York railway museum

[Evoluzione]

I was there a couple of weeks ago too as I have a bit of a liking for steam trains aswell, entry payment wasn't even insinuated and I left a fair amount in the donations box. I think they make their money from the carpark opposite which is an eye watering £9, at the time of parking I didn't realise this so passed by and parked further down the road for a fraction of the cost.

I think it's fair to say some of the Scotsman is there, I saw parts of it in the workshops. On asking why there was no mention of it all in the museum I was met with a bit of an embarrassed 'It's taking a bit longer than we expected' (probably a bit more £££ too) a familiar tale with this train it seems. I wonder why? Was it hard used, with little care, badly restored/repaired or just a delicate machine to begin with? There was a conrod laid there with a huge amount of twist in it!

I enjoyed reading the tales of kids who had seen or been on the trains back in the day, it reminded me of my Dad who got on a train which didn't stop where he lived, he threw his case out of the door and jumped onto the embankment after it!
The absolute enormity of the one (to the right as you walk in) which had been given back to us by the Chinese had me gazing at it for a while.

The death of steam was only natural progression I know, but Beeching should have been drowned at birth I think for what he did to the system.

[Ali Chappussy]

As someone else has said, Flying Scotsman is elsewhere being assessed but there are a few bits of her left at York.

[Wacky Racer]

Evoluzione said:

The death of steam was only natural progression I know, but Beeching should have been drowned at birth I think for what he did to the system.

Rather unfair I feel. Not much point keeping a sleepy branch line open if only five people an hour use it.

Remember in the early sixties many people were starting to be buying cars for the first time, with the advent of the mini etc.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-CSvIhbto4

[Boatbuoy]

Evoluzione said:

I wonder why? Was it hard used, with little care, badly restored/repaired or just a delicate machine to begin with?

With the exception of declaring it delicate (all steam engines require lots of constant attention) I think it's fair to say that all of your points contributed to it's current situation.

At least it's now being properly sorted out.

[RobM77]

YRM is definitely worth a visit, yes.

[Yertis]

Wacky Racer said:

Rather unfair I feel. Not much point keeping a sleepy branch line open if only five people an hour use it.

Remember in the early sixties many people were starting to be buying cars for the first time, with the advent of the mini etc.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-CSvIhbto4

I think the real stupidity (with personal hindsight, although I remember my Dad banging on about this in the 1970s) was not so much the closure of the railways lines but the subsequent disjointing and destruction of the trackbed, making the reopening of routes as and when need arises difficult or impossible. The railway network was/is a strategic asset and should have been respected as such.

[MartG]

A lot of the old trackbeds were also used to build roads

[Yertis]

Weeds and trees can be dealt with fairly easily, for example the Portishead branch not too far from me which was fairly overgrown by the '80s but is now thriving freight line with imminent passenger service. The Tescos, the use for roads, and the business parks are the problem, and the destruction of bridges (while accepting that a lot of them were a bit low, viaducts are fairly irreplaceable).

[shed driver]

Does anyone have any idea what exhibits could be made to run again with a minimum of work?

SD.

[russ_a]

It's not so much dropping a few £££ into a box but the fact that everyone is expected to queue to 'buy' a ticket.

[Boatbuoy]

shed driver said:

Does anyone have any idea what exhibits could be made to run again with a minimum of work?

SD.

Not this one:

[Wacky Racer]

Wacky Racer said:

Rather unfair I feel. Not much point keeping a sleepy branch line open if only five people an hour use it.

Remember in the early sixties many people were starting to be buying cars for the first time, with the advent of the mini etc.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-CSvIhbto4

Yertis said:

I think the real stupidity (with personal hindsight, although I remember my Dad banging on about this in the 1970s) was not so much the closure of the railways lines but the subsequent disjointing and destruction of the trackbed, making the reopening of routes as and when need arises difficult or impossible. The railway network was/is a strategic asset and should have been respected as such.

I take your point, and nobody dislikes the thought of redundant railway lines more than me but:-

Probably ten million more people have cars now, than in the early 60's....

