Lineside Passes - Yes, No or Strings attached ?

Apologies if this thread has been done before (must of missed it if so).

This thread isn't for discussing the pro's and con's of such passes (we had enough of that in the MHR thread ](*,) .

What im interested in here basically is:

1. What lines do them easily (e.g. you can get a pass for a day or gala if you have an orange jacket and short safety brief)

2. What lines do them with strings attached (e.g. You have to be a member or the pass is a longer length of time like 12 months)

3. What lines don't do them (so won't bother asking and wasting everyones time)

As much info as you can give on any lines policy is appreciated providing it's factual and no guess work.

Starting the ball rolling, i know the Churnet Valley can do them for events and the Mid Hants & Llangollen do not issue them can other add some more ?.

 

The Moors do them with valid membership although the pass runs from January to January only, a big mistake for myself having got it in June last year and also only needing one for half a year this year... You have to sit a PTS course and exam which costs £20 and lasts about an hour this also has to be renewed every two years, the pass itself was £40 I think this year and the membership was £18.

The Worth Valley is currently £16 for Membership and £16 for line side permit, although i'm led to believe that PTS is coming in there later this year along with an increased line side pass cost.

There the two railways I have them for, the North Norfolk Rly also do day passes which is extremely helpful especially for people like me venturing down for a 2 day gala...

 

The Llangollen Railway has no lineside passes. But there are plenty of good locations where you can take great pictures without the need to trespass. Fishermans crossing is a popular one as the train comes out of Glyn around the bend and onto the straight.

 

The West Somerset does annual and (sometimes) gala event photo passes. Details may be found at
http://www.wsr.org.uk/photographers.htm including application forms, advice on good locations and places not to go (eg near the Royal Marine Base at Norton).

David

 

I know many have quite a few good public locations Martin, other's such as the Great Central though are not so blessed, so be interesting to know what the options are at various lines.

Really im just interested in what various lines policies are, as im sure it will be of use to others as well as me, generally im thinking of about 3 or 4 lines which are not so blessed for public spots that could be more usefull.

 

http://railways.national-preservation.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=12841

 

3 myself, GCR,NNR & KWVR.

GCR & KWVR you have to be a member, cost wit Hi-vis works out at GCR just uner 50 pounds in total, cost be 500 hundred as I car broke when I went to get it ( I'll go by bus maybe nexttime around). KWVR is 32 in total, probably the best bargin around when you consider how much trafic, events and engine they have running in a year.

NNR, you can do a single day pass, fiver none event day I thing and a tenner on an event day, or you can get a full year for around 40 pounds I thing. On the other hand with membership the price is halfed, but membership works out around 25 pounds if I remember correctly. If you plan on doing more than one event I would suggest getting the membership as it works out better in the long run with a year pass as well.

On the subject of sitting a PTS, If we have to why not have a national PTS scheme accepted at all lines, that you show when you get your line side pass, as it is not practical to sit one at each railway.

 

I have three, for the Bluebell, WSR and G/WR. All require that you are a member.

On the Bluebell you have to sign a document that has destructions on it and that you understand these destructions which I would imagine is similar to, but less formal than, the PTS. The WSR and G/WR permit postal applications from members so there isn't the face-to-face contact that there is at the Bluebell. The G/WR also have a day scheme which is available at galas. All have a form of identity, that on the WSR being a photocard.

I did inquire at the KWVR about this matter before the summer gala and was told that their insurer insists that the period of the membership coincides with the currency period of the linesidepass, therefore membership and the lineside pass have to be taken out at the same time. Come my membership renewal at the KWVR I shall be doing this. I believe the KWVR also has a photocard system, in that I have seen linesiders on the KWVR sporting their passes which include a photo of them.

I would agree with an earlier post that the lack of a lineside pass system on the Llangollen is not an issue because there are a perfectly adequate number of very attractive photospots. Much the same is true of the WSR and G/WR, but on the Bluebell it's a great help and as far as the KWVR is concerned I personally think it's essential. It would also be a great help on the GCR where there are so few good spots but I can't afford their prices!

I would like to support 'pennysteam' in his plea for a nationwide system of PTS examinations for the enthusiast, as this would be a great help re safety. I've seen people do some really daft things, and if they had to pass an exam before they went lineside at least they would know that their actions are daft and might just think before they did it again. Perhaps this is something the UK Heritage Railways Association might consider taking on.

Hope that helps.

Regards

 

You do not have to be a member of the WSR [-X

http://www.wsr.org.uk/photographers.htm from WSW site.

 

http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/linesidepasses.htm
Very useful for the event below!

 

Most helpfull Lil Bear, and thanks to everyone else contributing =D>

I've already done Churnet Valley as apart from the "pub" shot, that seems to offer very litte public wise and it really was a big help there, considering it for the GCR as frankly im sick to death of Woodthorpe & Kinchley Lane, GWR is another possibility, other lines either have enough public spots or i don't currently visit often enough to make it worthwhile.

I prefer day/weekend passes to anual/membership, but i visit the GCR regularly enough to probably make that one worthwhile.

 

I have 2 - SVR and GWSR - both are annual and (I think) you have to be a member.

 

GWSR

Taken from http://www.gwsr.com/enthusiasts/lineside-passes.aspx

So for £29 you can be a member and have an annual LSP - bargain.

 

True but the lineside can be a very handy way of getting between locations. I did the IoW once using only public rights of way. I walked at least twice the distance than if I had been able to use the lineside between locations.

 

The Spa Valley also issue permits, although the crews seem quite shocked to see anyone linesiding when it's not a gala, as I have discovered! For all this, it is an attractive line and well worth linesiding, especailly when 47493 is in use. When Eridge is open, the passes won't be valid beyond Birchden.

I think the K&ESR do permits, but am not sure of conditions/costs.

Swanage doesn't, but I've found at least 20 decent locations e.g. fields, footpaths, bridges, etc.

On the Bluebell, North of Horsted as far as Sharpthorne Tunnel is out of bounds, and I can't see the line north of Kingscote being made available to linesiders when East Grinstead is finally reached.

Hope this helps.

 

Snap. And neither do have to be a member of the Bluebell Railway [-X

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/lineside.html from the Bluebell website.

Chris

 

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway do not issue lineside photographic passes, but you do not need one in any case as there is a public footpath alongside the railway for much of the line.

Chris

 

I concede that I was in error here, but I did no more than quote the persons on both railways that sold me the line passes! Never mind, but it is interesting that both 'Axe' and 'the quantocks' only made a posting to correct mine, rather than take the initative to answer the original question.

Regards

 

I can't think how that can be. Each Bluebell Ticket Office Clerk will be aware that there are different passes for both members and non-members, and that both issues have to be accounted for in the Ticket Issue Book at the end of each day.

Do you think it may have been because the first I saw of this topic was just this morning?

Chris