North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

It had refreshed - but my disappointment (which I think was inherent in how Jorvik was designed) was that it was pastiche overlain on good archaeology

 

I think the refresh was forced upon it by flooding some years ago -IIRC it was closed for around a year or more. It serves to illustrate that refreshes can be good as well as bad, and obviously I want any refresh of the NYMR to be good for both volunteers and visitors - make it more of a heritage railway needs to be the aim, not just an alternative method of accessing Whitby a bit like Jorvik ought to be about finding and learning out about Viking York, without needing a patch of land and a trowel!

 

I think folks do notice vintage carriages, and that if marketed correctly they are an attraction in themselves. The Bluebell used to specifically note a 'vintage train' of non-corridor stock on the timetable. A lot of people forget that even Mk1's are seen as opulent and unusual to most of the travelling public who only have experience of RyanAir-style seating on the modern network. In the early 2000's I also noticed an increasing number of folks enjoying coaches with compartments because they were travelling like a certain teenage wizard who goes to school in a steam-hauled train of Mk1s..

 

Yesterday was the finale of the 2026 Diesel Gala. Not my cup of tea personally but even as a supporter of steam I can see the point of such events and from what diesel knowledge I do have there seemed to be a reasonable selection of traction. Friends who were in attendance all seem to have two opinions in common. They enjoyed themselves but also that it was very quiet with few passengers.

Organisation was said to be excellent, staff friendly and accomodating and very positive feedback but will it have made money? I'm not sure what the costs are of importing four visiting locos, two of which travelled down from Scotland but it must mean ticket sales rise sufficiently to cover that expense let alone make a profit.

On this matter I'm commenting from an armchair rather than my more usual platform view but what occurs to me straightaway are parallels with the recent Thomas event, that is to say well run but with poor patronage.

One skill which current senior management claim is in PR and such skills are especially needed to promote special events like galas and Thomas festivities. However once again there seems to have been a failure to promote these happenings effectively. In previous times such weekends were much better supported because of the excellent reputation the NYMR used to have. That goodwill seems to have been eroded,

One attendee expressed his opinion that confidence had been lost amongst the diesel fraternity and many stayed away as a result. This is of course sad, but it is a reflection of the loss of confidence that is now commonplace amongst volunteers and paid staff alike. Steve in his earlier post summed it up most eloquently and hopefully the next AGM will see long overdue changes. A vote of no confidence in the Senior Management needs to be the first item on the agenda.

 

I think the general point is probably fair, and the virtuous circle of being well regarded is no longer at work.

But for the diesel fraternity, I've picked up that there was a diary clash with another event (NNR), while the ever fickle diesel fans weren't energised by the traction on offer - a challenge that is far from unique to this event. In particular, the comment seems to be that the absence of large Type 5s, with corresponding requirement for air-braking, is a driver for custom - but that NYMR's vacuum brake only policy, with no brake translation permitted, inhibits this. The policy, as I understand it, is of very long standing while the fickleness of diesel fans is a challenge to event and tour organisers all around