Railpage

 

Question about Rail Societies in general from anywhere

About this thread
 
    •   Search thread   Image gallery
      David Peters Dr Beeching

    Location: "With Hey Boy".
    Not sure if this is the right place to ask this but here goes. When you decide to support a certain railway society or like do you go on the reputation of the society as a whole or do you go by who or what is connected with it. This is in general here as I was asked about it a while back and could not provide an answer to the person who asked.

    I know some societies have rumoured bad names as do some individuals connected with some as well, but just after a general answer, not after names etc on here.

    This was a genuine question asked of me the other day as to why I joined X society instead of Y society and I did not have an answer to it. Your thoughts would be great on this subject as I can then get back to the person who asked it in the first place and hopefully give him some idea's. I have the sneaking impression that the person that asked  me want's to join up somewhere but has heard rumours etc doing the rounds and now cannot make his mind up.

    My own list starts with what was easier to get too as I do not have a car. But after that I was a bit in the dark though. Your thoughts appreciated.
    Posted: 12 Aug 2013 20:21

    Sponsored advertisement

      Bullucked Assistant Commissioner

    In answer to your question, for me personally, location would be the biggest deciding factor. Other things to consider would be the direction in which the organisation is seen to be heading. eg, YVR appear to be heading in the right direction now after many difficult (and previously indifferent) years. WGR are possibly another heading in a good direction but location would make them a very long distance proposition. DSCR reports on here very much give me the itch back to go and do some trackwork but again, location is the overiding factor. I guess, if I knew people that I either liked / respected or vica versa would also influence my decision.
    Posted: 13 Aug 2013 21:24
      Barrington Womble Photo Nazi

    Location: Banned
    Who's involved is the ticket for me, and also what I'm interested in is a deciding factor. I quite happily travelled 159km one way to volunteer my time at one of the groups I was involved with in the past. Egos can make or break a group. Sadly, I have seen egos destroy good groups all too often. I'd rather just enjoy my hobby now, and not get involved with the groups, and the politics that goes with them.
    Posted: 13 Aug 2013 23:28
      andrew1996 Train Controller

    Location: Fremantle
    As I don't have a car or license yet, distance is a very big thing for me, but if I made the decision with a license and a car, it wouldn't really matter. I would say dictators and egos aren't that much of a problem for me either, providing they do not stop me from doing work that would actually help the group. Also, if I weren't in WA and had a choice from more than just two isolated preservation railways, one museum, and no current mainline operators, I would choose the one that has the most work to do, with the least assistance from the government, minimal volunteers etc. because I get my "kick" not from being part of big operations, but making it so that more big operations are possible and I enjoy having something to work towards. Having said that, I feel that the group I am currently with is doing just that.

    Andrew
    Posted: 14 Aug 2013 13:01

    Last edited by andrew1996 on 14 Aug 2013 17:00; edited 1 time in total
      David Peters Dr Beeching

    Location: "With Hey Boy".
    Thanks gentlemen for your replies so far and most are what I considered to be why to join a certain group. I will pass on these replies to the person who asked me about it in the first place. Yes ego's sometimes do get in the way of things at most clubs etc there is always someone that thinks they can do a better job of something, but I have to say this though a lot of the time they will not front up to do the job they criticize though and those that do never see the alternatives to doing it their way. But thanks again for answering the question.
    Posted: 14 Aug 2013 16:49
      trainbrain Chief Commissioner

    Who's involved is the ticket for me, and also what I'm interested in is a deciding factor. I quite happily travelled 159km one way to volunteer my time at one of the groups I was involved with in the past. Egos can make or break a group. Sadly, I have seen egos destroy good groups all too often. I'd rather just enjoy my hobby now, and not get involved with the groups, and the politics that goes with them.
    "Barrington Womble"


    I tend to agree with you, the certain group I volunteered for for so many years (since 1987) just appear to brush you aside, with certain individual (s) appear to be seeking their own Agenda. It now seems or appears likely that they are about to recieve a big size 16 boot in there BACKSIDES.......................
    Posted: 14 Aug 2013 19:21
      GeoffreyHansen Minister for Railways

    Location: In a FAM sleeper
    I generally follow what interests me. I have been criticised for not being in a certain group but it was not what interested me. To me a museum or tourist railway needs to have a story or meaning to it not just a collection of rail vehicles that I cannot relate to.

