FGW says no to steam on the Night Riviera

[whole diary]

[Cynthia]

Whoo Hooo!

(Puts Cornwall on rail travel itinerary for 2014........)

[John R]

I had an interesting conversation with the folk running the rail museum at Holt, who were talking about the difficulties of connecting to a main line, I think due to all the safety regulations and other rules, that obviously heritage railways have to abide with as much as any other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company).  I think the difficulties arise because so many of the heritage railway staff are volunteers, I imagine it must be a nightmare trying to get everyone concerned trained up.

Running adjacent to a Network Rail line isn't so bad (although even that has some restrictions). But as soon as you go onto Network Rail tracks the whole post privatisation bureaucracy takes over. You have to register effectively as a TOC (train operating company) or get another one to run the train for you. You need (quite rightly) to abide by all the main line safety regulations, and much more.

The best example is the North York Moors, who run daily services over the branch to Whitby. It's been so successful that they are currently reinstating a second platform at Whitby to enable more services to run. At the opposite end of the country, the Swanage Rly will likely extend into Wareham station next year.  The railway you were at (North Norfolk) has had an end to end connection with the national network at Sheringham for around 3 years, used for main line excursions onto the NNR, and for loco movements to the railway. But they have an aspiration to run services from Sheringham to Cromer, which is where they have the experience of all the difficulties in getting something like this off the ground.

[Puffing Billy]

Yes of course, when I was a little one, it was steam or nothing, so strange to think now that this mode of transport is thought of as a luxury!  I must say, to go off-topic slightly, I'm surprised the green lobby hasn't tried to ban the use of steam engines, as I assume they're pretty dirty machines in terms of CO2 output.

Cue the "Great Western locomotives not green" headlines

[grahame]

I had an interesting conversation with the folk running the rail museum at Holt, who were talking about the difficulties of connecting to a main line, ....

Surely not "our" Holt, between Trowbridge and Melksham, where the Devizes branch left the Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth main line - now divided into "TransWilts" and "Heart of Wessex" sections ...?

[John R]

Ah, and I assumed Holt, which is the western terminus of the North Norfolk Railway.

[Cynthia]

Ah, and I assumed Holt, which is the western terminus of the North Norfolk Railway.

John  R, you were right, I was referring to Holt, in Norfolk.

I assumed they must already have a link with the main line, as last summer, when I was visiting the area, the steam engine "Oliver Cromwell" came into Sheringham.  I was absolutely amazed by the numbers of tourists crowding around to have a look at this beautiful sight (oh, sorry; bootiful...).  Not just people of my generation, who grew up with steam, but people from all walks of life and from all age groups.

[Southern Stag]

Running adjacent to a Network Rail line isn't so bad (although even that has some restrictions).

The Spa Valley Railway has a rather unusual restriction because of the section at Eridge where the line runs adjacent to the London-Uckfield line. All the doors on the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) side of the train have to be manually locked between Groombridge and Eridge to prevent passengers opening slam doors onto the Network Rail line. I'm not sure where else being locked in the train would be acceptable.

[grahame]

I'm not sure where else being locked in the train would be acceptable.

I recall being rather uncomfortable being locked in to a carriage on the Ffestiniog railway many, many years ago.  Rather worrisome in terms of emergency escape routes, but it would appear that there's no law / regulation that says that train operators can't do it.  We get locked in every day these days, but with systems that give alternative emergency escape methods ...

[bobm]

Indeed - and just to prove it here are the rear of two engines meeting at Bodmin Parkway.... 

[trainer]

I recall being rather uncomfortable being locked in to a carriage on the Ffestiniog railway many, many years ago.

You will still be locked in on older passenger stock of the Ffestinog where there are outward opening doors because of the tight clearances in many places.  All their modern vehicles have inward opening doors.

[The Tall Controller]

Indeed - and just to prove it here are the rear of two engines meeting at Bodmin Parkway.... 

What a lovely station! 

[TonyK]

... and the Bodmin & Wenford ... 

... not to mention the Isle of Widget Steam Railway interchange at Smallbrook Junction ...

[JayMac]

Isle of Widget Steam Railway interchange at Smallbrook Junction ...

The only National Rail station in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) with no pedestrian or vehicular access. You can only interchange between Island Line and the aforementioned Isla White Steam Railway.

[grahame]

The only National Rail station in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) with no pedestrian or vehicular access.

Isn't Norton Bridge still technically open?

[JayMac]

Good call. 

However, you can't access the platforms at Norton Bridge (same goes for nearby Wedgwood and Barleston Stations) whilst you can at Smallbrook Junction, albeit only from trains.