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| Bognor Regis & Littlehampton; An interesting newspaper article! | |
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| Topic Started: 16 Sep 2006, 12:33 PM (3,692 Views) | |
| penrose | 16 Sep 2006, 12:33 PM Post #1 |
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Taken from http://www.theargus.co.uk/search/display.v..._attraction.php Council ‘mafia’ forces closure of tourist attraction Traders are blaming a council for the loss of a tourist attraction after it demanded a cut of the profits made by a children's train ride. They said the council's demands lost a seaside town a lure for visitors and the nearby shops and cafes their trade. Arun District Council has been criticised for demanding ten per cent of turnover from at least two miniature train rides in the area. Kevin McCluskey, owner of Diddlys train, said he was forced to close his track at Hotham Park, Bognor, and move to Brooklands boating lake in Lancing, where he deals with Worthing Borough Council instead. He said: "Basically they wanted ten per cent of gross and a considerable amount of money upfront. "It was our second year there and it's a great shame because we love Bognor. The only people to suffer are the kids. "The council shot themselves in the foot. They said they'd charge me £100 a day." Mr McCluskey moved the track to Lancing where he said the firm had a good season. He said: "It's worked out fantastically. We've got the cafe and boating lake and we're opening the play barn. In Bognor we were getting our drinking water from the gents' loos." Zoran Bilbik, who runs the cafe in Hotham Park, said the closure of the railway had jeopardised trade. He said: "This is some kind of mafia and it's affecting my business because there are no attractions left in the park. I'm 30 percent down on last year's takings." A spokesman for the council said it was negotiating for a replacement operator. However, Colin Evans, owner of the Littlehampton miniature railway, said he was also in an ongoing dispute over the council's demands for money. He said: "The council are giving me a lot of hassle, wanting more money but I'm sticking around. I took this over with my wife and lost her three years ago to cancer. The train is called Lady Barbara in her memory so I've got big ties to it. "Discussions are still going on with the council. No one's going to turf me out." A council spokesman said: "Mr McCluskey took over the remainder of a licence from a previous train operator. "A proper lease needed to be entered into and Mr McCluskey was offered one but declined to enter into it. "However, the council is negotiating with an interested party and is confident a miniature train will be operating in Hotham Park from the beginning of next year's tourist season. |
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Charles O'Mahoney Penrose Light Railway, Cornwall | |
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| peterbryant | 16 Sep 2006, 01:41 PM Post #2 |
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I've seen this article, good to hear Chris is still running Littlehapmton, I thought it had closed. I hope the railway comes back to Hotham in not such a commercial form (ie Diddlys Train) |
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Peter Bryant MRW Webmaster and Admin Railway Web Services - http://www.railwaywebservices.co.uk MRW Hosted by 1&1 | |
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| colinpeake | 18 Sep 2006, 08:01 PM Post #3 |
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I had never realised that Bognor and Littlehampton came under the same local authority, but obviously someone at Arun District Council thinks miniature railways are a license to print money (which they are not!). I presume that the Diddlys train  is on the existing track at Brooklands, so why the hurry to lift the Bognor line? Was the track owned by the operator or council?Colin |
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Colin Peake MRW Digest Editor Miniature Railways - Colin Peake's Photos | |
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| peterbryant | 18 Sep 2006, 08:35 PM Post #4 |
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Diddlys is now definetly at Bogner. I think the Operator owned the railway
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Peter Bryant MRW Webmaster and Admin Railway Web Services - http://www.railwaywebservices.co.uk MRW Hosted by 1&1 | |
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| MTA | 22 Oct 2006, 05:12 PM Post #5 |
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I live near these railways. The Hotham Railway was owned by the council, but was leased to the Diddlys. There was a lot of dispute with the McCluskeys, as they did a few things to upset the council e.g. built a Halloween castle without Planning Permission, and once put up temporary roofs on the carriages. The train braked suddenly and the roofs moved forwards and collapsed onto the FULL train, injuring two children <_< I have a personal connection with the Littlehampton line as my dad used to own it, if only he had kept it
 I think this line suffers alot from vandalism, last time I went on it, it was £5 for a return
 and the tunnel was covered in graffiti. Although the stcok is more presentable than it was, it is now a nice shade of red and blue, instead of pink and yellow
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"If the fascination engendered by locomotion at the present day is so intense, the attractive powers of locomotion in miniature must of necessity be greater still" W.J. Bassett-Lowke. August 1911 | |
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| peterbryant | 22 Oct 2006, 05:14 PM Post #6 |
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£5 for a return????
Goodness me. Interesting to hear about events down near you MTA.
