Greg said:
"Are not most of the UK train rides considered "Heritage Railways"! I think so!!!!
Does it matter who rides the trains as long as they run and sell tickets. Why beat up the few railfans that are out there. We need all the help we can get from all camps the way I see it!
And to Rich Muth. How do you tell a railfan from a general rider. Of course the ones with foam coming out of both sides of their mouth are railfans, but most fans I know are more normal than you think. I get real tired of everyone beating up on fans for one reason or another. After all its the fans who do some of the special things, like charters, etc. Also many fans do come back to a railroad, unlike Gavin suggested. I started going to Colorado in 1954, and until 1989 never made it past there to the west coast.
Does foreign travel to see steam make me a freak! I hope not. I learned more on those steam trips about those countries than I would have on a tour bus!
I find it distasteful that many folks who work on the tourist trains have this outward dislike for railfans. If thats the case its no wonder many don't want to go back for a second visit!!!
No offense intented to anyone...just opinions on my part on comments by others. "
My response point by point:
1. Hanging a label of "Heritage Railway" upon any line does not pay the bills - the number of people through the gate spending money does........
2. No it doesn't matter who rides the trains but from a marketing point of view if $1000 spent in the fan press will get another 1000 riders and the same $1000, if spent in a caravanning magazine, will get 2000 riders what is the best use of $1000?
3. I'm not anti railfan but I am anti the obnoxious ones. I am an active preservationist in the UK, (but not as active as previous years because of a very big (read a $100 million) project I'm working on, which means I can't volunteer for footplate duties as my movements are subject to sudden changes until it is completed - about October. I get a lot of satisfaction helping out anyone who takes an interest but I'm totally pissed off with rounding up railfans who think that fences, barriers and KEEP OUT OR YOU WILL BE KILLED signs do not apply to them. Basically be nice to me and you might get a footplate ride - demand one and you can take a running jump off a short pier!
4. Foreign travel broadens the mind........you've done more than most to publicise foreign steam to the US railfan and the fact that it hasn't been as succesful as it deserves to be is their unfortunate loss.
5. I refer you to my comment #3.
G