    I have left a couple of groups because of a lack of an opportunity to participate.
    Posted: 14 Aug 2013 22:58
      Albert Chief Commissioner

    I had the same asked of me a couple of days ago. My choice is based on my personal interests, needs and location. I'm into trikes, I need to run them, GCHR is the closest group. This despite being less than 100metres from another group.

    There are no good or bad groups, just good and bad people that are in them. The latter would not put me off joining a group if it accommodated my primary interest.
    Posted: 14 Aug 2013 23:22
      jayrail Assistant Commissioner

    Location: te Anau Southern Alps NZ
    savour what you can ;rail heritage is struggling all over OZ
    love to hear good news.
    Posted: 22 Aug 2013 18:01
      xxxxlbear Token Booking Clerk

    Location: Geelong
    1. Location relevant to where one lives.
    I rely on public transport so easy access to the railway by PT is a major concern. When I lived in the big smoke, I used to travel from the SW western suburbs to a railway in eastern Melbourne, but since moving to Geelong, the 'commute' became just to much, and now I volunteer at a railway which is only a ~60 minute bus ride from Geelong.
    There are others though who regularly (by that I mean at least 1ce a month) volunteer at the railway that I am currently with who live on the other side of Melbourne, and that quite often means for them a 2 hour + drive each way per shift.

    2. Type of railway.
    I absolutely no interest in minature railways or model railways.

    Who volunteers or works at a railway is of no relevance to me as I know no one in the railway preservation industry other than who I volunteer with. Having said that, I was tossing up recently whether to volunteer at SRHC, but considering another current thread concerning SRHC in this fine web site, I have opted not to reasons not relevant to this thread. This has been the only time that I have considered whether to donate my time, and money, for a railway or not, and decided that my energies can be better spent elsewhere.
    Posted: 22 Aug 2013 18:32

    Last edited by xxxxlbear on 22 Aug 2013 18:33; edited 2 times in total
      QSB6.7 Chief Train Controller

    Location: Going off the rails on a crazy train.
    I went to and even become a member of the local TR.  Chosen due to being local.
    Unfortunately, they were not welcoming to my nine year old coming with me.
    Shame, as he loved coming with me to help out.

    EDIT:  This led me not to renew my membership, stop attending working bees and workshop days.
    Posted: 22 Aug 2013 18:37

    Last edited by QSB6.7 on 22 Aug 2013 20:09; edited 1 time in total
      andrew1996 Train Controller

    Location: Fremantle
    I went to and even become a member of the local TR.  Chosen due to being local.
    Unfortunately, they were not welcoming to my nine year old coming with me.
    Shame, as he loved coming with me to help out.

    EDIT:  This led me not to renew my membership, stop attending working bees and workshop days.
    QSB6.7
    Can't you see though why a nine year old would be a hazard at a tourist railway?
    Posted: 22 Aug 2013 20:19
      QSB6.7 Chief Train Controller

    Location: Going off the rails on a crazy train.
    Can't you see though why a nine year old would be a hazard at a tourist railway?
    andrew1996
    Yes, I can.

    But, as with every thing it was the delivery.
    Posted: 22 Aug 2013 20:26

    Sponsored advertisement

    •   Search thread   Image gallery

    Subscribers: andrew1996, Boss, Bullucked, xxxxlbear

    Display from:   

    Quick Reply

    We've disabled Quick Reply for this thread as it was last updated more than six months ago.

      Reply