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Heritage Railway Opinion - 4 August 2011

I coined the phrase to describe the latter phase of volunteer-led rail revival schemes around the Nineties. When several freight-only lines became redundant, they were not torn up within days, as happened with British Railways in the days of the Beeching closures, but as green transport became politically favoured, they were left in situ in case a future need might arise.

Several groups took over sizeable lengths of railway, but with Barry scrapyard long since emptied, and buying and operating existing operational steam locomotive well out of their price range, they settled for diesel traction.

While the many achievements by the diesel and electric heritage sector must be applauded, figures show that as far as the general public is concerned, by and large they expect to see a steam engine running on a preserved railway. Therefore, despite sterling efforts to restore track and station buildings and where necessary create new infrastructure, the appeal of New Generation lines would always be limited until steam appeared.

In our News section in this issue, we feature gala action from two lines rarely associated with steam before, the Wensleydale and Mid-Norfolk railways. Also, our lead feature focuses on the Stainmore Railway at Kirkby Stephen East, which is to hold its first steam gala over the August bank holiday weekend.

All three lines must be applauded for their progress at a time when there are widespread reports of a drop-off in the number of volunteers and sources of funds drying up in the recession.

While hiring steam locomotives might well stretch available funds to the limits, such galas will reap big dividends for the years to come through the publicity that they generate. No doubt all of these venues have been, or will be, visited by new customers who were not interested in diesel-only operation. The galas are acting as a showcase for the huge potential in each of these schemes that is yet to be realised.

The Wensleydale Railway connects several delightful places, including the market town of Leyburn, but is often seen as a line to nowhere – i.e. Redmire. However, plans are underway to extend it to the beauty spot of Aysgarth Falls, and in the much longer term, right along the dale to Hawes, and across into Northallerton.

Until it realises one or more of these aims, it will always be fighting its corner with one hand tied behind its back, but no doubt the steam gala has won it many new friends, and deservedly so.

I first visited the Mid-Norfolk Railway in 1997 and immediately saw the huge possibilities that awaited once it had reopened the line from Dereham to Wymondham – two very attractive and browseable towns – and introduced steam.

However, while it built up an excellent fleet of BR blue-liveried diesel traction and stock, and has to be commended for its work in this field, it would never take that big leap forward in the popularity stakes until steam gave the public what it wanted.

The Stainmore Railway’s building of a running line at Kirkby Stephen East may be small in comparison, but it marks the start of a grander long-term scheme to rebuild the Stainmore route six miles westwards to Warcop, where it will link with the Eden Valley Railway, a steamless New Generation line. The net result could well be one of Britain’s finest heritage lines of all, within easy distance of the Lake District and Pennines, and linked to the Settle and Carlisle line. The possibilities it could open up are mind boggling.

I also look forward to one day seeing steam on the Keith & Dufftown Railway, a northern outpost of preservation with magnificent scenery and lineside whisky distilleries which has, up to now, relied on diesel power, primarily because of its isolation from the rest of the heritage sector.

Finally, I must draw attention again to the plight of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, and the latest setback caused by metal thieves. Of course, as the frequent cable raids on Network Rail’s lines highlight, these people do not care about anyone but themselves – in a recently-reported case of cable theft, a teenager died after he received a massive electric shock.

When someone steals from a heritage railway, it is attacking the whole of society, as it is damaging a valuable educational resource. We wish the police success here, but I don’t hold my breath.

Please keep giving generously to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s appeal fund, as several other heritage concerns have already done.  Might it be an idea for other railways to offer discounted travel, say half price, for anyone who produces a recent clipped G/WR train ticket, in order to encourage more visitors to both lines?

Robin Jones
Editor