Isle of Wight Steam Railway

I think we discussed this not too long ago, my personal feeling is that wifi at stations is a good idea and easy to implement, wifi on trains is expensive and would provide little additional benefit.

 

Probably wouldn’t be too difficult to do. A lot of buses have been retro fitted with it for example.

The question though is what would be the point? People come to heritage railways for a heritage experience, not to stay glued to their screens.

 

Telegrams?

 

I did say "pass over the question of 'would it make economic sense'"! (You may well be right about the cost/benefit ratio in practice.)

I sense from your answer, and mention of it in stations, that you'd be OK with it in principle (which was the point I was trying to focus my query on)?

Noel

 

Ah sorry, I missed that bit! Yes, the idea of being able to connect to wifi at a heritage railway doesn't offend me. Some SVR and WSR stations already provide free wifi and I have made use of it.

 

The new FR carriages feature a wifi information point.

TBH, I think it is only a matter of time before wifi is added, just because for 'normal' passengers it will be considered to be 'normal' and be part of meeting their expectations. I am not sure the purists will be very happy. Of course, the flipside is that 5G etc may make it redundant as if you can get good connection on your phone without wifi then why bother to connect to a network?

 

Havenstreet Station has had public WiFi for three or four years.

 

Having seen what Elon Musk is up to at the moment, were it on my plate, I'd hold off.

 

I had no need to look anything up on the internet on my visit, the guide knew everything!

 

Makes sense at the stations and cafe spots but on the train is a bit pointless in my mind. There is a world of difference between being stuck in a metal (or plastic) on the MDTR and travelling in a mostly wooden carriage plodding along the countryside.

 

It makes commercial sence for stations to have Wifi, but not so much on board the actual trains,

 

Did you offer any unprompted comments on the quality of coaching stock?

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Different generations have different expectations.
On a visit to the Cavell Van at Bodiam 2-3 years ago I heard a mother and children enter, followed by complaints from the kids that there were no touch screens to show what it was all about. They missed the large display boards giving the info they wanted! (And were unimpressed when mama pointed them out.)
Pat

 

I deny everything!

 

1) to allow real-time moaning on here about the loco liveries/type of coaches etc
2)to allow a parent of a non-interested or bored child a handy source of distraction for said child to allow peaceful enjoyment for all

 

Re:2) that's why more cattle wagons need to be lovingly restored, in my books.

 

Pity the poor parents...


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I fail to see any problem, as they can enjoy their journey in the carriages in peace.

 

Aha, I see the plan. Count me in!


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I think that they would have to be "new builds" as there are very few original ones surviving. I do not think there are any survivors that are unrestored, but I'm happy to be proved wrong about this.

Peter