HONEYBOURNE: HONEYPOT OR HONEYTRAP?

From a fairly early stage, our railway preservation movement has been geared towards extensions. First, we set out simply to save existing railways – but as we gained confidence and support, we looked to expand those railways, and then to start up entirely new lines on long-abandoned trackbeds.

It is probably fair to say that the vast majority of heritage lines at some time and in some form or another have harboured an idea for an extension, even if not a full-blown plan. And understandably so. After all, our movement can only survive and thrive by inspiring and motivating the army of volunteers who are its lifeblood. Having such ambitions – even if those volunteers know in their heart of hearts that it’s a very long-term aspiration at best – can do that.

But we are now entering a very different era of preservation. An era in which the shock of a global pandemic and almost losing the gem that is the Llangollen Railway have reminded us all how fortunate we are to have what we’ve got. An era in which the ever-increasing costs of restorations, overhauls and operations and a diminishing base of ageing volunteers raises the question of whether we can continue to maintain what we have. An era when, in the face of growing environmental concerns, our use of coal and oil-burning machines will be subject to ever greater scrutiny – and it will get ever more expensive and difficult to source that fuel.

In short, an era where, just because a heritage line can extend, does not necessarily mean it should.

So what do you do when you already have a comfortably long railway (some might argue already too long), running through beautiful scenery and linking two popular tourist destinations, but someone offers you another 4½miles of trackbed that will give you a main line connection and may potentially bring in even more