PART TWO
In part two of our exclusive feature, Vintage Trains Charitable Trust Chairman Michael Whitehouse takes a hard look at our heritage lines, and asks: where our sector is heading?
In part one of our interview with Michael Whitehouse, we discussed his views on main line steam – arguably the stamping ground he is best known for. This time we turn the spotlight on the smaller side of things – our heritage railways. Michael also knows a thing or two about these, having begun his volunteering career on the Dart Valley Railway, aged 18, helping re-assemble 0 ‐ 4‐2T No. 1450’s valve gear at Ashburton, graduating to work on the Ffestiniog in his university years, then becoming a fireman on the Welshpool & Llanfair, before returning to the FR as a lawyer, director and chairman of the company.
As this magazine has said, the industry is at a crossroads – whether it be volunteer numbers, the impact of Covid, coal shortages, or just the need to bring in cold hard cash and remain solvent.
As with the wider network, Michael’s views are firm, and to that extent we ask him the obvious question to lead with – just what are his views on the future of our heritage railways and what are the problems?
“Well, they’re lovely, they’re desirable and they bring benefits to lots of people – but there’s some deep problems. There’s been a dramatic shift in how people think and behave since the first preserved railway, the Talyllyn, was founded 70 years ago. Heritage railways need to recognise that, move with the times and adapt.
“Let’s look at some examples and what others say. Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway: It’s a tourist and visitor business with a very serious side running a railway and it pays great attention to heritage. Any other formula won’t work unless there’s a very rich benefactor willing to burn revenue subsidy. Whatever anyone says about Beeching, that’s why all these railways close in the first place, and the economics haven’t altered; just got worse.
“Spot on. Two other views. Gus Dunster, the Severn Valley Railway’s Managing Director opines: The pre-Covid business model for heritage railways is no longer viable and we need to ensure we have other commercial activities in place to support our core activity of running heritage trains.
“Lastly, the Honorary Treasurer’s annual report for the Talyllyn Railway, the original volunteer ‐run preserved railway, makes the position crystal clear: We are facing significant increases in costs across the board, and no ready means of increasing net income to offset it. It seems the financial model that has
