The R&ER Magazine Number 222 September 2016 The Journal of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society The R&ER Magazine No.222 Editorial September 2016 Keith Herbert As the EU referendum result points to an exit from political and trade union Published quarterly by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway with Europe, we debate on immigration, on lawmaking and on rescinding Preservation Society Limited our ‘net contributor’ status – but what will be the consequences for the R&ER? Member of the Heritage Railway Association Steam Railway magazine pontificated on the future of steam in a 2012 issue, in Editorial Team: Keith Herbert, Di Chase, Bill Seddon, Opinions expressed by contributors and which feature it was predicted that “the poorer railways, in terms of capability Mark Harrington, John Taylor in editorial comment do not necessarily and performance, will go to the wall in 20-30 years” (and that assertion, even Editorial Designer: Julie Hutchinson reflect the collective views of the Society. before the referendum!). The R&ER Magazine is always pleased to receive correspondence, photographs and articles for possible PRESS DEADLINE: Material for inclusion It doesn’t seem impossible that this could come to pass; the generation that inclusion. Most nowadays arrive via our e-mail address, in the next issue of the Magazine must knew steam in the days before preservation is growing smaller, laying down an but postal contributions remain welcome. Please reach the editors not later than increasing challenge to attract a [relatively] young volunteer who might scarcely include a name and contact address with any prints. Thursday 20th October at noon. Scanning facilities are available. Please send material earlier if possible. have seen a steam locomotive ‘in the flesh’. Additionally, steam railways occupy the small concentric zone between ‘heritage’ and ‘tourism’ – they are effectively Society website: http://www.rerps.co.uk working museums in many cases, but must deliver on modern expectations of a value-for-money day out. There is considerable expense on both fronts, and Council Chairman: Sam Dixon, 17 Woodlands, Great Corby, Carlisle, Cumbria CA4 8LX. a quite rigorous demand on safety, which has further cost implications of its Email: [email protected] own. With such difficulties in marketing themselves both to prospective visitors Hon. Secretary: Mungo Stacy, 34 Mayfield Road, Manchester M16 8EU. and volunteers alike, as well as potential economic constraints influenced by Email: [email protected] ‘Brexit’ (consider imports of materials – metals and fuels), a lot of railways will Hon. Financial Secretary: David Lees, 31 Water Street, Ribchester, Preston, Lancashire PR3 3YJ. be hoping that a drop in the value of the pound at least makes the ‘staycation’ Email: [email protected] an attractive option for UK holidaymakers in the short-term… But then what? Hon. Membership Secretary: Sarah Bennett, 2 Stanley Villas, Drigg Road, Seascale, CA20 1NW. It makes one wonder Email: [email protected] (1-1299 and 2500-3999) how those railways Assistant Membership Secretary: Jim Wilcock, ‘Porthlow’, Neston Road, Ness, Neston CH64 4AZ. only operating with Email: [email protected] (1300-2499) small budgets, few Sales Officer: Terry Williams, 88 Bluestone Road, Moston, Manchester M40 9HY. volunteers and just Email: [email protected] on selected weekends Magazine Distributor: Cumbria Mailing Services Ltd. Penrith, CA11 9FQ. now, can hope to Heywood House Bookings: Mary Harding. Email: [email protected]. Tel: 01229 717080. flourish in the future. Conversely, it would Volunteers: Peter Mills. Email: [email protected] be foolhardy to assume General Manager: Trevor Stockton, R&ER Co. Ltd. Ravenglass, Cumbria, CA18 1SW. Tel: 01229 717171. we will survive, but Editor: Keith Herbert, 7 Dalegarth Cottages, Boot, Holmrook, Cumbria CA19 1TF they will not. Email: [email protected] Is our house in order? Are we cementing our Train From Spain Appeal website: TRAIN FROM SPAIN.ORG future or sealing our fate? How can you Donations: Andy Cruickshank, 11 Townfield Close, Ravenglass, Cumbria CA18 1SL The ‘working museum’ – a train for the Heywood help? Email: [email protected] Society headed by Bassett-Lowkes Synolda and Front Cover: Typhoon tops Mill Wood on 1st August 2016 on her R&ER Although a post-Brexit Count Louis leaves Ravenglass on 7th May. passenger traffic debut while on hire from RH&DR. Photo: David Mart La’al Ratty won’t be Prime Photo: Christopher Glover 2 3 Minister Theresa May’s top priority, there are vacancies on Council (the Society’s early autumn this year, which will keep us on track for being ready next spring. management board) for willing volunteers who want to help to manage the You will read elsewhere of an update on operational matters; although we Society’s continuing survival and help to achieve