Which railways will still be with us in 10 years?

...throwing custerd pies at each other!!!!!!




....only joking!!!! \/

 

What Green Custard Pies that was in the news today?!!? ](*,)

 

Eh ? Are volunteers on your railway not trained or insured then ? That seems like a dodgy state of affairs !

 

Why would volunteers not be insured? Speaking as a regular volunteer (WHR(C)) and insurance professional (over 20 years in the City of London) whether someone is a volunteer or employee of itself makes no difference to the insurance position. It all depends on how accurately the railway has described its operations to the insurer and on what policy the railway has actually bought.

Ian King

 

I am sure all volunteers on Heritage type railways are insured against accident/injury and damage etc. I should have been more specific and said National Insurance type contributions.

I have heard mention being made of CRB checks being necessary for Thomas events and similar occasions and I am certain that this kind of legislation will be expanded. CRB checks are being slowly introduced into many spheres of voluntary work.

 

Well I'm very pleased to hear that your volunteers are insured after all. There's still the rather asinine implication that unpaid staff are for some reason not worth training, or for some reason are unable to benefit from it.

 

well if its pipe dreams we are talking...you wouldnt need to merge them at all...just have a service departing Swanage as far as Eastleigh , a most suitable place to change and service engines and crew and then continue on via Alton to Alresford with MHR crew and engine...niow thats what I call a grand day out., with a mirror image service in the other direction.... practically feasible even if totally impractical finacially.

 

One that almost definatly won't be around in 10 years... Nene Valley. Unfortunatly I think this is the truth, it has no real attraction for the enthusiast, it's not really a TOURIST area and some of the staff/volunteers (some NOT ALL) are not as friendly as they possibly could be.

Mind you, they do have good potential but need a good role model in management who can make things happen!!

North Norfolk Railway, on the other hand, will be with us for many years to come. Great pulls for the enthusiast, on a great tourist venue (and with more people holidaying in GB now!) and (mostly) friendly and helpful staff and volunteers!

^^^ THIS IS JUST MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION AND IS NOT MEANT TO CAUSE OFFENCE NOR UPSET TO ANY INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS INTENTIONALLY^^^

 

I for one think that the NVR will still be around in 10 years time. Whilst I am no longer at the NVR I still have many good friends down there. The NVR is in a strong position to ride out the current economic problems as it owns all the land, track, etc that it sits on, indeed it has a very large pot of money sitting in investments to look after any major prolem that could occur to its infrastructure. It's finances aren't in bad shape (the last time I saw the balance sheet), plus it doesn't owe anyone anything. People often say the NVR won't survive, but when you look at the figures and how it is setup, it will be here for a lot longer than most people realise.

Brian

 

I had a feeling you would answer that one Brian.

Regards
Chris

 

I knew he would answer it, didn't know which way he'd go though!

Matt
(TPO New Boy... I'm sure you remember me Mr Hallett?)

 

Brian,

Whilst I will not disaggree with you about the railways finacial situation, I do wonder what it is trying to draw in as a whole. Last time I visited the railway was as a stop off point on the way back to sussex from York. I haven't acctually riden on the railway since I was about 8, it seems more of a convience/leg stretchinig venue on the A1. Some of the stock is intressting, but since you can no longer look around the yard freely (not the railways fault I guess) you cannot really look at half the stock with some of the rest in a shed were you have no chance to look. I'm also unaware as to why the B1 left, but for me it was one of the few reasons to visit. On the volunteer outlook, I was quite impressed by how friendly the footplate staff and model railway operator seemed but not quite so much by the shop staff who probably thought like most people that becuase I wear a hoodie and am fairly young I'd only be there to steal. I'm getting so what used to that perception, which is fantastic when I've been a shop assistant myself and seen young people like myself and not thought anything of it. End of Rant!

"The Norfolkman" makes a comparision with the NNR. I first visited the NNR this Sunday. In comparision to the Nene Valley it was incredible. If I'm perfectly honest, it also equal if not better than the Bluebell in my book. I'm not sure if anyone else reads it the same way but its safe to say that I was exceptionally impressed by the railway, its helpful volunteers especially the young ones at Sheringham and the young TTI that was on the train too.

Ross

 

The NVR is off my radar due to the foreign steam, for some reason I hate foreign stuff.
I haven't been since 1998 (when I was 7) for Thomas (a massive asset).
I do think it was be here in 10 years, just probably not much improved.

Its going to be the starter schemes and ideas that fall through

 

That reminds me , I wonder how our friend "Bramleyman" is getting on, I had forgotten about him, the man was a loony tune.

Regards
Chris.

 

They are starting a fund-raising campaign last time I asked him for the lease (10k) and track clearance.

 

After some thinking I have decided to remove my comment.

Apologies to those it caused upset to!

 

Your last line sums up perfectly another well known line in Sussex.

Regards
Chris

 

I have only visited NVR once when they held the 30 Anniversary gala, one of the main points for visiting was to see Mayflower and also USA S160, 5197 which I saw the previous year at NNR and wanted to see again.

I for one will always volunteer at NNR (im one of the younger volunteers at 16) been at the railway for 2 years, 2009 being my third year and have always been impressed by how friendly everyone is both before and after I started volunteering there well NNR is known to some as "the friendly railway by the sea". I also believe theres a waiting list for the junior club?

So I think NNR will defently be around in 10 years time, its situated by the sea and with Sheringham being Norfolks premier seaside town even better, it has three wonderful, attractive period stations and runs through beutiful country side, has friendly staff and caters for both enthusiasts and tourists, and the events - steam galas in particular are getting better and better, also the crossing (mainline connection) at Sheringham to hopfully be installed later this year will attract more locos to visit the line, who's owners dont want them going on low loaders etc. Last summer I spoke to some passengers from Australia, and they said that one of their main reasons to visit North Norfolk for a holiday was to travel on the NNR!!!

 

Your last line sums up perfectly another well known line in Sussex.

Regards
Chris[/quote:1nrvpuul]


You just can't help yourself can you Chris, I think you are the one with a problem not the Bluebell.

 

Completly disagree with the above comments. As Brian says we are in a strong position and have a great bunch of volunteers. As it has been stated so many times in various posts and topics we have continental stuff or foreign rubbish or overseas crap depending on how you put it. Its here to stay ok? Yes it may not be marketed well but for Santa Special's its great esp as you can fit more passengers than a MK1 coach = more income for the railway. If it weren't for the continental stock NVR prob wouldn't have been around.

We do run british stock most of the time i.e 73050/2183 and MK1's...

Continental stock also has its use for filming contracts, corporate events etc..... aas well as making a change from travelling in the usual MK1 stock offered by most railways. Yes Polish tank 5485 is out of traffic at the moments for repairs but I'm sure it will run again soon and with 2 more loco's under overhaul the foreign regin looks to continue.

We have many other exciting projects like the TPO's and their new museum at Ferry Meadows, the Yarwell project, the old station building etc.....

We hold Thomas days as they are a great income for the railway and since the HIT entertainment situ we have benefited as our Thomas is the original and is exempt from liciencing.

Like all heritage railways we all struggle for volunteers esp younger ones but take a look at the TPO group who are made up of young people and also the loco crews........

Don't know about the situ with the yard, prob the same as most other railways H&S.