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John Stirzaker posted an update
3 weeks ago (edited)
Inspiration Train - Not what it says on the tin sides
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I wasn’t sure what I expected from the ‘Inspiration Train’, now standing at Bolton Street Station in Bury. Inspired? Maybe — but to do what?
All I can say is that, for me, it closed a very disappointing year marking the 200th anniversary of the opening of the S&DR. Maybe I expected too much, and perhaps I remember the 150th anniversary being far better marked than this one. The very dull S&DR 200 logo, that failed to reflect anything rail related, should perhaps have been a clue to the poor efforts that have characterised the event over the past year.
People will point to the ‘Gathering’, which I am sure was very good, but the rapid sale of tickets — for an event nowhere near the birthplace of the railways — ensured that only a handful of people got to see it, and I suspect it was mainly appreciated by subscribers to this wonderful website rather than the wider public.
As I said, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The converted carriages clearly showed the influence of the Science Museum Group in their exhibition style: minimalist, starting with the ancient Greeks, rushing through to Stockton, and then barely touching on the rest of railway history — although it did dwell on the first railway fatality and on a Victorian disaster involving heavy loss of life.
Even the model of the tunnel-boring machine failed to inspire, except to make me wonder why it was there at all. It failed to point out it had evolved from a machine designed by Brunel for men to operate.
On the positive side, it was good that the ELR hosted this. Bolton Street is a beautifully preserved station, and in many ways it may have been the real beneficiary of the touring exhibition. Our heritage railways remain shining examples of how to promote and nurture a love of railways, something the exhibition itself struggled to achieve.
The last two carriages were dedicated to careers — which is no bad thing — and who wouldn’t want to be a ‘camera operator’ and fly the latest drone, which was on display?
“It ended what, for me, has been a very poor way to mark an important landmark in our history. I hope things improve in four years’ time with the 200th anniversary of the Rainhill Trials and the construction of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. But for a nation that now struggles to build major projects, and a Science Museum Group that seems more focused on interactive play, than historical storytelling, I have little confidence that 2030 will be any better.”
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Charles Hall, TaylPSteam and 3 others3 Comments-
I visited the Inspiration train at Litchurch Lane during the Greatest Gathering and rather enjoyed the interactive elements, probably because I’m still a kid at heart and love playing. Saw several youngsters engaging and having fun with them too, which felt like a validation of the approach taken in the design of the exhibition.
I thought it did a decent job of showing that a wide range of skills are relevant to railways: it’s not just about building and driving trains.
The problem of how to get the younger generation interested in and excited by railways is a tricky one. The heritage rail industry can’t rely on nostalgia and simply retaining existing customers: we need to innovate and find new ways to drive engagement and footfall, especially targeting families and young people because ultimately they will be the ones who either keep things going or let them fade away.
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Firstly, Its ‘hats off’ to them that did a beautiful paint job on them coaches! But doe’s the general public yet know how this little Island once led the worlds new Rail network to ease such goods and passenger from off of our overcrowded Main road and motorway system! We seemed to loose our way when diesel was introduced! We seem to loose our innovation in modern times? Where have all the thinkers gone? Them that Patent good ideas? To be the industrialist top dogs again! I bet a Banksy carriage would of exchanged his white Dove and feather of peace for a Imaginative roar of achievement and new innovation for the future? I don’t spose there’s a dwelling in the land not dependant on a Japanese or Chinees imported gadget?
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I still don’t understand why there was no cavalcade like the Rail 150 event. I avoided the Derby event because railways are about movement, not static displays.
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