.HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION.
SIDELINES 130 28th January 2014
www.heritagerailways.com
DISTRIBUTION 10, Hurdeswell, ……………………………………. Long Hanborough, ……………………………………. Witney, ……………………………………. Oxfordshire. ……………………………………. OX29 8DH ……………………………………. ……………………………………. Tel 0800 756 5111 ext 702 ……………………………………. Tel/Fax 01993 883384 ……………………………………. [email protected] (for Sidelines contributions)
THE AIM OF SIDELINES IS TO HELP MEMBER ORGANISATIONS TO RUN SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS. PLEASE PASS IT ON TO COLLEAGUES WHO NEED OR WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION GIVEN, INCLUDING THOSE WHO MAY WANT TO RAISE FUNDS OR ENTER COMPETITIONS FOR AWARDS. Notes included in 'Sidelines' are guidelines. For specific circumstances, individual expert advice should be sought. JOURNALISTS OF THE NATIONAL PRESS ARE REQUESTED TO OBTAIN CLEARANCE BEFORE PUBLICATION SO THAT ANY FURTHER DETAILS TO AID A MORE GENERAL READERSHIP CAN BE INCLUDED.
DETAILS OF HRA DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS ARE LISTED IN THE MEMBERS’ HANDBOOK ON THE MEMBERS’ SECTION OF THE HRA WEBSITE. SIDELINES AND BROADLINES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOADING www.heritagerailways.com LOOK IN HRA DOCUMENTS
Correspondence and initial enquiries to: Andrew Goyns, 28 George Street, Altofts, Normanton, West Yorkshire WF6 2LT Tel: 0800 756 5111 x 900 Fax: 0845 528 0775 Email: [email protected] ITEMS INCLUDED
INDEX SIDELINES 130 1/ OPERATING & SAFETY MATTERS. BROADLINES 39 INDEX 2/ ANNUAL STATISTICAL RETURNS. FUNDRAISING SKILLS TRAINING 3/ ASBESTOS. HISTORIC SIGNAL BOXES – SCOTLAND 4/ RENEWABLES. NRM FORMS SIGNALLING GROUP 5/ MEMBERS’ EVENTS DIARY. JOHN SNELL 6/ SCOTTISH FORUM. MATTHEW PRICE 7/ FEDECRAIL "BUDAPEST 2014" CONFERENCE. FROM THE PRESS RELEASES 8/ GREAT RAILWAY TREASURE HUNT 2014. 9/ STUDENT VOLUNTEERING WEEK. 10/ ROAD RAIL VEHICLE USER GROUP. 11/ THE ‘WING AWARD FOR SAFETY’ 12/ THE HERITAGE ALLIANCE CELEBRATES OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERS. 13a/ MAKE THE MOST OF ENGLISH TOURISM WEEK! 13b/ CLA SHOWS HOW TO FUND MORE WORK TO HERITAGE BY PAYING LESS VAT. 14/ LEAFLETS. 15/ MUTUAL ASSSISTANCE. 16/ MEMBERS HANDBOOK. 17/ APHTRO. 18/ WANTED - OPEN COACH.
HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION SIDELINES 130 1 of 9 FOR BOARDS AND COUNCILS
1/ OPERATING & SAFETY MATTERS. The operating & safety committee of the HRA has just issued the first edition of its newsletter to members’ operating contacts. It will be available on our website and can be copied freely amongst HRA members. If any member would like to be added to the circulation they should apply via e-mail to
2/ ANNUAL STATISTICAL RETURNS. The blank forms for the year ending 31 December 2013 have been sent out electronically. They are also available from our website and can be found as documents under "Statistical Return”.
The main form is for Operational members, a shorter form is provided for Non-Operational members.
Both forms are available as Excel forms for electronic completion or as Acrobat pdf files if you need to print them and return by post.
When returning the completed form please replace the text "BLANK" in the filename by the name or initials of your operation.
Where possible please complete them electronically.
Please return them electronically to [email protected] , or by post to the address at the bottom of the form, before 15 March 2014.
