The Role of Umbrella Organizations in the Development of Heritage Railways David Morgan
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Feature Heritage Railways (part 3) The Role of Umbrella Organizations in the Development of Heritage Railways David Morgan Introduction—Why have increased our share capital by £120,000 on coal to fire its locomotives—because Umbrella Organizations? and received a grant from the Heritage it will cause less disruption than other Lottery of £190,000. alternatives. The Chief Minister Donald It is important to recognize that there is The HRA has grown and changed in the Gelling of the Isle of Man government has little or no competition between heritage same way. In the early days, its principal indicated that ‘The Railway would be railways. Apart from one or two instances activity was the provision of free advice reinstated to a higher specification than where there are heritage railways within and guidance. We could not afford to pay at present. This would then allow for the some 20 km of each other, the only rivalry but our members usually included possible introduction in the future of lies in competing for volunteers and someone with the necessary expertise, modern commuter trains, to operate bidding for stock and equipment. The fact whether in the form of professional advice alongside the existing steam train service, is that heritage railways share common or information on technical matters. We with a view to reducing road traffic.’ Some interests and face many of the same still provide this service but the larger island objectors to the plan believe that problems. It is hardly surprising then that railways tend to have their own teams of this is the thin end of the wedge, probably the first Railway Preservation Association advisors and, of course, can afford to pay. leading to the abandonment of steam was established in the UK soon after the This has led to our advisory service being services altogether. I have to admit that founding of the first preserved railways. more focused and more specialist. the timing of the IOMSR’s withdrawal It very quickly became the Association of I can best explain the role of umbrella from the HRA supports that viewpoint. Railway Preservation Societies (ARPS) and organizations in the development of This incident raises two common topics is now known as the Heritage Railway heritage railways by outlining what the that we have to address. First, the HRA Association (HRA). HRA does now. I use the plural because I seeks to keep its members advised of shall also discuss the role of the European changes to the law, especially those Heritage Railway Association— Federation of Museum & Tourist Railways relating to safety, many of which are Britain and Ireland (FEDECRAIL) and a proposed worldwide railway specific. Second, more disputes international association later. are being referred to us, not only by our It could be said that the HRA’s current members, but also by the public and even role is market led; as the sector grew, we a government. I think it is fair to say that developed our activities in response to HRA’s Current Role most HRA members see our activities on the perceived needs of our members. It the legislation front as being of prime is worth remembering that last year we The HRA represents railway organizations importance. For that reason, the HRA is carried over 9 million passengers, in both Britain and Eire, reflecting the now on the list of consultees of the Health generated a combined turnover membership of the Railway Preservation and Safety Commission and the exceeding £50 million and ran more than Society of Ireland which also operates Department for Transport and is 100,000 steam operations on about 200 main-line steam tours on both sides of the frequently consulted by other days. I believe that these figures far border in Ireland. There is an Irish branch government departments, such as the exceed those of any other country, of HRA and a Scottish branch (from 2001) Home Office. Lobbying is therefore a including the United States. The point is that has occasional meetings and is major part of our rationale. that many of our members now run financed out of central funds. sophisticated businesses, having grown We also represented the Isle of Man Steam up from the ‘shoestring’ organizations of Railways (IOMSR) until they withdrew in Formation of FEDECRAIL the early days. April 2001, because they are not subject As Chairman of the North Norfolk to UK legislation. While true for both the Due to this concern with legislation, we Railway, I can remember the excitement IOM and Eire and partially true for realized that there was a need to form a in the 1960s when we put an engine in Northern Ireland and Scotland, it has been European Federation to monitor steam once a year for the Shareholders’ suggested that there is a another reason developments in the European Union. We Special. Our annual turnover was less for the withdrawal. Parts of the IOMSR found that our concern was shared by than £1,000. Now we operate trains on are about to be closed for 2 years to allow Dutch and German heritage railway 210 days each year carrying over 100,000 construction of a natural-gas pipeline operators when we held the first ARPS passengers and our turnover will probably under the track bed—a strange bedfellow meeting in Utrecht in 1989 to celebrate exceed several million pounds. We also you might think for a business that relies 150 years of Dutch railways. This was Copyright © 2002 EJRCF. All rights reserved. Japan Railway & Transport Review 32 • September 2002 35 Heritage Railways (part 3) followed some 2 years later by a recipe but it was rediscovered by a team legislation and regulations, particularly conference in Hamelin where the Morgan of scientists commissioned by Chapelon pertaining to safety and the environment. Commission working party was set up to and Dante Porta. According to Dante Where possible, we lobby government consider establishment of a European Porta, the further-developed recipe agencies and parliaments (both national umbrella organization, resulting in the reduces boiler maintenance costs by and international) and advise our formation of FEDECRAIL in Brussels in anything between 92.5% to 98.5%. members how to adapt to new rules by 1994. Since then, FEDECRAIL has To launch the international association, a modification or education. In Britain, we managed to influence changes to at least world congress was planned in Ushuaia are lucky that we have cross-party support five EU Directives plus the withdrawal of in Argentina, where there is very rich in both Houses of Parliament. the infamous ‘Hot Surfaces Directive.’ An railway history. The Argentine We seek to address the question of annual conference and general meeting government has pledged support for a expanding our market and assist our is held in a European city with speakers congress and over 300 people registered members in achieving this through special from national organizations and European interest on the website. However, the events, such as running wine and dine and other agencies. organizers in Argentina were discouraged trains, Santa Specials, and Thomas the from holding the congress due to Tank Engine, developing footplate Proposed Formation of declining support from north America and experience courses as well as through International Steam & Tourist Japan. I addressed this matter again at normal marketing channels such as Train Association the Joint Convention of the Tourist guides, websites and tourist associations. Railroads of America Inc (TRAIN) and the We encourage our members to conserve Following our conference in Barcelona, Association of Railway Museums in the equipment and infrastructure, the costs which was addressed by Livio Dante USA in November 2001. of which are balanced by increased Porta and the Chief Engineer of Cuban income. For example, an expensively Railways (UFC), I was invited to present What Creative Role Can restored Directors’ Saloon Car can a paper at Ecovapor Cuba in 1999 where Umbrella Organizations recover its costs by letting for use in I met several speakers from South Develop? period films and TV dramas. America who urged us to join the We promote modern information formation of an international steam and Clearly umbrella organizations must technology, such as computer hardware tourist train association. At first, I was address the issues facing member railways and software to speed and facilitate rolling sceptical about the need for such an and promoters of tourist lines and trains stock construction and repair. association but after visits to Russia and round the world. To do this, we first need Funding is a problem we all face. Argentina, I was persuaded that there was to identify the threats to our continued Umbrella organizations can help by giving a need for a truly worldwide organization success, if not survival. I think that the advice on sources of public funding, by in the light of the increasing globalization issues are largely finance, environment, pressuring governments and by of enterprises and legislation. shortage of train staff, loss of skills and encouraging commercial organizations Environmental concerns tend to be heritage equipment, plus other issues of a and other grant sources to sponsor coordinated on an international level and more local nature. heritage railway projects. it was felt that there was some need to In the UK, the HRA has held sessions on Museums like the National Railway formulate a response when the activities how we should adapt to the changing Museum at York could play a valuable role of our members could be threatened. world. We need to address the training in promoting the operators of steam As a European, it is easy to believe that of staff and the transfer of skills.