Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Holiday festival of steam crashes

Ian Herbert,Daisy Price
Monday 07 August 2000 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Britain's lack of appreciation for its industrial heritage is being blamed for the crash of a celebration of the nation's railways which would have been one of the largest outdoor events in Europe this year.

Britain's lack of appreciation for its industrial heritage is being blamed for the crash of a celebration of the nation's railways which would have been one of the largest outdoor events in Europe this year.

The Millennium Cavalcade of Steam was to have brought 40 of the world's finest locomotives, such as Stephenson's Rocket, Flying Scotsman and Mallard, to the North-east.

The £3m, August Bank Holiday cavalcade, to mark the 175th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway - Britain's first passenger line - took three years to plan and needed to attract 160,000 people to break even. In the event only 20,000 tickets were sold before an investor withdrew an offer of £150,000. The Rail 2000 company set up to stage the event has since crashed with losses of £700,000 and is currently being liquidated.

Amid severe recriminations, some financial backers are now privately accusing Rail 2000 and its chairman David Champion of overpricing tickets. Mr Champion has accused two local councils of failing to offer adequate financial support and undermining the event by planning alternative celebrations.

On the basis of the last cavalcade, 25 years ago, Rail 2000's visitor projections were conservative. Around 350,000 attended that event and as many as 240,000 had been anticipated this time.

Robin Jones, editor of Railway Heritage magazine, said: "Steam engines were more of a attraction in 1975. Now there is a whole generation of people whose only associations with steam are Thomas the Tank Engine. I believe the ticket prices deterred all but the hardcore enthusiasts."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in