Please contact Bill Hillier if you are unclear on any of the requirements. Thanks for your help. Bill Hillier
3/ ASBESTOS. HSE have published a new approved code of practice [ACOP] consolidating two existing ones into a single revised one. ACOP L127 and L143 follow recommendations contained in an independent review carried out in 2011 It also reflects changes in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Copies may be downloaded from the HSE website. Tony Tomkins – Environmental Adviser
4/ RENEWABLES. The Governments ‘Roadmap to a brighter future’ sets out the vision for the future of Solar PV panels. Currently, Solar PV capacity has increased 25-fold since the end of 2010. Public opinion polls show the highest acceptance – 85% - of all renewable technologies. HRA members have plenty of opportunity to install such arrays with the saving in their energy costs that would result. If incentives to businesses feature in the UK’s first Solar PV strategy due to be published in Spring 2015, it will be doubly welcome. Within the domestic framework, installations are producing between 5% and 11% returns on their installation costs. Strongly recommended for further review by HRA members as part of their future fuel costs strategy. Tony Tomkins – Environmental Adviser
5/ MEMBERS’ EVENTS DIARY. This section on the members’ website is aimed at helping organisations avoid clashes or to allow possible co operation with events in the same area. The list will not be in the public pages of the website in case members do want to make changes based on the information contained. Please send updates to: Email [email protected] or post to 10 Hurdeswell, Long Hanborough, Witney. OX29 8DH Please submit information in the form.
Date of event (in date order if possible please) Type of event
HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION SIDELINES 130 2 of 9 GENERAL NOTES.
JOHN SNELL. We are sorry to hear of the death of John Snell, a founder member of the railway preservation movement. An obituary is included in Broadlines.
MATTHEW PRICE of Blueprint Travel Media. A note of his death is also included in Broadlines.
FUND RAISING. An article on this subject is included in Broadlines
SIGNAL BOXES AVAILABLE IN SCOTLAND – see item in Broadlines
NRM FORMS SIGNALLING COLLECTIONS GROUP – see item in Broadlines
6/ SCOTTISH FORUM. Arrangements are now being made for this year’s annual Scottish Forum, to be based at Bo’ness on 22-23 March. Saturday morning events are planned to include a round trip over the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway to Manuel and back, with opportunity to alight at the new platform at Manuel. The train is likely to be diesel-hauled by 37401 which is equipped to heat the train. The sight – and sound – of this locomotive will doubtless arouse memories of class 37s on the West Highland Line! Full details of the programme will be sent as usual to representatives of member groups based in Scotland and to HRA officials and Friends of the HRA resident in Scotland. Anyone who does not receive them and would like them should contact: Scottish Committee Secretary John Ransom. Tel. 01567 830243, fax 01567 830309.
7/ FEDECRAIL "BUDAPEST 2014" CONFERENCE. Detailed programme and booking forms have now been circulated to those who have participated previously. New participants are very welcome for all or part of the programme and/or Post Conference Tour. Various packages are available from a full programme at Euro 900 (Thu 3.04 - Wed 9.04) to a short Business Sessions package (Thu 3.04 - Sat 5.04 at Euro 350). Due to the current political situation in Ukraine and cost issues for Romania, destination for the Post Conference Tour organised by MAV Nosztalgia will now be Slovakia, focussing on heritage railways, museums and the Tatra Mountains narrow-gauge electric railway system. Daytime travel on MAV Nostalgia heritage train and overnight stays in hotels. All enquiries to:- [email protected] or to the Conference Organisers, Peter Ovenstone Tel: 0131 225 1486 / Tel 07740 289702 or John Fuller Tel 07785 250571.
