TICKETS: ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS KEY

I’m concerned about what I see as a small but worrying trend on our steam railways: the loss of the traditional Edmondson ticket.

I have visited a number of our very finest preserved railways this year, railways whose attention to detail in areas such as signage, liveries, uniforms, platform furniture and so on is second to none. But when I’ve purchased tickets I’ve been dismayed to be handed a long string of thin, papery, perforated computerprinted cards which look more like the tickets you get if you were to go to a multiplex cinema or a theme park.

Of course, our steam railways must operate in the 21st century, and behind the scenes the booking office needs to be connected to the railway’s computer/EPOS system, but surely what is actually passed through that little window to the passenger should be a traditional rectangle of thick card, to be presented for clipping to the ticket inspector and – especially if it is a child – taken home as a souvenir of a fabulous day travelling back in time.

Surely, as far as is possible, we should be about preserving the entire experience of travel in the days of steam? Jonathan Lihou, by email

WHAT IS PASSED THROUGH THAT WINDOW TO THE PASSENGER SHOULD BE A TRADITIONAL RECTANGLE OF THICK CARD