That pioneering spirit is winning again!
MANY landmark anniversary celebrations have fallen victim to theCovid- 19 lockdownin recent weeks, but despitelosing its gala, therewasstill no stopping the Middleton Railway–which, as illustrated in News, pages 10/11, privately went ahead with its special train to mark 60 years to the day since the first public service was run on a standard gauge heritage line.
TheKeighley& WorthValley Railwaywas forcedto cancel its special event to mark half a century since one of the most successfuland endearing familymovies of all time, The Railway Children, was filmedonits lineand released to cinemaaudiences.
Accordingly, inthis issue, wefocusonthat film which not only elevated toimmortal stardombut gaveuntold publicity to the still na scent revivalist movement, justtwoyears after the curtain fellonsteamonthe national network andmuch of the public– wrongly as it happened–assumed it was by then all con signed to historybooks.
Before the film and the TV adaptation that came before it, the K WV R had already achieved much for the heritage sector, not least of all by drawing up the blue print for free hold purchases of former BR lines. Now again, like mostother heritage railways throughouttheUK, the KWVRisfighting for survival a second time round, and has launched its Worth Saving appeal to cover its over heads and acute loss of income during the C ovid -19 lock down.
If youenjoyed your visit to thissuperbline and/ or the film, please donate what you can today.
The legendary pioneering spirit against the odds of those early days which bequeathed us our rich portfolio of heritage lines has emerged again in recent months, as the nation battles the biggest crisis ithas facedsince the SecondWorldWar. Leftwith an acutetemporary shortage ofmanpower, thesectorhas been, often behind locked doors, pulling out all the stops to ensure that once the lock down restrictions were eased by the Government– andindeed theywere to a large extent onJune 23– heritage lineswere ready to namethe date for the returnof services, many just in time for thehigh summerseason.
Of course, theneed for socialdistancing has had to comeuppermost intheminds of managersandtheir staff, for running trains isonething, but assuring a potentially-eager public that it is as safe as possible to rideonthemis another.
Theseven decades of innovation forwhich heritage lines are justifiably famous has shone through again.
A story which I have found particularly inspiring has comefromthe Dartmouth SteamRailway& Riverboat Companywhere, withmost of its staff furloughed, managing director John Jones and head of engineering Paul M erring ton hand-made and fitted 200 be spoke carriage seat screens for social distancing. Furthermore, the line has extended its Paigntonpl at form so that more passengers can be carried under the regulations.
Again, weallmust continue to support them. The public response to appeals for emergency aid has so far been phenomenal, and while some targets have been met and exceeded, nobody has any real idea as to when the virus will be finally conquered, and so more aid may well be needed. Keep those donations to your chosen line coming!
Asweclosed forpress, more lineswere announcinga resumptionof services: the situationwas changing by the hour and seems likely to continue todoso. Hereat HeritageRailway, amagazine dedicatedtothe widest coverage of the preservation sector, wewill continue to bringyouthe latestnews fromvenues big andsmall. To keepuptodate, turn to pages 30/ 31and seehowto take out a subscription to Heritage Railway. Let us keep youintouch, throughyour letterbox, with the whole picture as events unfold.