North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

May like many Tripadvisor reports have elements of truth, but it seems someone from a different car park was stopping people parking there? If that is the case then if they own/mange the car park what is the problem? or a we into to the school run "I can park where I want" syndrome, even if it is your driveway.
Perhaps the CEO was shouting, it was outdoors, have these people ever been to Crewe or Woking where you get shouted at for being near the yellow line? (or maybe just breathing on station property) Plus I find these days any form of instruction seems to be classed as bullying or intimidation by many.

 

Colonel Stephen’s had the right approach. His timetables stated ‘Trains will not depart before the following times…”. If heritage railways adopted this heritage style of timetable all would be sweetness and light.

 

…and following the example of the Late Col HF Stephens’ operations, broke and lifted!

 

We live in different times, and today's heritage railways serve a different purpose. With both railways I've been involved with it has not been uncommon to see trains wait for late-arriving passengers to meander their way onto the trains, and I haven't seen howls of protest, rather appreciation of the consideration shown to them, even by the other passengers. I think that nowadays we all need to learn to show a little more patience. Perhaps Col. H.F. Stephens had it right!

 

Possibly, though I'd suggest that any railway that relies on people making connections operates such a timetable approach at its peril. That does not preclude being sensible about late-arriving passengers, especially where their connections have been delayed.

 

Perhaps the CEO was shouting, it was outdoors, have these people ever been to Crewe or Woking where you get shouted at for being near the yellow line? (or maybe just breathing on station property) Plus I find these days any form of instruction seems to be classed as bullying or intimidation by many.

I can see that you have a depth of experience in dealing with customers.......ie the people who pay for your hobby.

 

I agree - and the examples of Crewe or Woking are ones where the "big railway" should be ashamed, not seen as to be followed.

 

If one wasn’t there it’s hard to have an objective opinion without other observations. However, the fact that the person in the hi vis is described as being very rude is unusual, as is the subsequent curiosity about who that was displayed by the review writer. It made an impression on them. I think it is perfectly possible to give instructions without being rude whilst being very clear that there is an expectation that the instruction will be followed. Being polite doesn’t mean quiet, but there is a massive difference between being heard and shouting at someone.

I would suggest that the nature of this particular comment on Tripadvisor is very balanced and as a result raises an eyebrow about the behaviour described. The main impression is that there was a lot of stress about. Stress which I think was avoidable if the parking was better planned. If you run a big event, you have to sort that out, you cannot leave it to people to work it out for themselves without encountering customer blowback and or local resident complaints. Unless you’re lucky enough to be next to a 500 space car park that is normally underused, you need to get creative. You can’t leave it to chance.

 

I have experience of being on railtours where the Tripadvisor reports make me think I must have been on a different tour, or working in the terminals at Heathrow and not recognising what was being described that was supposedly happening at the desks I could see form the door I was manning.
Local to the line we are talking about I have seen a bunch of Americans or Canadians, unsure which, leave the Station Inn because there was nothing on the menu they fancied and said they would go to Whitby. My wife who likes to post when service is good went on later that evening and their was a post from them (easy to identify due to a comment made in the pub that was repeated on line) was about how bad and cold the food (that they never ordered let alone ate) was. When she posted a reply to their comment silence was the answer.
So I hold a lot of Tripadvisor stuff in low esteem I am afraid.
Plus Crewe and Woking to not pay for my hobby, which is more of a stretch even than saying I pay their wages.

 

Maybe, but the post in question is very balanced and as a result very credible.

 

Id suggest that the Ex Col. Stephens railways are in 2025 by far the biggest non big 4 group surviving and currently have the biggest expansion plan.

 

Just been watching last Wednesdays episode of Steam Train Diaries. For those who haven’t seen it there is a good bit of time dedicated to Armstrong Oilers , a subsidiary of the NYMR which makes oiler pads for pre roller bearing locos and rolling stock. Without these oilers most of our heritage railways wouldn’t be able to run. These pads are found in nearly all steam locos, coaches and wagons and it’s not only in the UK but in many other parts of what was once the Empire. I believe it’s the only place in the world still making these oiler pads and it’s sobering to think that, if the NYMR fails, the whole movement would be badly hit.

 

Quite possibly, but I would be surprised if there were not a workshop somewhere in India capable of making them.

 

I don't think the SVR are customers- they choose to make their own - so presumably it can be done.

 

Some locos have furniture foam in place of oiler pads.
I’m not advocating that though!

 

Do you get the capilliary attraction of the oil from the sump with furniture foam?

 

Pass. I’ve only seen it on the tender of an S160…….

 

Well the results of the visit of Flying Scotsman are now out. Apparently the event grossed a good bit over a £1m if catering and sales are included. I don't know what the costs of putting it on have been but the net result has got to be good for the Railway and will hopefully allow it to get back on track and sort out some of the many jobs that are currently on hold.

What can they do to match it next year, I wonder?

 

Good news if it's true, but I can't see much of the backlog being tackled - it's too late to be planning any major track works this winter now, particularly if materials have to be found and paid for. I hope that it's more a case of having enough cash to last through till next Easter, but hopefully it could be used to make the necessary repairs to the teak train and boost the mpd budget somewhat to get the cl 24 finished and the cl 25 back in action, and reduce the diesel loco hire costs. Unless a lot of creativity suddenly (and unexpectedly!) materialises, it's hard to see an event of similar appeal occurring next year.