Within five years or so, much of this rail network would have become weed infested, with trees taking root, plus in some cases land has been sold to build housing and industrial estates and suchlike, so it's too late to do anything about it now, for example the line beyond Rawtenstall on the East Lancs railway, a Tesco now occupies the land where the trackbed was situated.

[Evoluzione]

Wacky Racer said:

Probably ten million more people have cars now, than in the early 60's....

Which could be left at home for the Mon - Fri daily commute if we could still catch a train from where we lived.
These once sparsely inhabited areas are now not so, railways are now needed more than ever, it was a very short sighted move. Some of the lines which he earmarked, but were reprieved now handle more passengers and freight than they have ever done.

Parts of the network could have been closed, but only temporarily. The government should have held onto the land as it's now very difficult to find the space to lay them again.

[Zad]

shed driver said:

Does anyone have any idea what exhibits could be made to run again with a minimum of work?

Very few, if any. Even the ones bought from Barry scrapyard to be used for spares have been restored/rebuilt and put into regular service. I imagine any exhibits that could realistically be restored (and thus generate a profit) will have been. Mallard probably could be, but it won't for fear that it would be a "triggers broom" with none of the original machine left.

At the last count, there were at least 3 brand new steam locos under construction, or at least in the later stages of planning. They may well turn out to be cheaper than restoring a pile of rust, with a longer and more reliable lifespan.

http://www.p2steam.com/news/current-news

Its great to see such a diverse range of steam (and, I have to say diesel too) locos restored to full working order now

[Yertis]

Zad said:

Very few, if any. Even the ones bought from Barry scrapyard to be used for spares have been restored/rebuilt and put into regular service. I imagine any exhibits that could realistically be restored (and thus generate a profit) will have been. Mallard probably could be, but it won't for fear that it would be a "triggers broom" with none of the original machine left.

At the last count, there were at least 3 brand new steam locos under construction, or at least in the later stages of planning. They may well turn out to be cheaper than restoring a pile of rust, with a longer and more reliable lifespan.

http://www.p2steam.com/news/current-news

Its great to see such a diverse range of steam (and, I have to say diesel too) locos restored to full working order now

Mallard has been already restored and run hasn't it? I bought Steam Railway yesterday for the first time in many many years, amazing that people are even building a brand new Standard Class 3, which is an unremarkable locomotive IMO. If you're going to all that trouble build something like a Dean Single which at least looks lovely.

[Rich1973]

Yes, Mallard was restored to mainline condition during the 80's.
I remember going to Doncaster to see it on a special.
It was only used for a few years though. Don't know why they didn't fully utilise the 10 year boiler certificate.

[mrmaggit]

Wacky Racer said:

Evoluzione said:

The death of steam was only natural progression I know, but Beeching should have been drowned at birth I think for what he did to the system.

Rather unfair I feel. Not much point keeping a sleepy branch line open if only five people an hour use it.

Remember in the early sixties many people were starting to be buying cars for the first time, with the advent of the mini etc.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-CSvIhbto4

Beeching inadvertently saved the steam railway in this country, nearly all the preserved lines currently open were closed by Beeching. Perhaps there are too many of them, just don't tell the volunteers that!

[Dr G]

I love trains; my girlfriend as a direct result of visits here and the Bluebell now does too.

I reckon it's probably my favourite museum in the UK.

[Elderly]

We went today and i found it extremely impressive and as many have said, it's well worth a visit;
so thanks for the recommendations.

Apart from the impact of the beautiful locomotives ( NO 'designers' involved )
I really enjoyed wondering through all the random stuff in the warehouse.

If I had any criticism it was that the locomotives looked over-restored and shiny looking,
I would have liked to have seen at least a few looking like the way many of them did whilst in everyday operation.

[Zad]

I can imagine how many complaints they would get if they left them dirty! the dirt wouldn't do the paintwork or metal any favours either, but I take your point. The best way to see them is to watch out for any of the steam tours around the country, and pop along to a local station if you see that one is coming through. There is nothing quite like feeling the heat coming off them, smelling the steam, smoke and hot oil, and feeling the ground move as they thunder past. They feel so much more "alive" when doing the job they were built for, rather than being static exhibits.

Have a look here: http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs15.htm