8/ GREAT RAILWAY TREASURE HUNT 2014. Following the success of the first event in 2013, with several hundred children visiting steam railways to take part, we are going to run it again in 2014. (Some children visited over 15 railways during the summer!) The cash prize pot, provided by Peter’s Railway, will remain at £1000, but will be divided up differently this year. The other difference is that we will have 10 questions for each railway, instead of 20 as we feel this will make it more accessible. The 2014 GRTH will launch at the end of March, in time for the Easter holidays and the whole of the summer season. The Treasure Hunt is free to enter for children and there is no cost to the railways to be included: All you have to do is to provide 10 questions on your railway. Last year there were 55 railways and museums taking part: everyone is welcome. So if you would like to take part again, or for the first time, please get in touch with Katrina Vine, Email [email protected] or call on 01505 614513. Chris and Katrina Vine.
9/ STUDENT VOLUNTEERING WEEK. ''Following on from the article in Sidelines 127(12), members are to be reminded that the National Union of Students has designated week commencing 24th February as 'Student Volunteering Week'. For any volunteer help you can speak with the Secretary of your local College/University Students Union. Maybe you have a specific project which can be arranged together with 'Rag Week', in any
HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION SIDELINES 130 3 of 9 case for further details contact www.studentvolunteeringweek.org.uk or the National Secretary [email protected] (07557 113761) Martin Smith, HRA Training Committee Secretary Tel. 01204 301573 [email protected]
10/ ROAD RAIL VEHICLE USER GROUP. At its last committee meeting, the Road Rail User Group was advised by Steve Turner of the Office of Rail Regulation, that a significant change in regulations concerning Road Rail Vehicles is to be introduced. As from 31st December 2016, all 9B (High Ride) vehicles in the heritage sector will have to be fitted with direct wheel braking. This will also apply to all new vehicles purchased after 31st December 2013. The RRV User Group is examining the market place for information on retro-fitting kits for existing vehicles, the findings of which will be made available on the RRV web site. The RRV User Group Committee will also be interested if any members of the Heritage Railway Movement can also come up with a solution which can be made available to members. The Group Administrator will be keen to hear from you. The website is for members only. There is no cost involved. All that’s needed is a request to join with a contact email address to be sent to [email protected] in the first instance. You will then be issued with a user name and password. The web site contains useful information on the operation and training for 360 Road Rail Vehicles, along with news-letters, the constitution, links to HRA and ORR information, committee minutes, a users’ forum, and a members list. The RRV User Group is keen to recruit RRV users, especially in the Heritage Sector. The group has the support of the Office of Rail Regulation and the Heritage Railway Association. Full details of the RRV User Group can be obtained by contacting the RRV User Group Administrator, Geoff Cross, at the above email address. Geoff Cross. RRV User Group Administrator.
11/ INSTITUTION OF RAILWAY SIGNAL ENGINEERS. THE ‘WING AWARD FOR SAFETY’: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS This Award for safety was introduced in 1994 to commemorate the life and work of the late Peter Wing, a Fellow of this Institution and an employee of British Rail, who during his career made a major contribution to the cause of line-side safety. It was his care and concern that became the driving force behind the national campaign in 1992/3 that was entitled "Dead Serious About Safety" and which had such a major impact in reducing the numbers of line side fatalities in subsequent years. The Institution of Railway Signal Engineers administers the award scheme on behalf of Members of the Railway Group, the Railway Supply Industry and the Health & Safety Executive, who amongst others supported the formation of the Award. The award takes the form of a certificate and an amount of £600 to be devoted to personal development and will be made to an individual who has made an outstanding personal contribution to railway line-side track safety by, for example, coming forward with a novel idea for improving safety at the line-side, is a long term champion of improving track safety standards or has made a significant contribution to the awareness of track safety in his business. Sometimes the award has been split in recent years where there are very deserving candidates. Any employee in a railway business or an associated industry is eligible for consideration for the Award and nominations are now invited for the 2014 Award. Nominations should be sent to Colin Porter, Chief Executive, IRSE, 4th Floor, 1 Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London. SW1H 9JJ Email. [email protected] by not later than 25 March 2014, together with information not exceeding 250 words in support of the nomination. The award will be presented to the successful nominee at an industry function later in 2014.
