Nameplates back on black Dukedog

The problem is, David, that you might have shot yourself in the foot a bit with this thread, and the similar one on the Bluebell group. I usually find people react better when asked politely first, rather than shouted at from another website then asked politely!

Seriously, good luck in achieving your aims. But at the end of the day...it's not the end of the world, is it?

 

I feel sorry for 80154.

He obviously feels passionate about steam preservation, and whilst unable to commit time and effort to the Bluebell, nevertheless he is willing to put his hand in his pocket and support those who do.

But he is feeling alienated by the perceived actions of sections of management, perhaps with good cause, perhaps not. But it should be noted that he, as the customer, is not feeling as happy with the service he receives as he once did.

If it were not for the fact that he clearly works close to the Bluebell, and is therefore able to pop down during his lunch break, if I were Bluebell management I would fear that he would vote with his feet and take his patronage elsewhere.

I know that if my favorite line started treating me with indifference I would consider transferring my allegiance, money and custom to another line.

As far as other comments about the Dukedog are concerned, it should be remembered that the Bluebell, as custodians of the loco for the Gomm family are bound to respect the wishes and desires of the family. Those wishes are not in the public domain, nor do they need to be, and perhaps some of the more vocal posters here should remember that and also show some appreciation of the commitment that Tom Gomm and his family have shown to the movement over the years.

 

One final reply in this subject by 80154:

From 80154,

I've read all the latest threads on the pros and cons of the nameplates on the black Dukedog and there are some interesting points made, some clarification of points raised, some interesting perceptions together with, very sadly, a lot of ill tempered and thought out replies and misconceptions.

I personally have been accused by one respondent elsewhere of "80154 being rudely anonymous and apoplectic". I struggle to find where on earth my original note could be contrived as either rude or apoplectic. Perhaps the person that wrote that could explain to us all in a reasoned way how he came to that conclusion. If you all go back to what I originally wrote you will see that nowhere was I rude to anyone nor was I apoplectic. As for remaining anonymous; can we all consider this: many people including newspaper journalists sometimes write under a pen name. Does the author's name really matter in this case? I don't think so. Does actually identifying the writer make a difference to the issues presented, not one iota. There was nothing written that could provoke anything other than what I hoped would be a fairly reasoned response, argument and outcome. There's also nothing written that I would not actually say to anyone in an open face to face discussion.

There have been some very good suggestions about why we enthusiasts don't enquire and offer our services to assist in the removal of the plates for GOS. It's a sound argument and one that we should all take on board. That assumes that whoever the volunteers are, appropriate PPE and safety induction are of course provided. I'm sure they will receive a very warm welcome for the fact that they've volunteered.

I've also read from some sources the explanation that the plates, liveries, cleanliness of engines (and stock) are made for sound commercial reasons and I would like to thank all those that pointed that out. Apologies for missing that point. It is indeed returning bums on seats and smiling Joe Publics that keeps the line alive. It is also a fact that as I said in my previous note, there would be no railway if people like myself didn't work in order to spend cash on the pleasure that the railway gives us all. The link there is that at times I take off my enthusiast / photter hat and put on my Joe Public hat and actually ride the trains too.

I also refer to 34081's note regarding the contributions that linesiders, by the vast majority, do make. His comments are very true and should be recognised as a fact of life once and for all. It is also a point that I demonstrated in my original note. I feel very guilty if I go to the Bluebell, even as a fare paying passenger and do not put some spare cash into the various collecting tins around the line. Yes there will always be a small minority of freeloaders and blaggers but as 34081 says they are a fact of life and indeed a minority. I saw evidence of this sort of behaviour at Duxford Flying Legends recently where a small minority freeloaded the whole show from a farm access track on the opposite side of the runway (including putting themselves at risk should one of the planes crash as I saw happen in 2003). Annoying when I know that the majority paid £30 each to get in and another £5 to walk the flight line as a minimum but then again were we not all photters and enthusiasts and very willing to pay for the privilege of seeing something rather special? Of cause we were. Oh and there were some odd mixes at the end of the show with a FW190, ME109 Buchon flying in formation with Spitfires, Mustangs, Hurricanes and the odd Yak 9!! But we all paid our money willingly in order to see these amazing machines flying. We linesiders also do the same for steam.

Someone also made the point about 323 "Bluebell" returning soon as a Blue Bluebell. That to me and probably many others seems so right in the light that next year is the 50th anniversary of the opening and that both Bluebell and Stepney are "the" obvious flag carriers for the line. It would not be Bluebell without the little Blue one

As Ed Hurst wrote somewhere recently, we are in fact all seeking and creating a "re-creation of the past" and we all have to recognise that within that premise there are always going to be compromises due to operational conditions and whatever. I think that the majority of us fully accept what Ed has said.

However, there is also a thread in the notes of suspicion, mistrust and as one correspondent put it smoke and mirrors. With the past as evidence, sadly I think that is very true but there is a way forward and that is for the railway management to be a little more open with the membership than it is on occasions and vice-versa. I think that what us linesiders are asking for is that on special weekends where everyone knows that there'll be a very large contingent of enthusiasts around to see and share the spectacle offered, that there are no repeats of the wind-ups that we have had in the past. There was a suspicion, however ill founded that that might have been, that the nameplates on the black Dukedog would remain on the loco should it be running on GOS. If it is to run, then please as Dave Hagger argues, can we have them taken off please?

That's all that the majority are asking.

Kind regards,

80154

 

Yes probably agree with you there Chris, I've e-mailed Neil Glasken and received a positive reply this morning, so time to move on and look forward to what should be a great Giants of Steam gala.

 

hear, hear!

 

Actually it was me who said that. 34081 is another member of this board - who I know not - and he hasn't passed an opinion on this subject AFAIK.

 

Yep sorry about that Ian, I'm pretty sure he was reffering to your comments.

 

So you're happy and all calmed down now?

Might this be a lesson learned, perhaps? In future maybe asking nicely FIRST, before loudly yelling for the waaaambulance?

 

Well done guys - got somewhere in the end. Moral of the story: if you don't ask, you don't get.

Regards,

Dan

 

Well said Ian

I have photographic passes for the SVR and GWSR - I am a member and shareholder in both lines (member since 1970 for the SVR).

I'm a shareholder in 7802/7812 at the SVR and a life member of 2857 fund and GWR(SVR) Association - owner of 7325 and many GWR carriages.

I'm a shareholder in 2807 at GWSR.

Photographers contribute nothing - I think NOT

 

Nice to see 9017 is not on the list to run at Giants...

 

Well they be less arguing now...

 

Steam Railway says it is running?

 

And you believe everything you read in Steam Railway because......?

And you believe everything you read on this forum because........?

 

The Bluebell's own advertisement at the Bluebell says otherwise

 

There is no mention of anything definite on the website. Does the advert you mention include details of the visiting loco?

Regards

 

The advert, as seen on board RMB 1818 yesterday, and available at each station mentions a visiting loco, yes

 

Could you say which engine is visiting?

Regards

 

30777 is mentioned in SR.

 

The advert in the new Steam World which came yesterday has 30777 as the only visiting loco. Other loco's listed were 34059, Birch Grove, the U-boat and the Standard tank.