12LDA28C
Established Member
I do much prefer it when you can reach a heritage railway entirely by rail, e.g. Isle of Wight.
I'd like to see you reach the Isle of Wight 'entirely by rail'.
I do much prefer it when you can reach a heritage railway entirely by rail, e.g. Isle of Wight.
I like heritage railways where you can feel you've done a "real" journey in some sense. Length is important but so is what's at either end. Ideal to me is a junction station with NR at one end and an actual town at the other. Quite a lot of heritage railways end at a stop in the middle of some fields somewhere, at a station that never existed in its real life as a terminus. This always destroys the illusion somewhat.
I'd say there are quite a few examples of railways where an extension of a mile or two would be quite transformational because it would bring the line back to a meaningful destination - rather than because it would allow a longer running time. Of course I'm aware of the reasons why these "last mile" extensions are often very difficult to achieve.
To all quoted above: these are very much my sentiments re heritage lines. In the main -- the more it feels to me, in the ways set out above, like a "real railway" as in the days of very many parts of the country and places therein, being accessible by passenger rail in a more-or-less integrated fashion; the more I like it. I would opine, though, that -- as touched on upthread -- such feelings and preferences are largely peculiar to us railway-enthusiast types; who are far fewer in number, than non-enthusiast visitors who have chosen the line for a day out -- thus, much more money overall goes into the railways' coffers, from the ordinary folks: so the railway needs to be mindful of what they most like / dislike, and act accordingly. (One might -- not altogether charitably -- wish that it weren't so; but it is.)I do much prefer it when you can reach a heritage railway entirely by rail, e.g. Bluebell, Watercress, Bodmin, Isle of Wight.
Same here. Though I don't mind if it includes a short hike across town to the heritage station (e.g. Loughborough (Midland) to Loughborough Central) since that invokes the important heritage aspect of rival companies with their own stations, and you get to see a bit of the local area.
Of course you get both versions on the Spa Valley railway - cross-platform interchange at Eridge and cross-town at Tunbridge Wells.
Well British Rail used to own the ferries. The service is advertised as an integrated part of the rail network.I'd like to see you reach the Isle of Wight 'entirely by rail'.
I would say that a run-round loop in a field certainly adds nothing for a visitor. Some kind of destination can be an important driver of traffic, often taking the form of a quaint village or a seaside town. At the very least the terminus needs a caféI doubt whether the business of a "terminus in the middle of nowhere, at a station never really a terminus -- maybe a new creation of the heritage line, never a station in the old days" is on most ordinary customers' radar at all.
I think that there is no "optimum length for a heritage railway" as there are many different heritage railways. Some are at their ideal length, some would like to be a bit longer and a few are, possibly, just a bit too long. It depends upon the resources, human and financial, the location, the geography of the area and the attractions on offer.
What is fantastic is that we have that variety, in a comparitively small area (UK) so that our visitors can choose which length suits them at the time.
Of course, some of the longer lines can be used to give shorter journeys by changing trains at intermediate stations.
The GCR is fortunate in this regard, as the double track can give a higher frequency of trains - and it even has its own short branch line to Mountsorrel!
That’s because only 2% of all journeys in the UK are made rail.I always notice what's the first section in the "how to find us" page on preserved railway websites. It's nearly always driving directions. Even for those with mainline rail connections.
I would definitely agree there - I think the idea that the ideal heritage railway has more to do at the other end than watch the loco run around is quite well established at this point.I would say that a run-round loop in a field certainly adds nothing for a visitor. Some kind of destination can be an important driver of traffic, often taking the form of a quaint village or a seaside town. At the very least the terminus needs a café
While visiting the Bluebell Railway with family back in 2019, where the train had a lengthy wait at Kingscote awaiting the Golden Arrow to pass through, I recall that the announcements informed visitors to stretch their legs and have a look around the station. The passengers did so, and several families were interested at the play and picnic area. It dawned on me that the volunteers and their enthusiasm can enhance the visitors' experience at the station, as they could additionally do things in their visit that would give them a flavour of the railways in years gone by, particularly where dwell times could be lengthened at times.I would definitely agree there - I think the idea that the ideal heritage railway has more to do at the other end than watch the loco run around is quite well established at this point.