12/ THE HERITAGE ALLIANCE CELEBRATES OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERS. In the fourth year of the Awards to recognise outstanding volunteer contributions to our heritage, The Heritage Alliance’s Chairman Loyd Grossman presented the Heritage Alliance Heroes Awards 2013. ( Generously sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance Group) Loyd Grossman commented: ‘Our part of the heritage movement depends heavily on volunteers. We want to celebrate our magnificent heritage volunteers. They are the lifeblood of our sector.’
HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION SIDELINES 130 4 of 9 Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund, speaking at the Alliance’s Heritage Day said ‘Volunteers are the backbone of our heritage’. The Heritage Alliance has singled out volunteers, Derek Morton from the Portland Works, Sheffield and Chris White from the Bluebell Railway, Sussex as its special Heroes for 2013.
The runner-up this year is The Bluebell Railway. The Bluebell Railway opened its extended track, from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead, on 23 March 2013. The £3.5million project took nearly four years to complete. The viaduct required restoration and 100,000 tonnes of domestic waste had to be removed from a 400 yard cutting in order to re-lay the railway. All work apart from the heavy waste removal was undertaken by volunteers – as well as the fundraising. The Infrastructure Director of Bluebell Railway plc, Chris White, received a certificate from Loyd Grossman.'' I feel that we should all celebrate with Chris (and all the volunteers of the Bluebell Railway who made it happen) on this outstanding award which should encourage everyone of us to go that extra mile to ensure the future of our Heritage Railways is in safe hands. Well done! Martin Smith, Secretary. HRA Training Committee Sec Tel. 01204 301573 Email. [email protected]
13/ HERITAGE ALLIANCE. Items taken from Heritage Update 270 – the Heritage Alliance Newsletter. 13a/ MAKE THE MOST OF ENGLISH TOURISM WEEK! Businesses and organisations all over England are invited to get involved in English Tourism Week 2014 (ETW14) from the 29th March - 6th April 2014. This is a chance to showcase the quality and vibrancy of our visitor experiences, alongside the value our industry brings to the nation. The dedicated ETW14 website www.englishtourismweek.co.uk provides you with all the tools and information you need to get involved. Register for the ETW14 brand toolkit to access posters, logos, email and web banners, all designed to aid you in the promotion of your activities and please don’t forget to let ETW know your plans by submitting your events, activities and promotions through their new online submission form. ETW14 is a great opportunity for you to showcase your tourism products and by organising your own event, activity or promotion. Under the ETW14 campaign you will raise the profile of your business and be adding to the combined efforts of the week to raise awareness with local residents, their visitors and key decision makers. For further information visit the website or follow @VisitEnglandBiz and #ETW14 on Twitter for updates and discussion.
13b/ CLA SHOWS HOW TO FUND MORE WORK TO HERITAGE BY PAYING LESS VAT. Country Land & Business Association (a member of the Heritage Alliance) is very concerned, like many others in the heritage sector, that heritage suffers greatly since the reversal of the zero rate on alterations to listed buildings in the 2012 budget. It is an anachronism that new-build is usually VAT- free, while work to existing buildings is taxed at the maximum rate. This 20% surcharge adds extra cost and acts as a disincentive, having the overall effect of reducing work to heritage while encouraging demolition and high-carbon, short-life new build. Many heritage organisations, including the Alliance, support the Cut the VAT campaign for reduced VAT on work to residential buildings (www.cutthevat.co.uk), though governments have shown little enthusiasm so far. The CLA has been working on a further solution. There are many wholly-legitimate ways of paying less VAT on building work, and CLA Heritage Adviser Jonathan Thompson has written guidance listing more than a dozen of these (see www.cla.org.uk/buildingVAT), and an accompanying handbook, Saving VAT on work to heritage and other existing buildings. For most projects these suggest substantial potential VAT savings. A key benefit is that these savings can be spent on work to heritage which otherwise would not have happened, generating benefits for contractors, local economies, funding bodies, and of course heritage itself. John Jeffery.
HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION SIDELINES 130 5 of 9 14/ LEAFLETS. Many thanks to the 22 railways who have forwarded their 2014 timetables etc. I think we had the largest number of members’ leaflets to hand ever, when those from 2013 were included over the Christmas period. If you have not sent yours please forward 100 to John Crane, 10, Hurdeswell, Long Hanborough, Witney. OX29 8DH. My request to pack them securely, as this quantity in an envelope does not survive the post, seems to have been answered, although we did have one delivery where two packets arrived having been repacked by Royal Mail. Please include an email address so that we can contact you if we need more. John Crane
15/ MUTUAL ASSSISTANCE. Have you gained special experience or picked up knowledge or information that would be useful to other HRA members. If so please share it via a note in Sidelines or an article (no matter how short) in Broadlines. Send in an email to [email protected]
16/ MEMBERS’ HANDBOOK. I have heard several comments that details, such as contact addresses, are not available. They are in fact in the Members’ Handbook on the Members Section of HRA Website. Although I will not claim that it is perfect, I do try to keep it as up to date as is reasonable. John Crane
17/ APHTRO. The Asia Pacific Heritage and Tourist Rail Organisation has a new website. http://www.aphtro.org/index.html Kyoichi Oda
WANTED.
18/ OPEN COACH. Brian Simpson has been contacted by a local businessman who is looking to buy an old railway carriage to do up and use as a restaurant car – distance from final destination would not seem to be a problem. OPEN MK2 TYPE OF COACH would seem to fill the bill but other types may be suitable. Please contact Brian by email [email protected].
HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION SIDELINES 130 6 of 9 HRA MEETINGS AND EVENTS CALENDAR 2014 Details of other organisations’ events of possible interest are also included.
HRA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WEEKEND Friday 7th - Saturday 8th - Sunday 9th February 2014 Opening reception at Roman Baths, Fri 7th Feb evening. Business Meetings Sat 8th Feb. Comprehensive visits programme.
BEST OF BRITAIN & IRELAND Wednesday 12th -Thursday 13th March 2014 NEC Birmingham Trade show. HRA Marketing Stand in attendance. Contact [email protected]
MARKET PLACE Monday 17th – Tuesday 18th March 2014 Wembley Stadium, London. Marketing Event HRA attending. Contact [email protected]
HRA SPRING SEMINAR + MIDWEEK MANAGEMENT FORUM Tuesday 18th March - Wednesday 19th March 2014 Envisaged venue West Bromwich Albion FC, The Hawthorns, West Midlands
HRA SCOTTISH FORUM WEEKEND Saturday 22nd March – Sunday 23rd March 2014 Hosted by SRPS Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway. Venue: Bo’ness, West Lothian. Business sessions Saturday afternoon. Visits programme Sat 22nd morning and Sun 23rd full day.
FEDECRAIL CONFERENCE 2014 Thursday 3rd April - Wednesday 9th April 2014 Hosted by MAV Nosztalgia in Budapest, Hungary. Will be followed by optional MAV Nosztalgia post conference tour to heritage railways in a neighbouring country.
HRA AUTUMN WEEKEND GENERAL MEETING Friday 12th September – Monday 15th September 2014 Business meeting in County Down (Sat). Event co-ordinated with 50th anniversary of RPSI with comprehensive visits programme to railways & other rail heritage attractions.
GROUP LEISURE TRAVEL TRADE SHOW Thursday 25th September 2014 NEC Birmingham Trade show. HRA Marketing Stand in attendance. Contact [email protected]
WARLEY NATIONAL MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION Saturday 22nd November – Sunday 23rd November 2014. NEC Birmingham Public exhibition. HRA Marketing Stand in attendance. Contact [email protected]
For enquiries and booking details for HRA events (unless otherwise shown), contact:- Bill Askew (HRA Meetings Organiser) Email: [email protected] Tel: 0800 756 5111 x 42724. 24 Grosvenor Road, Broxbourne, Herts. EN10 7JG
HRA 2013. I usually claim that inserting photos in Sidelines and the associated design work would mean that production would take too long. However this time, because of various other tasks e.g. attending ‘Excursions’ Exhibition, I missed my allocated time slot so as I was running late I thought that even later would not make much difference so have included some photos of HRA activities that took place in addition to the daily workload undertaken by the various volunteer officials. Apologies for low resolution and poor layout – after much time and swearing – never again. John Crane
HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION SIDELINES 130 7 of 9 .HRA ACTIVITIES 2013.
