mainline type trains that ran along our line perfectly!

    Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk
     
  20. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    .... even if visitors to the Island will have to wait a whiles yet before "The Tourist" or "Invalid Express"* can put in an appropriate appearance once again...... Quid pro quo..... Eh, Paul?;)

    * Yes, I know ..... but it was the colloquial moniker ... and a great one at that!
     

Share This Page