The GCR have lengthened the run round time at Leicester North so that passengers can get out and go up on the locomotive footplate.While visiting the Bluebell Railway with family back in 2019, where the train had a lengthy wait at Kingscote awaiting the Golden Arrow to pass through, I recall that the announcements informed visitors to stretch their legs and have a look around the station. The passengers did so, and several families were interested at the play and picnic area. It dawned on me that the volunteers and their enthusiasm can enhance the visitors' experience at the station, as they could additionally do things in their visit that would give them a flavour of the railways in years gone by, particularly where dwell times could be lengthened at times.
That's a good idea....after all, there's not much else to see there yet!The GCR have lengthened the run round time at Leicester North so that passengers can get out and go up on the locomotive footplate.
I dunno...That's a good idea....after all, there's not much else to see there yet!
It's actually the River Soar. It diverges from the Trent at Trent Lock, near Trent South junction.I dunno...
Theres a Mc Donalds nearby and a walk along the River Trent to the city centre if you fancy it
Ah. NotedIt's actually the River Soar. It diverges from the Trent at Trent Lock, near Trent South junction.
I remember walking to a pub that served decent ale, but that was over 20 years ago!That's a good idea....after all, there's not much else to see there yet!
There is the Space Centre and Abbey Pumping Station Museum within half a mile of Leicester North Station....and it is still the desire (And plan) to have a Railway Museum at Leicester North....complete with double track to Rothley. So whilst it is only the station at present - keep watching this space!That's a good idea....after all, there's not much else to see there yet!
I seem to recall reading the reason for the termination at Dalegarth being that the smaller miniature locos could not cope with the gradient to Boot unlike their larger narrow gauge predecessors.I've often thought the Ravenglass would be well to extend to Boot again to give more of a destination but maybe Boot residents aren't so keen.
It would certainly give a shorter walk to the pubs!I've often thought the Ravenglass would be well to extend to Boot again to give more of a destination but maybe Boot residents aren't so keen.
Yes but aren't current runners mainly beefier types? Or the ones doing the full end-to-end anyway.I seem to recall reading the reason for the termination at Dalegarth being that the smaller miniature locos could not cope with the gradient to Boot unlike their larger narrow gauge predecessors.
When I visited the Snowdon Mountain Railway last month, most of the screaming kids in my carriage had no interest whatsoever in the scenery.*Although for e.g. the Snowdon Mountain Railway I'd say that the scenery counts as 'something to do'.
I don't think it can really be called a preserved railway. It has freight services throughout the year, and the linespeeds are generally much higher than any preserved railway (up to 80-100 km/h).What would be the longest preserved railway in the world? I suggest the Inlandsbanan in Sweden which is around 800 miles from Kristinehamm to Gallivare. I did it from Östersund northwards. Staying overnight at Storuman in the local high school during the long summer holidays. The train was well patronised.
Any gauge? The Cumbrec and Toltec in New Mexico and Colorado is 64 miles. The Gulflander in Queensland is 151 km (94 miles) but as it's operated by Queensland Rail I don't think it counts.What would be the longest preserved railway in the world? I suggest the Inlandsbanan in Sweden which is around 800 miles from Kristinehamm to Gallivare. I did it from Östersund northwards. Staying overnight at Storuman in the local high school during the long summer holidays. The train was well patronised.
I think that a lot of it depends upon the market. Families may gravitate towards the shorter services, whereas the coach parties often take a one-way trip over a longer distance.Recent report in the October Ffestiniog Magazine on traffic suggested that the longer distance full line option was loading better than the shorter "Woodland Wanderer" with the full line "Quarryman" from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog with it "running full on most days". This is an interesting development considering that the short line option was being sold as being what the passengers wanted post Covid.