STICK looks at the burning issue for the heritage movement
STICK, The Scottish Transport & Industry Collections Network, is to place the future of fossil fuels in heritage transport under the microscope at an online event on Thursday, April 22.
The body’s membership includes the Museum of Scottish Railways, Summerlee Industrial Museum, and paddle steamer Maid of the Loch.
The special conference will look at the society-wide drive to cut carbon emissions, placing the focus on heritage transport, and the difficulty of obtaining good coal of the right quality to run steam railways and traction engines.
STICK chairman Matthew Bellhouse Moran said: “Our efforts to counteract harmful emissions must be ramped up. This raises the ethics and practicalities of burning polluting fossil fuels in heritage steam and fossil fuel-burning engines in our historic trains, ships, lorries, buses, and cars.
“As well as being polluting, these fuels are rising in cost, and, in some instances, are becoming hard to find, while the funding bodies supporting our heritage are committing to sustainable fuels themselves.”
The conference will examine the ethical pros and cons of burning fossil fuels, whether their use can be justified, or if the heritage transport movement should move away from them, where possible.
Speakers include Waverley Excursions general manager Paul Semple, Museum of Scottish Railways director Dr Becky Peacock, Maid of the Loch operating manager Robin Patel, and leading industrial heritage and engine conservator Jim Mitchell. Free tickets are available to book via Eventbrite.