MARCH 2019 AWARDS NIGHT FULL REPORT THE HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION Issue 156 LOTTERY FUNDING SPRING SEMINAR AND LATEST MANAGEMENT FORUM DATES, PROGRAMME EMAIL TOP CONTENT, TIPS BOOKING DETAILS Dates for your Diary Welcome to another issue of HRA News – this one packed March 2019 5th Spring Seminar Birmingham (Tuesday) Getting in the Money 6th AGM and Management Forum Birmingham (Wednesday) 30th Scottish Forum Ayrshire April 2019 12th Fedecrail Conference Germany our own President, the Lord Faulkner of Worcester, and it June 2019 7th HRCT Winchester Tour Further information inside...... Inside this edition Chief Exec News 3 HRA Meetings 4 Spring Business Seminar 4 HRA AGM 4 Spring Management Forum 4 Autumn Business Seminar 4 unusual for them to run at speeds up to 100 miles an hour Autumn Management Forum 4 Events 5 March Scottish Forum 5 April Fedecrail Conference 5 HRCT Summer Tour 5 HRA Autumn Tour 5 Email top tips 6 Lottery Funding Changes 7 excellence in Mk1 coach maintenance. It’s time we drew on WATTRAIN USA visit 8 NRHA Award nominations 9 HRA Awards 2020 9 HRA Annual Awards 2019 10 Manisty Award Winner 10 Best wishes Rail Express Winner 10 Coiley Award Winner 11 Brian Young Volunteer Winner 11 Morgan Award Winner 12 DO YOU WANT YOUR OWN COPY OF THIS NEWSLETTER? Small Visitor Attraction Winner 12 If you or your colleagues would like a copy please provide us with Large Visitor Attraction Winner 13 the email addresses you want to be used. Send details to:- Small Groups Winner 13 [email protected] Large Groups Winner 14 Magazine Awards Winners 14 The next edition will be published in June 2019 Carriage and Wagon Winners 15 [email protected] Page 2 The burning issue of our future coal supplies is now being thoroughly aired! It’s being discussed in Westminster, our trade magazines are writing about the issues (with Steam Railway Mag running a major three-part feature), and the colossal negative impact of any loss of supplies on us and other heritage burners is now being more widely understood. We have a verbal (although not written) assurance from DEFRA that we will not lose the right to burn coal; coal is the subject of the current inquiry being undertak- en by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Heritage Rail; and options for securing a future supply and distribution network are being investigated. 'Steve on the footplate of Ivatt ten- der loco 46447 However, we have to acknowledge that coal is widely viewed as a dirty ‘old’ fuel and Credit: IWSR/Stuart Duddy' is getting lumped in with the public’s rising concerns at environmental damage from emissions, plastics and waste. DEFRA has restated it’s aim to impose a blanket ban on burning household coal which, as we know, would severely disrupt our supply. While such a ban might gain the Government a bit of short- term positive PR, we, the coal industry and others are challenging DEFRA’s presentation of the data. In both their consultation document and their recent Clean Air Strategy, the annual burn of 130,000 tonnes of household coal is, So, how can you help? Right now, as an industry we must work together to robustly promote our economic, social and community value; and we need to demonstrate a ‘responsible’ approach to environmental issues. I would urge all member railways to: • Implement whatever simple measures are possible to reduce the your burn • Establish an environmental policy and mitigate the impacts of burning coal by implementing measures to make your overall business carbon neutral • Ensure your MP, local councils and community fully understand the economic, tourism, social and wellbeing value of your railway to your locality • economy Annual Statistical Returns Very many thanks to those who have already completed and submitted their Annual Statistical Return. I would like to have all returns by the 15th March so, if your organisation’s return is yet to be completed, I would be most grateful if you could complete and return the form as soon as possible please. This year the Return can be completed online using the form on the HRA website, at: https://heritagerailwaysassociation.formstack.com/forms/asr_for_operating_members The information gathered is invaluable in enabling the HRA to promote the economic and social value of heritage media, the tourism industry and other organisations. Separately, but equally importantly, much of the data also assists the ORR in planning its activities to best support the rail sector. Wanted – Yard Crane The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway is looking for a small hand operated yard crane. About 2 ton capacity. Page 3 www.hra.uk.com Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham. Tues. 5th March 2019. 