Replica builds for heritage lines.

Most of the intermediate stations on the SVR so too, along with Gotherington and Toddington on GWSR.

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Campbell's Platform!

 

More than a few heritage lines now carry more passengers per annum than during any decade when they operated commercially. Infrastructure often reflects this. The idea that every wayside stop on lines where 90% of custom originates from terminals needs to accomodate the full length of all trains is frankly potty. Strict adherence to safe operating practices at stations with (unlike the modern big railway) the staff neccessary to ensure compliance should be no more an issue in this regard as any other facet of activity.

 

Bums on seats Paul. Passengers put money into the coffers and keep the railway going. Basic rule of thumb.

Why would any railway restrict their ability to make money (which ultimately goes into restorations, overhauls, insurance, fuel and water, catering, maintenance on buildings, new buildings for protecting rolling stock, before we even get onto paying staff, etc etc)?

If we could put together a four coach pullman train golden arrow we probably would at the Bluebell. They’re that popular. It’s something like half the revenue on the Bluebell is generated by the catering staff and special trains.

 

I'm fairly sure I'm on the list too but having been to countless heritage railways in the last few years I would say that most of the major railways have stations (or at least halts) with platforms shorter than maximum train length. And they all cope fine.

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I was wondering about the GCR, where I’ve definitely had to walk through to alight. I’m just wondering which is worse, short enough trains to fit the platforms or authentic length trains for the traffic.


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So can we put this one to bed then Paul? It's obvious that in the heritage railway world this isn't applicable from all the examples posted above, and one might venture that maybe you need to visit some heritage railways other than the IoWSR....

 

Safety is the first and last priority. What are the platform lengths on the GCR?

PH

 

I do. Most haven't had volumes of traffic when I visited them to justify more than five vehicles, or as many as five for that matter. An exception to this was the Dartmouth Steam Railway.

PH

 

I'd give up if I were you - you know you're right, I know you're right, everyone knows you're right. I expect even PH knows, but he's never going to admit it.

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The problem is though, some railways will have a very busy first trip when every single seat is filled and in some cases filled to standing, then only carry a few passengers till the last round trip, when again, you need every last vehicle, so what do you do? do you shunt the stock, reduce the train length down to the 3 vehicles you assume will fit the passenger numbers then re make up the rake, or accept the extra weight and leave it as it is? or risk cramming everyone in, in which case you may not get any repeat visits, thats my biggest issue with the IOWSR They are almost in high season recreating commutator style experiences , i would go as far as to question if they were on the mainland, with competition would they do so well? on an island your clientel cant go visit another railway ,
but there is no magical correct fits all answer, Some visitors will go to railway A because they like it, no matter whats up front, others will go because they like big express engines and the feel they are actually on a main line, others want to experience something older such as a Victorian 4 wheeler hauled by something as old as ,or older than the coach , there is no right, or wrong, to me, my favorite is the MHR because you get to hear an engine working hard, you pass other trains at stations enroute you get a feel you are actually going on a journey .

 

And that still doesn't help with platform lengths unless only trains in the middle of the day call at certain stations!

 

Who do you think knows more about an individual heritage railway's passenger loadings and required train lengths Paul, you, or operations management for that railway? Off the top of my head GWSR SVR NYMR SR WSR and BWR have all had decently filled trains of at least 6 coaches when I've visited on normal running days. I'm sure there are others.

 

Forgive me for asking but what is the problem with short platforms? It's just an invention of keyboard warriors on here. Has any heritage railway or the ORR ever identified a problem with trains longer than the platform? No, I didn't think so. The heritage railway movement has enough problems to overcome in the long term, don't invent a new one.

 

Haven't the foggiest John, @paulhitch seems to be in denial that for most heritage railways they're a fact of life.

 

On the SVR, where eight coach trains are the norm on busy days, there is only one station, namely Kidderminster, where all platforms can accommodate that many vehicles. Both Bridgnorth and Bewdley have one short platform.

 

Well at Swanage for one they cannot accommodate more than five vehicles within the platform at Norden nor run round more than that at Swanage without the assistance of a pilot. This is the second busiest tourist line in the country. Despite this, when I have been there the trains have never been particularly crowded.

Indeed various videos suggest that running with fewer vehicles than five is not beneath them.

PH

P.S. Remember the thread heading

 

Whoops! Misremembered there. That's still at least 5 railways though. When we're debating big chuffers Paul I'll say "I think you're wrong" because I accept that in both cases it's more opinion than anything else. But in this case you're just wrong. (Much like I just was on the SR dammit!)

 

you may not think it is a problem but the ORR obviously does consider it a problem/safety risk or they wouldn't have put "Platforms should be long enough to accommodate the longest train booked to call at the station plus an allowance for inaccurate stopping, typically 2 m. Exceptionally, a shorter platform may be accepted provided that it is long enough to accommodate the majority of trains and special arrangements are agreed with HMRI for longer trains." in their guidance for heritage railways., as I said in post 552. Yes, you can have 'special arrangements' and these can take various forms. On the NYMR, passengers for the short platform stations are told to travel in the three coaches at the north end of the train and TTI's go through to ensure that anyone wanting these stations is made aware of the fact.

 

As indeed the SVR and GWSR do, much easier than extending platforms where it's not possible to do so or shortening train lengths such that passengers are crammed in like sardines.