North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

Thank you for that. That makes understanding the situation a lot clearer.

 

I do seriously worry for this railway. As it stands even if they get through this project their funds are going to be such a perilous state, with known big repairs to other bridges as well as the tunnel coming down the track, not to mention other infrastructure that's been put off in recent years. I hope for their sake fundraising as increased speed again now there is evidence of works going on, but even so they are so far down on the requirement with not lots of time to make up the difference. If they can't get passengers there to see the bridge again and put hands in pockets etc, I do wonder how much difference will be left to make up out of whatever reserves are left. Meanwhile how far back can the other projects realistically go before they too are critical?

 

My point exactly.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if it's true.

https://flic.kr/p/2rwSyyK

That ballast doesn't look in good condition, and there's a fair length of track under a concrete pad alongside the shed as well.

 

Id imagine that it's pretty low speed and could be kept going with spot replacements for many years if necessary tbh.

 

Well, that is the million-pound question (quite literally, in this case). The recent news of the person who withdrew a very large legacy is very worrying, when it comes to the outlook there. If that person's expressed views are widespread among the potential donor base (and I suspect they may be), the line is going to have a very tough haul, gathering the funds needed to do the non-optional civil engineering work it needs.

Which just goes to reinforce a point I've been trying to make for some time now - to a certain amount of incredulity here: heritage lines are generally not 'ordinary' businesses. How many 'ordinary' businesses can you think of that depend on voluntary contributions to keep functioning? And that's without getting into the question of volunteer labour - although the NYMR seems like it's 'sort of' trying to do without that.

Noel

 

My kids' school seems to rely on voluntary contributions (from parents) to keep functioning. And that's a state-run school nominally funded through taxation - and I most certainly pay more than enough of that.
I'm probably subsidising my employer too, by working from home a fair bit, for which privilege I provide electricity to run their computer, and a room in my house complete with desk and chair to use it in. Yes I save a bit on travel costs, but they are also saving on office costs, having shrunk the team from two floors in an office to about 1/4 of a floor through desk sharing. I don't recall being rewarded with a large pay rise when this happened, either.
There are a lot of areas of life where the money doesn't seem to add up. I'd like to know where it's all going.

 

Pensions. Social care. And a load of other stuff that has to be paid for regardless. Leaving too little money to cover the rest

 

Surely you realise how much it costs to run a really successful awards dinner? Those who are nominated to aatend a star studded event with all the status of an Oscar's ceremony deserve the best in life? After all £3490 + vat doesn't go far these days.

On the real railway of course they have the Golden Spanner awards, though I think the NYMR delegation came away with the bronze award for a spanner in the works.

Going back a few years there was a spoof on this forum about Railway Awards evenings and, with acknowledgment to the original source I've managed to dredge it up from the archives. I apologise for the thread drift from the NYMR but, even if a few years old, it does rather demonstrate where the NYMR potentates like to waste money.

"The night has arrived when Rail big-wigs all gather,
For a slap on the back and delusional blather.
The great and the good were all invited to come
But couldn't be bothered so please welome these bums.

EMT's table is short-formed as ever,
Not enough seats so they all cram together.
The Network Rail table was booked very late
They had 13 weeks notice but still got the wrong date

Franchises wilt like fast fading flowers,
How long will they last when Corbyn's in power.
The HS2 sentence has increased by 10 years,
As costs ever spiral it will all end in tears

Crossrails new schedule has gone down the drain,
Dalesrail can't roster just one weekly train.
Southern's gone soft and Arriva for sale,
All special charters are are programmed to fail.

Swansea unplugged from electic connection,
Northern has abandoned all sense of direction.
Delay-repay claims reach a record new peak,
The Tfl budget is up Chelsea Creek

Never mind passengers, ladders are best
Branson's East Coast has sumk and gone west.
The lesser bearded wonder no longer a factor
Virgins great empire no longer intacta.

Constituents rage and back benchers howl
All DfT letterheads are short of a vowel.
A cabinet reshuffle ? Hacks whisper she dares,
Christopher Grayling is saying his prayers.

RMT strikes and Trans-Pennine bluster,
The industry's fine but to hell with the customer.
Trains running too late to make station calls,
All Rail's Cinderellas shall spout PR balls."