Headline News
■ Heritage Railway Association celebrates its 60th anniversary
■ Ryde Pier Tram set for launch on Isle of Wight Steam Railway
■ Plans for new collections building at Locomotion
■ Major infrastructure works at Severn Valley
■ 257 Squadron and No. 80080 for Great Central winter gala
THE Heritage Railway Association, the umbrella group for Britain’s preservation sector, is commemorating its 60th anniversary.
January 6 was 60 years to the day since the Railway Preservation Association, the group that evolved into the HRA, met for the first time. A wider celebration of this milestone is planned to take place later in the year, if or when coronavirus restrictions in all parts of Britain allow.
That first meeting of the organisation had Captain Bill Smith as chairman. In 1959, he became the first private individual to buy a steam locomotive from BR, saving GNR J52 0-6-0ST No. 1247 from scrap and setting a precedent for many others to follow.
Shortly afterwards, Bluebell Railway pioneer Captain Peter Manisty became chairman. Under him, the group became known as the Association of Railway Preservation Societies. Alongside the Bluebell, the founding members included the Ffestiniog Railway, Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society, Middleton Railway, Dart Valley Railway and the Talyllyn Railway, alongside the forerunners of what would become the National Railway Museum.
Trade association
In the 1990s, the ARPS merged with the much older Association of Independent Railways. That group was formed in the 1930s to represent railways that had not been included in the 1923 Grouping that created the‘Big Four.’
The two bodies came together to form the Association of Independent Railways and Preservation Societies. Its first chairman was legendary railway enthusiast and publisher Ian Allan, who had held the same role for the AIR, with former ARPS chairman David Morgan becoming vice chairman.
The AIRPS became the single trade association for the entire heritage railway sector. In 1998 it took on the more concise name of the Heritage Railway Association. Since then the HRA has responded to the rapidly changing world, working closely with industry regulators and developing links with the Government while supporting and championing heritage rail widely.
HRA chief executive Steve Oates said: “During the 60 years since the creation of the association, our 300 members have achieved what many thought impossible. They have rebuilt routes that had vanished almost entirely, they have rebuilt locomotives and carriages, and they have achieved levels of preservation second-to-none, with everything from Victorian cliff railways to mainline steam and diesel locomotives.
“From its very beginnings, the HRA has been driven by the same passion as its members to maintain, operate and develop railways. The determination has not been dimmed, and the HRA is at the forefront of ensuring that sector can continue to flourish for the next 60 years.”
HRA chairman Brian Simpson said: “The vision of the great founding members like Captain Smith, Captain Manisty, David Morgan, and their counterparts should never be underplayed. The whole of the heritage railway world owes them a debt of gratitude to this day.
“Our challenge is to cherish the preservation ideals of these great men while navigating the ever-increasing complexities of the modern world to ensure that heritage rail can flourish for the next 60 years. Fortunately, I think the Heritage Railway Association is in great shape to do just that.”
Working together
HRA vice chairman Chris Price, general manager of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, said:“Celebrating our 60th anniversary is a fantastic feat. Now more than ever the Heritage Railway Association is important to the sector.
“Individually, even the bigger railways are relatively small voices in the wider world, but together we make a decent contribution to the economy of the UK and to its cultural heritage. We need to shout about that.
“We’ve done very well in the past and I believe we’re set up to do even more in the future.”
HRA president Lord Faulkner said: “Heritage rail has matured over the last 60 years, but the challenges have not gone away. Today the HRA is at the forefront of ensuring that everyone can continue to enjoy travelling on historic railways more than ever.”