Anger as another Thomas the Tank Engine event is axed - DailyMirror

Charlie Hulme <info@davenportstation.org.uk> wrote:
>
>... as all those families flock by car to heritage railways?


Where would you rather that they flocked to by car?

Because when it comes to flocking, by car they will surely go!

On 31 Jan, 13:56, "Paul Scott" <notvalidpmsc...@> wrote:

> They may be able to make more out of Drayton Park if there aren't any
> 'heritage' events near...

Perhaps, but I am sure that it is vastly in their interest to have
lots of these events going on around the country.

Ian

Charlie Hulme <info@davenportstation.org.uk> wrote:

>The Good Doctor wrote:
>> Charlie Hulme <info@davenportstation.org.uk> wrote:
>>> ... as all those families flock by car to heritage railways?
>>
>>
>> Where would you rather that they flocked to by car?
>>
>
>As far as I am concerned, cars can flock off as far away from
>me as possible.
>
>How about Scrapyard World? 'Marvel as your car is crushed
>into a tiny cube...'


We are all well aware of your antipathy towards cars, but the fact is
that most people have them and use them.

When they want a family day out to a child-friendly tourist
attraction, wouldn't you rather they went to a preserved railway than
somewhere else?

Paul Scott wrote:

> They may be able to make more out of Drayton Park if there aren't any
> 'heritage' events near...
>
Just in case you're tempted to go there, it's Drayton Manor Park - not
to be confused with the station south of Finsbury Park or the golf club
at Abingdon! :-)

Peter Beale

Chris Game <chrisgame@example.net> wrote:
>
>What, five miles too and fro on some sub-standard track with speed
>limits?


With a pint of draught beer, a cheese sandwich and a packet of crisps
from the buffet, and your favourite scenery wafting slowly by - don't
knock it!

Chris Tolley wrote:
> Paul Scott wrote:
>
>> They may be able to make more out of Drayton Park if there aren't any
>> 'heritage' events near...
>
> Like Finsbury Park, perhaps? ;-)

Krapy Rubsnif? ;-)

Arthur Figgis wrote:
> Jeremy Double wrote:
>
>>
>> What would happen if a railway painted an 0-6-0T in blue with a number
>> 1 on the side, and put a face on the front, but didn't describe it as
>> Thomas in the publicity?
>
> The Nene Valley already has one, which was named by Awdry and the rights
> holders can't touch. The Middleton Railway has a Percy.

So why don't the companies approach the Nene Valley railway about rights
to copy their locomotive?

WD

On Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:43:59 GMT, Bill Dixon wrote:

> Arthur Figgis wrote:
>> Jeremy Double wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> What would happen if a railway painted an 0-6-0T in blue with a number
>>> 1 on the side, and put a face on the front, but didn't describe it as
>>> Thomas in the publicity?
>>
>> The Nene Valley already has one, which was named by Awdry and the rights
>> holders can't touch. The Middleton Railway has a Percy.
>
> So why don't the companies approach the Nene Valley railway about rights
> to copy their locomotive?
>
> WD

I would expect that the original agreement includes a clause which prevents
any such transfer of rights.
--
WZR

On 31 Jan, 22:46, Chris Tolley <cj...@supanet.com> wrote:

> I have been (a couple of times, unwittingly) at railways while they have
> been holding such events, and they have been very well supported. If
> from such large crowds grown-up attendees 'often' metamorphosed into
> railway supporters, I doubt there would be much need for T events with
> quite the frequency they happen. It might happen 'occasionally'.

Equally, without Thomas events there might not be as many preserved
railways to run them. We just don't know. But if it gives people fun,
what's wrong with it?


Ian

On 1 Feb, 09:13, The Real Doctor <ian.gro...@> wrote:
> On 31 Jan, 22:46, Chris  Tolley <cj...@supanet.com> wrote:
>
> > I have been (a couple of times, unwittingly) at railways while they have
> > been holding such events, and they have been very well supported. If
> > from such large crowds grown-up attendees 'often' metamorphosed into
> > railway supporters, I doubt there would be much need for T events with
> > quite the frequency they happen. It might happen 'occasionally'.
>
> Equally, without Thomas events there might not be as many preserved
> railways to run them. We just don't know.

This for me is the key point. Most preserved railways of which I am
aware run events aimed at the family market (Thomas-themed days, Santa
specials etc.). It is unlikely that any such events will be of
interest to "real" rail fans. However, I believe it is fair to assume
that such events are highly profitable. If so, it is at the very
least a plausible hypothesis that the profits from such events allow
preserved railways to undertake lots of worthy projects, of interest
to enthusiasts, which would not otherwise be possible. In extreme
cases, some preserved railways might not be viable without the income
from such events.

I cannot see why the two should not co-exist - enthusiasts can stay
away from preserved railways when the Thomas specials are running, and
then benefit from them by using the profits to do projects in which
they are interested. It is surely a matter of each individual line
getting the balance right.

> But if it gives people fun,
> what's wrong with it?

That is also a good point, and I think enthusiasts need to realise
that there are many different reasons for people wanting to visit a
preserved railway.