its ultimate success. Factoring enjoyed a fairly trouble-free start to the season there have been some challenges in two recent resignations (which means up to two newcomers can be co-opted with the loco fleet as the season has worn on. I would like to think that this at any future Council meeting) some eight seats could be contested at next year’s will be our last season of having to push the locomotives to their limits. The AGM – why not get your name on the ballot paper? Sarah Bennett, newly elected reintroduction of River Esk for the first time since 2011, havingPerkins available, to the office of Membership Secretary, extols the virtues of volunteering on plus a certain, currently nameless, Pacific to call on, will set us up well for future Council on page 33. seasons. [NB these locomotives are not currently in traffic – Ed.] Away from the matter of democracy, high summer is upon us once more, and Already the railway is looking forward to what winter works can be achieved it is disheartening to report that the Railway begins the busy season, following through the forthcoming, albeit short, close season. It is anticipated that the untimely failure of River Irt, with only four locomotives (Mite, Rock, Douglas permanent way work will continue at levels seen in recent winters. The Ferreira and Lady Wakefield) in serviceable condition on the whole railway; workshop, hopefully free of River Esk, will concentrate on the current steam River Esk and the Train From Spain continue to make progress; Perkins, Shelagh fleet and their much needed overhauls and repairs. Little was done in the way of Eskdale and Cyril continue to elude us; and, in a surprise twist, Bonnie Dundee of joinery maintenance to the carriage fleet last winter, so there is catching up has left the Ratty for pastures new. Typhoon has been hired in from the Romney, to be done in that area as well, though the continued efforts of the painting Hythe & Dymchurch Railway in a last gasp effort to survive the season. department keeps the fleet looking tidy. One area currently under review is the Let’s mind out for that wall. engine shed; the yard and tracks within the shed need relaying and the building itself is long overdue a rebuild. We are mindful of course that the main shed is News from Ravenglass the original 1875 building – real heritage! Trevor Stockton On the staffing front, Anna Tilsley is now a passed diesel driver and is currently picking up a little steam knowledge along with learning the control side of life in the signal box. Typing up these words, it is early July, and the weather is awful; the continued, unsettled period is taking its toll on the business. Passenger numbers are down a We also welcome Steve Richardson to the railway. Steve’s role will be as few percent; however the secondary spend is further down, which suggests the Commercial Manager; visitors we are getting are not spending the same. We are not alone in this – most the railway has decided attractions are not having the best of seasons. It is to be hoped there is some to review the position sunshine round the corner and the high summer service will see an improvement. that was previously Visitor Services Officer Through no fault of its own, Statesman Rail has cancelled its half-dozen planned and to appoint someone tours to us this year. These visits, whilst stretching the railway almost to its with an overview of all operational limit, are very much the ‘icing on the cake’ and will be sadly missed. secondary spend income. Our sister attraction, Ulllswater ‘Steamers’, has lost similar business it picks up from The Fellsman tours, due to closure of the Settle to Carlisle line as a through Although we are route because of landslip works. probably bucking the trend, with an uplift in the Bonnie Dundee, for many years now a static exhibit, has, along with Flower number of volunteers we of the Forest, left the railway to go on long-term loan to the Cleethorpes Coast can draw on, please do Light Railway. The management team there has aspirations to overhaul Dundee not hesitate to put your to working order, it being more suitable to their lighter trains and shorter line. name forward should Flower will more than likely remain as a static exhibit. you wish to be involved As reported in the last issue we still await final confirmation with Network Rail in helping to keep the Bonnie Dundee and Flower of the Forest during on the land purchase to enable us to start on the second phase of the museum railway running. loading for Cleethorpes, outside the engineers’ (the train shed extension). We hope all the boxes are ticked for a start in the workshop on 13th June. Photo: David Rounce 4 5 Traffic News had an empty stock trial and two passenger trips on 2nd July, missed its last run on th th Peter van Zeller 6 July, followed on 8 July by a trial to Miteside double-headed with Northern Rock.