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Imagine you are responsible for a heritage railway.  How much do you 'preserve' and run as the line was in its prime, and how much do you update to modern tastes, practicallity or requirements?  Please select those items you think should be "just as they always were".  I have marked the "old way" with (*) in each case - please check boxes to select that option.

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Grahame

As a long time supporter of one, I think you would have to add to your assumptions "and were not subject to the severe financial constraints that result in the sector living a hand to mouth existence just to survive "

Yes, please vote on the basis of the ideal that you would desire.  Business needs would then mean some compromise from "what we want" to "what we can actually achieve".

I found this a bit hard to follow! I think I just voted for retaining standard gauge (and nothing else!); I would have liked to be able to vote for electrification!

As I've said elsewhere, I would keep the scenery just as it is, and only make minor safety updates to stations. Other than that, for the most part I'd rather have a train service than a museum.

Some options are not in reality "either/or" ones. Take bullhead rail and wooden sleepers as an example. Some heritage lines use them within the stations and their approaches but use concrete sleepers and CWT "out of sight".

I have just voted having read Graham's clarification.

To be fair to the sector quite a few upgrades ( admittedly mostly the cheaper and essential ones) seem widespread such as gift shops, high visibility clothing for many staff and card payments. It's the big ticket capital items particularly rolling stock, track and signalling that are the challenge.

Perhaps there will soon be a number of little used (after conversion) 769s available for diesel days services that do at least tick some of the modern rolling stock compliance boxes.  But will they be as reliable as 1950/60s first generation stock  ::)

Ideally one would like all the asterixed items but as the quotes above show there are things which need updating.

I think the hardest part of running a heritage line,  particularly the longer ones like the West Somerset, Severn Valley and North York Moors is ongoing maintenance of the track, signals, locos (steam and diesel)
, rollingstock and buildings. Network Rail struggles with maintenance on the national railway.

I am involved in a very short line <1 mile and maintenance is an ongoing problem. So if something requires replacement it makes sense to replace it with something more modern especialy as it may not be possible to get an original part.

Thus heritage lines will evolve, they can't be preserved in aspic.

Who knows in another 100+ years time parts of  HS2 might be a heritage line.

Good topic.

Staverton station is a wonderfully atmospheric rural platform set in stunning scenery.

But for my tastes it’s compromised by the large amount of rolling station to be found in the sidings that run parallel to the single running line (some of which is decidedly tatty and out of character).

But then I’m not the one having to balance the demands of running the line

I have no objection to a little modernisation when this detracts very little from the general experience.
No objection to electric lighting in place of oil for signals (remembering though that oil may be cheaper in some locations)
Modern communications are very useful for emergencies, but the old ways preferable for day to day operation.
Colour light signals only if not in sight from stations.
A flashing tail lamp just looks wrong though, oil tail lamps or GOOD fakes needed.

A pet dislike of mine is a modern generating set under the buffet car, makes a very non-heritage noise.

Staff should dress in a traditional way when on view. No bright green warehouse coats on the platform at Minehead please.

I want to be able to pull levers to signal the trains.  But when I'm on my break, I can switch on the ARS which tells a robot arm which lever to pull.

The things you most want to retain as they were
- Manned Signal Boxes (62%)
- Slam Doors (52%)
- Edmonson Tickets (52%)
- Original Gauge (52%)
- Gated level crossings (48%)

The thing which you least want to retain are
- Exact original loops and layout (5%)
- Oil lamps rather that electric (5%)
- Male staff only in track operational roles (5%)
- Booking only by post or in person (none of this newfangled internet booking) (5%)

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You weren't very keen on some other things from olden times either, such as:
- Flush onto track
- Infrequent trains
- Cash or cheque - not debit or credit card
- Correct stock for line only
- No gift Shop
- Original prices
- No museum
but you would also like to keep:
- Green flag dispatch
- Guards on all trains
- Semaphone signals
- and "tough" if you are delayed (so no delay repay!)

Voting by a small, self-selected group (after all, this is on the heritage board of what in a mainstream public transport board) but looking at this it really makes you think, doesn't it?

I am surprised that anyone voted for "exact original loops and layout" Original from what year ? most routes evolved very considerably.

Re post #8, I have had a private communication from the wearer of the distinctly  non heritage bright green overall coats that offended my eyes. Such garments will be confined to the workshop in future.

BTW I donated them to the railway, because they shrank in storage and no longer fitted me. A bit like the trousers of a respected member.