North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

A more interesting question would be what is leaving to make way for it? After all, the NYMR operates a "one in/one out policy" doesn't it, and it hardly needs another diesel shunter, even more so if it needs any work doing on it.

 

Platform staff tend to be from an older generation who want to be involved but are not up to anything strenuous, such as carrying a backpack spray. It’s good to know that there is no shortage of them and I’m sure that you’ll agree that for many, sitting around, drinking tea and chatting to likeminded people is one of the great pleasures to be had from our hobby. Long may it continue. I do agree with you, though, that the state of the weed-strewn track is not a good advert for the railway and something needs to be done about it.
As for 926, it has been out and about quite bit recently, including today, and is rostered for two round trips tomorrow.

 

Interesting rumour that was plinthed outside a steel works.

 

The Hull and Barnsley Coach that was at Hull college has returned recently so don't know what left in its place

 

Nothing would have had to, that coach was a long-time resident on the railway. The "one in, one out" rule only applies to things that the management really doesn't want to see there, it doesn't apply if the item in question happens to be something they do want It will be interest to see if this arrival really is the O3 being suggested, what state it is in, and why they might want it (and who has bought it, since that seems to be an important factor too)

 

There are some shots of her on Flickr in Italy.

 

https://features.rcts.org.uk/diesel...lass-03s-exported-italy-cairnryan/loco-03156/

 

Sorry for not being clear, I wan't making a link between the platform staff and weedkilling. They're all in uniform and so I appreciate anything potentially 'messy' would not be possible. And, indeed, their ages might preclude that. But I do think that one or two of those (un-uniformed) volunteers who were at the centre of the hoo-haa getting the goods shed gutter looked at seemed strong enough to do a bit of weedkilling.

At one point I needed to ask a question at Pickering and felt like an intruder because I had to break into the animated old boys' tea party. If I felt like that, you can be sure that others have too. It might be a great pleasure for the participants, but the experience of the public who spend the money should be considered.

I appreciate there's a balance between enjoyment and cracking the whip, but it would create a better impression if for at least some of the time in the long gap between trains they were doing something useful. Polishing or sweeping something, etc. Literally showcasing to Joe and Joanne public how the uniformed staff take pride in the railway. It all adds to the illusion of stepping back in time

Yeah, thanks for that. Glad the dratted thing is out to play while I'm several hundred miles away and can't afford the time or money to get (or stay) there now!

PS By the way, "I'm sure you'll agree" is a very passive aggressive way of saying "I'm right and you're wrong". Not cool.

 

Sorry, but (although you clearly don't agree!) "I'm sure you'll agree" is not "a very passive aggressive way of saying I'm right and you are wrong". It's more a figure of speech way of questioning your interpretation of what you observed and concluded from it!

 

Forcing volunteers to do other tasks. An interesting concept, were you a BA Senior Manager in a previous life by any chance?
I think @Steve covered it, if I vounteered to work on the platform and would not expect to be forced to do something else.

 

He did, but @73108 made a more important point about prioritisation. Whether that's volunteers available for physical tasks, or on station volunteers focusing on the customers who actually pay for there to be a railway for them to gather at, the perception of the visitor is all important.

That said, there's a certain authenticity in the latter experience, at least when compared to coming through the barriers at King's Cross Underground.

 

If I was a station group volunteer, I'd be looking to do anything that needed doing, provided I was capable and it was safe for me to do so. There was a time when such jobs would be done in the evening after the trains had stopped running - and there is a signalbox at Goathland that has to be manned if trains are running out of hours, so it's not hard to double check!

 

Whilst some dislike the weeds on the tracks many people these days prefer the no mow lawns, and the wild life friendly no chemical weedkiller approach, perhaps some also like the rather neglected branch line sight.

 

All staff / volunteers would need a PST to access and work on the track, together with a signed off risk assessment. I personally wouldn’t wish to work with any weed killer chemical unless specially trained, and would personally leave this to others using the weed spraying equipment mounted on a lowmac EO wagon and that has been recently modified so as to significantly enhance its range of operation.

ps an earlier comment suggested it would be an additional £20 per head “to go down the hill to Grosmont and back”. Just to clarify, that the fare between Goathland and Grosmont has this (and last) season been just £15 per head (return). However, with the recent introduction of the £35 3-stop fare then someone who has already bought a £25 ticket between Pickering and Goathland would just be just charged an excess fare of £10 by a TTI “to go down hill”.

 

Correct answer, from experience at our golf club, training is essential, together with a drench facility in case of an accident.
Modern green chemicals are just that, we use Glyphosate to treat problem areas, and it is nasty stuff, but 100% effective.

 

I note that the NYMR is now effectively “mowing” the sides of its track over quite a length (thanks to the lineside team) and which has the added advantage of reducing the fire risk.

 

Not necessarily. Unless all the cut material is removed and/or disposed of by controlled burning, once it has dried out it is potentially going to be more combustible than when it was still growing, and particularly susceptible to ignition by any stray ash pan embers.
And with regards to weeds growing in the formation itself, it’s not just a visual thing, but can also have a negative effect on track drainage and potentially structures if roots get a hold in them.

 

Controlled burning is difficult when you are encouraging and monitoring grass snakes with those covers line side through the dale.

 

Grass snakes? I thought they were adders they were trying to protect.

Peter