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.

Recommissioning after Coronavirus

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by johnofwessex, Mar 24, 2020.

  1. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,937
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I did sit down to write the December roster this evening... My laptop has crashed, think it might be telling me something.
     
  2. andrewtoplis

    andrewtoplis Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2006
    Messages:
    1,357
    Likes Received:
    816
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    November may be cancelled now, let's hope December is go ahead!
     
    Paulthehitch likes this.
  3. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,930
    Likes Received:
    10,088
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    It will very much depend on whether you, your railway and the law considers volunteering to be work, or not. Last lockdown, volunteering and charitable purposes were allowed but my gut feeling is that it was badly worded legislation and didn't really mean volunteering for your charity controlled heritage railway. Having said that, heritage railways are still a business and businesses have to do what is necessary to protect that business.
     
    Johnb and flying scotsman123 like this.
  4. Platform 3

    Platform 3 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2015
    Messages:
    825
    Likes Received:
    1,091
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Prescient. You should have told Boris!

    Sent from my SM-G770F using Tapatalk
     
  5. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    Messages:
    1,637
    Likes Received:
    3,266
    Occupation:
    Solicitor
    Location:
    South Wales
    I think it depends on the nature of the work. If it can be classified as “Safety Critical” and it can’t be done from home I’d say yes. If it’s commencing a restoration of a Barry wreck that is estimated to take 10 years, I’d say no.
     
    Hampshire Unit and JBTEvans like this.
  6. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2020
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    1,595
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Thameslink territory
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    "Well I'm sorry dear, it may be 140t of rust, and it may look untidy on the porch, but I can't work on it at the railway..."

    Good luck to all railways wrangling with this one
     
    35B, 5944 and Matt78 like this.
  7. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    The late Phil Rollin, 76084, a back garden and (if I remember) a divorce

    Patrick
     
    green five and Matt37401 like this.
  8. Thompson1706

    Thompson1706 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2007
    Messages:
    2,438
    Likes Received:
    1,844
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Rhiwabon
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I can remember somebody else having a BR standard tender outside his kitchen window.

    Bob.
     
  9. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,930
    Likes Received:
    10,088
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Hypothetical situation ( except it isn’t). A loco is due to come out of service due to expiry of boiler cert. You are working on a loco to replace it. The clock on the boiler doesn’t stop ticking and the inspector won’t give an extension. You need the replacement loco. Is that essential work?
     
    2392, Mike S and flying scotsman123 like this.
  10. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    Messages:
    1,637
    Likes Received:
    3,266
    Occupation:
    Solicitor
    Location:
    South Wales
    personally speaking I’d say yes. If we work on the principle that Heritage Railways are a business, and the (replacement) loco forms part of that line’s short term plans then I think that is justifiable.

    what is less justifiable (in my view) is any work that could be deferred legitimately without affecting the business in a negative way. There will be grey areas but presumably if this loco wasn’t ready that would affect the railway concerned.
     
  11. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,326
    Likes Received:
    11,664
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Would that be Mr Foster when he restored 76079? Had the pleasure of his company in your namesake buffet car at Steam, Steel and Stars in 2012 behind 44806 and 70000. What a lovely bloke
     
  12. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    Messages:
    14,116
    Likes Received:
    7,639
    Occupation:
    Layabout
    Location:
    Naughty step
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I'd hope so too, but I think it very unlikely. I think this'll run over into the New Year if I'm honest.
     
  13. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,326
    Likes Received:
    11,664
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I think the idea is to somehow save Christmas, No one wants to be ‘the grinch’ however this government really couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery.
     
  14. Thompson1706

    Thompson1706 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2007
    Messages:
    2,438
    Likes Received:
    1,844
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Rhiwabon
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Yes. He's still about at Llangollen. I think that he's 86 now.

    Bob.
     
    Matt37401 likes this.
  15. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2008
    Messages:
    5,806
    Likes Received:
    2,649
    Occupation:
    Ex a lot of things.
    Location:
    Near where the 3 Ridings meet
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Steve, Not in our dept of the railway.
    2 staff and 1 volunteer only from March to October.
    I got 1 day in last week the first since March.
     
    2392 likes this.
  16. twr12

    twr12 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2007
    Messages:
    1,540
    Likes Received:
    692
    There was a trap in the Furlough rules that employees of charities could not volunteer for their charities. Even in a different role to their paid job.
    The Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee wrote to the chancellor asking for that trap to be removed. It never was.
     
    Spitfire likes this.
  17. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2006
    Messages:
    6,595
    Likes Received:
    2,242
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hampshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Had a quick look at several Preserved Railway websites after the latest announcement. So far the Bluebell, NYMR, MHR, Didcot Railway Centre and GWSR have suspended services in November. The NNR are currently reviewing their operations in November.

    Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk
     
  18. Davo

    Davo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2018
    Messages:
    1,523
    Likes Received:
    634
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    W yorkshire 56f
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Do heritage railways in England Scotland and wales have a choice this time during the 4 week national temporary lockdown to remain open or close? Or has B.J. enforced a non essential travel ban like in 23 march national lockdown anyway?
    Does anyone know?
    Davo 56F
     
  19. Platform 3

    Platform 3 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2015
    Messages:
    825
    Likes Received:
    1,091
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The leisure sector is being forced to shut in England, and non-essential travel is banned from Thursday. So no railways in England will be able to operate.

    Sent from my SM-G770F using Tapatalk
     
  20. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,930
    Likes Received:
    10,088
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Unless things are different this time around, railways, and that includes heritage railways, will not be required to close. However, the general public will not be allowed to travel on them as it is a non essential reason for leaving the home. Little point in running empty trains.
     
    2392 likes this.

Share This Page