For information, the Company and Trust boards have jointly agreed that there are three underlying principles to which we are working, and how we wish to present ourselves:
1. show what would have been seen in the period 1920-1950 (this would be predominantly steam).
2. focus on industrial and minor railways.
3. a North East of England focus with items used or built in NE.
This doesn't mean that everything must fit all of these three - but new items to be acquired will be more closely scrutinised. For example, the Trust passed on the loan of the 1968-built Barclay diesel 'FGF', which used to work in Cumbria, to the SRPS at Falkirk - it is a much better fit with their collections policy - and we still have their Black Hawthorn 'City of Aberdeen' on loan. Nor do the principles only apply to rolling stock in the collection - for example, we have a policy of not wearing high visibility vests, and we would encourage everyone to wear period clothing. Also, our buildings are typical of local industrial or minor railways up to the early 1900s - new buildings will have a period look, use suitable materials, and have an appropriate roof pitch.
If you have any comments, please talk with any of the directors, or email your comments to be forwarded.