ANNUAL AWARDS HRA – ORR MEETING – WEST BROMWICH Epping Ongar Railway. (Ian Prosser of ORR addresses the meeting Presented by Sir Peter Hendy (centre) from a pre–recorded video
LOCOMOTIVE SEMINAR RAVENGLASS WEEKEND
PUBLICATIONS COMPETITION WARLEY NATIONAL MODEL RAILWAY Best Website – Helston. EXHIBITION Barbara Barnes (Helston), Clifford Jones (HRA), Two Lady visitors request information on Lord Faulkner and Eric Robson which HRA members to visit
HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION SIDELINES 130 8 of 9 MARKETING UPDATE. ISSUE No: 26 DATE: JANUARY, 2014 This Update is published in order to keep members informed on current marketing and promotional items. It published on an “as required” basis and will not appear with every issue of Sidelines. Please ensure that this Update is passed on to the relevant Manager or Officer within your organisation from whom comments or suggestion for future issues will be welcome.
GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE. Thanks to all for continued support. Publication is expected late February
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WRITERS ALLIANCE. A reminder that this organisation offers an excellent opportunity to provide promotional information to Travel Writers on a Worldwide basis. Information was published in Update No: 24, (April) but please contact David Woodhouse if you would like more details.
TRAVEL TRADE EVENTS. 2024. FOR MEMBERS IN ENGLAND – VISIT ENGLAND ITEMS. 1. Visitor Economy Conference. We attended this conference which was held in London on December 5th. More information on www.visitengland.org/VEC13 and more detailed information on the presentations can be obtained from David Woodhouse. 2. A reminder that English Tourism Week is scheduled from March 29 to April 6. More information on www.englishtourismweek.co.uk
STEVE REED TOURISM. Members in the South of England might like to note that Steve Reed Tourism are holding a Group Buyers Roadshow on Monday April 7 from 10.00 to 15.00 at Denbies Vineyard in Dorking, Surrey. More information on www.stevereedtourism.co.uk Contact [email protected]
WORLD WAR 1. COMMEMORATIVE VENTS. Thanks to those members who have sent details of special events in connection with these commemorations. More information welcomed – to David Woodhouse please.
EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS. On Saturday 25th January we attended ‘Excursions’ exhibition at Alexandra Palace in London. We will also be at the Best of Britain and Ireland exhibition at the NEC on 12th – 13th March, Market Place in London (Meeting event with buyers) on 17th – 18th March and Group Leisure Travel Trade Show on 25th September, also at the NEC. We also are planning to be at one public event, Warley National Model Railway Exhibition on 22nd – 23rd November.
GREAT RAILWAY TREASURE HUNT 2014. This promotional activity is taking place again this year but as a wider readership needs to know about, details are included in the main body of Sidelines item 8.
LEAFLETS. Thanks to those members who have already forwarded their leaflets for 2014. If you have not yet forwarded yours, please send 100 to John Crane, 10 Hurdeswell, Long Hanborough, Witney. OX29 8DH. (Please include your email address.) These will be used throughout the year. I would also remind you that the HRA has its own leaflet listing member railways and I would much rather they were on display in your racks rather than in the HRA store. I can supply any quantity but a box of about 1,400 is the most economical way to send them out. There is no cost to you in receiving them. Please state how many you want and the address they are to go to in an email to [email protected] (We have a large print run to make costs viable so railways that joined in the recent past are not included – the sooner they help clear them, the sooner I will have to approach the HRA Board for finance to produce a new edition). [email protected] [email protected] DW/JC. 1/14
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HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION SIDELINES 130 9 of 9