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Peter Bryant MRW Webmaster and Admin Railway Web Services - http://www.railwaywebservices.co.uk MRW Hosted by 1&1 | |
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| MTA | 22 Oct 2006, 05:21 PM Post #7 |
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Apparently theres been a few interested parties for the Hotham site, but as yet no takers. Mainly due to the fact that the Diddly man (as he's known in local miniature railway circles) lifted the track even though it wasn't his to take
The previous leasers were building a 10 1/4 inch S.R.&R.L. steam loco and were in agreement with the McCluskeys that they could continue building it there until it was finished. But as soon as the McCluskeys took ownership they booted him out
Plus they canabalised the diesel loco for that hideous fibreglass loco
I know alot of this controversy as I was at the Bognor Model Railway Clubs annual dinner, and I was sharing a table with someone who was on the Hotham Regeneration Council, and myself, her and my friend who knew the previous owners spoke on the subject for more than an hour
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"If the fascination engendered by locomotion at the present day is so intense, the attractive powers of locomotion in miniature must of necessity be greater still" W.J. Bassett-Lowke. August 1911 | |
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| peterbryant | 22 Oct 2006, 05:38 PM Post #8 |
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How very interesting. I think Jack Huddell used to own it did he not? The Diddlys train is a horrible thing and I much preferred the previous one like you! Lion used to run there aswell, but a Sandy River would have been such a good idea. You can see that it is a very commercial based line. This is what will happen down at Brooklands. |
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Peter Bryant MRW Webmaster and Admin Railway Web Services - http://www.railwaywebservices.co.uk MRW Hosted by 1&1 | |
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| MTA | 22 Oct 2006, 05:49 PM Post #9 |
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Jack Huddell was the previous owner, I just couldn't remember his name. Luckily, the Severn Lamb Western got away from the McCluskeys, Joe Nemeth bought it for his Berkeley Railway, where it will reappear in BR Blue. The Western was in such a bad state angle iron was used to keep the wheels on their axles
By the way, what is "Lion"?
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"If the fascination engendered by locomotion at the present day is so intense, the attractive powers of locomotion in miniature must of necessity be greater still" W.J. Bassett-Lowke. August 1911 | |
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| peterbryant | 22 Oct 2006, 06:04 PM Post #10 |
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Lion is the name of the engine that was in the film Titfield Thunderbolt. The engine can be seen at this page at the bottom: http://www.lcvrs.org.uk/album-32.htm A replica of this engine was built by Jack and operated at Bognor for a time and also visited Poole Park. Last I heard it was at the private Manor Railway at Ingfield Manor. |
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Peter Bryant MRW Webmaster and Admin Railway Web Services - http://www.railwaywebservices.co.uk MRW Hosted by 1&1 | |
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| penrose | 22 Oct 2006, 06:18 PM Post #11 |
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Would Lion be the model of the Liverpool & Manchester(?) 0-4-2 Lion that was built by Jack Huddell and tested at Poole, now resident I believe in someone's living room? The SR&RL steam loco from Bognor was sold on part built and is now down here in Cornwall, completed around a month or two ago and now resident around 20 miles from Penrose. She was completed by a chap called John Ley who works at Launceston Steam Rly - he had been looking for a steam loco for his private line for some time, and bought the Maxi Lucky 7 in late 2004/early 2005. Need to get my visit there organised, was waiting really for his steamer to be finished... Characters such as the McCluskeys are always interesting in our world, and I presume most in the area "wouldn't touch him with a barge pole", much like a certain character in Devon? |
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Charles O'Mahoney Penrose Light Railway, Cornwall | |
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| MTA | 22 Oct 2006, 07:03 PM Post #12 |
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ahh, that Lion. It is still at Ingfield (I saw it run there a couple of years ago), miniscule thing that is more like the size of a 7 1/4 loco. Have you got a picture of the completed article penrose? |
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"If the fascination engendered by locomotion at the present day is so intense, the attractive powers of locomotion in miniature must of necessity be greater still" W.J. Bassett-Lowke. August 1911 | |
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| penrose | 23 Oct 2006, 03:46 PM Post #13 |
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No photos yet I'm afraid...in time maybe! Have applied for the pack from Bognor re: Hotham Park Railway out of curiosity more than any thing else. |
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Charles O'Mahoney Penrose Light Railway, Cornwall | |
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| peterbryant | 23 Oct 2006, 03:59 PM Post #14 |
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You've applied for the pack! That's great news. I hope you get it if you apply for it! The line at Hotham has alot of potential if used correctly, can imagine Bree pulling some open stock there now.
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Peter Bryant MRW Webmaster and Admin Railway Web Services - http://www.railwaywebservices.co.uk MRW Hosted by 1&1 | |
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| MTA | 23 Oct 2006, 04:06 PM Post #15 |
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If you got it Charles would you move into this area? I know someone who would be willing to help out :rolleyes: |
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"If the fascination engendered by locomotion at the present day is so intense, the attractive powers of locomotion in miniature must of necessity be greater still" W.J. Bassett-Lowke. August 1911 | |
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