• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

Status
Not open for further replies.
Johnny_w

Johnny_w

Member
Joined
23 Jan 2011
Messages
251
Location
Rural suffolk
Hi guys,

The EVR had there "Home fleet" Gala this weekend.

Not a bad little railway and always nice too see first gen DMU's!

13340576564_b847aebe96_z.jpg
[/url]
DSCF0035 by John W. Davies, on Flickr

Flickr Album


JW
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

T

theblackwatch

Established Member
Joined
15 Feb 2006
Messages
10,780
Much as I'm more into diesels, would a picture with a kettle in it rather than a 31 be more eye catching to 'normals'?
 
4

455driver

Veteran Member
Joined
10 May 2010
Messages
11,329
This line is on my to do list for this year.

Oh yeah, I agree with the others (despite being a diesel man) get a kettle on the front of the brochure so you appeal to him, her and the 2.4 kids, thats where the money is.
 
Last edited:
R

RichmondCommu

Established Member
Joined
23 Feb 2010
Messages
6,906
Location
Richmond, London
Oh I hate the word kettle with reference to steam engines! Sadly as I found out the other week (on this forum) the EVR is not hiring in a steam loco this summer which I think is a real shame. My wife and daughters couldn't give a monkeys about diesels but will alway smile and wave when they see a steam train. And the fact is preserved railways make a lot of money from people like my girls.
 
nferguso

nferguso

Member
Joined
25 Nov 2010
Messages
204
Location
Wirksworth, Derbyshire
Thanks all for the feedback. You're quite right that having a steam engine on the poster would probably be more attractive, but as RichmondCommu has noted, we're not hiring-in a 'main line' steam engine this year.

As attractive as a steam engine would be, we absolutely cannot give a false impression of our offering to the general public.

Just a response to the comment that lines can make a lot of money from steam: yes they can but the costs are also stratospheric too. The other golden rule we have learned is that without really first-class facilities, having a large steam engine at the railway is incredibly disruptive. One priority for us in the coming couple of years is to build 'proper' steam facilities that, with luck, will allow us to have a good-sized locomotive at the railway for longer: there is a definite 'sweet spot' where having a locomotive on-site for sufficient time allows an efficient absorption of transportation costs.

Neil
 
T

theblackwatch

Established Member
Joined
15 Feb 2006
Messages
10,780
Like others (probably), I wasn't aware that the EVR weren't having any steam this year, so agree a pic of one may be misleading. However, the poster says "...and some steam trains in spring, summer and autumn...", so that too could also be a bit misleading.
 
nferguso

nferguso

Member
Joined
25 Nov 2010
Messages
204
Location
Wirksworth, Derbyshire
theblackwatch said:
Like others (probably), I wasn't aware that the EVR weren't having any steam this year, so agree a pic of one may be misleading. However, the poster says "...and some steam trains in spring, summer and autumn...", so that too could also be a bit misleading.
Click to expand...

Don't forget that we do have steam at Wirksworth in the form of two Barclays that provide pay-and-play services in the week and passenger services up the 1 in 30 Ravenstor Incline on selected weekends.

So we're absolutely legal, decent, honest and truthful. :)

Neil
 
4

455driver

Veteran Member
Joined
10 May 2010
Messages
11,329
nferguso said:
As attractive as a steam engine would be, we absolutely cannot give a false impression of our offering to the general public.
Click to expand...
Fair point, well made.
At least I know I will be turning up for some diseasel haulage instead of a tea making device (must use the K word ;)) on the front, okay its a steam loco! :lol:

nferguso said:
Just a response to the comment that lines can make a lot of money from steam: yes they can but the costs are also stratospheric too. The other golden rule we have learned is that without really first-class facilities, having a large steam engine at the railway is incredibly disruptive. One priority for us in the coming couple of years is to build 'proper' steam facilities that, with luck, will allow us to have a good-sized locomotive at the railway for longer: there is a definite 'sweet spot' where having a locomotive on-site for sufficient time allows an efficient absorption of transportation costs.
Neil
Click to expand...

Would it have to be a large steamer though?
Wouldnt a couple of Austerities manage the inclines?
They are powerful and fairly easy to look after.
I do not know the line so dont know what sort of gradients you have there!
 
Last edited:
nferguso

nferguso

Member
Joined
25 Nov 2010
Messages
204
Location
Wirksworth, Derbyshire
455driver said:
Fair point, well made.
At least I know I will be turning up for some diseasel haulage instead of a tea making device (must use the K word ;)) on the front, okay its a steam loco! :lol:



Would it have to be a large steamer though?
Wouldnt a couple of Austerities manage the inclines?
They are powerful and fairly easy to look after.
I do not know the line so dont know what sort of gradients you have there!
Click to expand...

This is one of those cases where size isn't the issue. The inclines are no problem for our Barclays and the sound is quite spectacular too!

It is more a case that we need to 'right-size' our facilities. We have two pits and while one is adequate for an 0-4-0, it's a bit of a stretch for anything much bigger. The other pit (one of the originals from the old shed which we unearthed about a decade ago) is used as a maintenance pit for everything else, including our fleet of DMUs. Just as it was 50 years ago, we have learned that steam and diesel don't mix on a depot.

We're trying to do things right and it takes time!

Neil
 
4

455driver

Veteran Member
Joined
10 May 2010
Messages
11,329
nferguso said:
This is one of those cases where size isn't the issue. The inclines are no problem for our Barclays and the sound is quite spectacular too!

It is more a case that we need to 'right-size' our facilities. We have two pits and while one is adequate for an 0-4-0, it's a bit of a stretch for anything much bigger. The other pit (one of the originals from the old shed which we unearthed about a decade ago) is used as a maintenance pit for everything else, including our fleet of DMUs. Just as it was 50 years ago, we have learned that steam and diesel don't mix on a depot.

We're trying to do things right and it takes time!

Neil
Click to expand...

Thank you for the reply, I couldnt agree more with it, it takes a lot of time, effort and money to get things right but looking at the pictures of some of your stock you are definitely getting it right.

I wish you all the best for the future and will be along shortly to throw a few quid in the tin.

I like 1st gen DMUs and yours are seriously nice. ;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top