Why small is so often more beautiful
EDITOR Robin Jones has exhorted us all to‘do our bit’by supporting our heritage railways. Excellent advice!
Recently, my extended family enjoyed an Easter break, and realising that the East Kent Railway was close to us, decided to pay a visit. We were not disappointed.
The railway was smashing! Small, compact, and tremendously friendly. Smiling, uniformed staff bent over backwards to make all 21 of us so welcome.
The site at Shepherdswell swarmed with staycation visitors – loads of children with indulgent grandparents and relaxed parents, all enjoying the sun and the wellutilised facilities. Lots of large toys for the young folk to play on, a choice of three differently sized trains to ride on and exhibits to view, and refreshment facilities coping excellently in the heat and business of serving. I was really impressed.
“I’ve never seen it so busy here,” was a frequent comment. Good! May the railway’s pay-day be a bumper one!
It was fascinating to see the ‘Pacers’ on the ‘main line’ so full. Joe Public certainly enjoyed the scenic journey and the tunnel. What was also good was that at the Eythorne terminus we had a chance to stretch our legs and buy ice cream. We were given a blast on the horn five minutes before departure to remind us to be seated for the return journey – very helpful.
Interestingly, no steam engines were working but no one seemed to worry; ‘sleeping’ examples could be seen, after all!
Well done to East Kent Railway for recognising and catering for the needs of families, especially those with young children. Such positivity is bound to boost that feel-good factor and see these folk consider other similar visits. With cash availability getting stretched ever further due to the cost of living, value for money has never been so important as now and in the foreseeable future.
Heritage railways ignore this fact at their peril.
There are many small examples that would value our support this summer, ranging from the Colne Valley in Essex to the Plym Valley in Devon, the Corris line in Wales to the Royal Deeside in Scotland. They may not have the grandeur or the motive power of their larger cousins, but each exude their own particular charm and invite us to share in their dream of preserving their own piece of railway history.
Nigel RC Spencer MBE, DL, email