9.30 (for 10.30 start) £80 per delegate. making process, to the visit itself and the ongoing relationship. How to improve the customer experience. How to keep them coming back. Sessions on Acquiring your Customer, Welcoming your Customer and Maximising their Experience. An opportunity to hear from the two biggest funders of heritage projects to help shape your fundraising strategy, and learn the requirements for successful legacy funding. Elizabeth Neathey BA, Arts Council England. Experienced in museum development including governance and funding; will speak on A.C.E. project grants and Accreditation. Claire Routley PhD, Legacy Fundraising Ltd. Institute of Fundraising tutor and ‘Giving to Heritage’ presenter on legacy giving. Adam Tyson BSc, National Lottery Heritage Fund. Policy Advisor on the Historic Environment, which includes transport heritage, outlining the revamped organisation and their grants structure. Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham. Wed. 6th March 2019. 9.30 (for 10.30 start) £65 per delegate (AGM no charge) Annual General Meeting, including updates from the Chairman and Chief Executive on the work of the assocation. • The Visitor Economy in 2019 • Young Rail Professionals - 5000 members strong, and with some already volunteering on heritage railways. YRP will be discussing how they intend to launch a national ‘Heritage Engagement Programme’ working to support the Heritage sector and create valuable learning experiences for their members. • Coal for Heritage Burners - a short update on work to date - and how you can help to shout our message! • How’s business? • Level Crossings - Safety Innovations and ‘Human Behaviour’ • Business, Legal, Safety and Heritage - HRA working on your behalf. HRA Autumn Seminar Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham. Tues. 29th October 2019 This programme is still under developlment, more details will be in the next edition of HRA News. However it is expected to include a strong focus on youth matters, and in particular how best to accomodate young volunteers in the heritage rail experience, how to enthuse and support their development and safeguard their welfare. This builds on the HRA’s ongoing programme of supporting the involvment of the latest generation of young peo- ple who can learn so much from their involvment with the heritage sector. Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham. Wed. 30th October 2019 available closer to the date. Page 4 Bookings are now open for this year’s Scottish Forum which this year is based in Ayrshire hosted by the Ayrshire Rail- way Preservation Group. We will be based at the Abbotsford Hotel, with the Chestnuts Hotel as an overspill. Spouses and partners will be very welcome throughout the programme. Highlights of the forum include a tour of the Scottish Industrial Railway Centre including a ride on a new section of the mineral line, and a visit to the Scottish Maritime Museum. Plus at the business meeting there will be talks by the local MP and MSP, an address by HRA CEO Steve Oates, Ian Skinner of ORR will be bringing us up to date with safety issues, and a talk on recruiting and retaining volunteers. All that and there is also an evening informal dinner to meet old and new friends. The full programme and cost of the various elements is on the HRA website events page or to book your place go to https://www.hra.uk.com/scottish-forum-2019 Bookings are now open for this year’s conference of our European umbrella organisation, Fedecrail. This year’s conference will be based at Wernigerode in the Harz Mountains in Germany, well known for its network of year round steam hauled narrow gauge railways. An invita- tion to this year’s 25th anniversary conference is extended to anyone actively involved with rail and tram heritage throughout Europe (and beyond!). You’re welcome to take part for as much or as little of the www.fede- crail.org. A major change this year is that booking is online, just click the ‘Conferences’ page of the website to reach the ‘Book your attend- ance’ link. - crail - and even more important the challenges which we foresee may face us in the next 25 years! Visits will include the Harzerschmalspurbahn railway itself, heritage trams in the town of Halberstadt, a heritage train on the technically sessions. Bookings by Thursday 28th March please. For any queries, please email: [email protected] or contact HRA Company Secretary, Peter Ovenstone, Tel: 07783 238108 or: [email protected] Bookings are now open for HRCT’s cultural city tour with visits to The Moors Valley Railway, The Swanage Railway, The Hythe Ferry and Pier Tramway, and Exbury Gardens and Railway. £135 per person which includes admissions, coach and train travel at the four locations, pick up and return from the Premier Inn, the Railway Station and Central Winchester as arranged. You book the hotels they do the rest. Bookings and enquiries to John S Glover, Burrows Farm, Toot Hill Ongar, Essex CM5 9QW Phone 07785 725780 or email [email protected]. A date for your diaries.