Another message from Doc G to the good citizens of Gurnshire:
" further to my suggestions about the idea of a miniature railway running along the seafront, I still think it is an excellent idea even if I say so myself, but I do see problems that might occur , although if this does go ahead. I don't think steam is the power I would use. I have had a couple of suggestions from a couple of folk who are quite excited about this idea and that the train does not need to run on tracks it could run on wheels and I have also been informed by someone who has been on one of these that they really don't take up much room whatsoever and also having no tracks to run on there is plenty scope as to where to take folk on there wee journey apart from along the seafront of which of course is a must for a part of this journey, what a dam good idea and one I am sure the holiday makers would thoroughly enjoy. I am willing to go full steam ahead with this project and see it to the end ..... anyone with me ?"
regards the Doc
Cancel the holiday to Disneyland! The family is back to spending our holiday in Nairn, if we're going to get a ride in a miniature train.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't though a train that runs on the road without tracks, just be a bus? Afterall, London has had bendy buses for years, as has large airports.
Will the miniature, miniature Eiffel tower get built on the seafront as well?
A train with wheels! Whatever next, might help them run on time though
ReplyDeletePerhaps the doc could tell the good folk of Edinburgh about his train that doesn't need track, it could save them a good few million
ReplyDeleteIf somewan could chust paint a Thomas the Tank Engine face on the new Fishertoon bus, the new train wud be here, needs a few passengers though
ReplyDeletelets book next years holiday now so we can go away for the whole of the summer season.
ReplyDeletethen we will not be subjected to this embarressment!
Are we going to jump out of the way to avoid it if it comes along the prom? look on the bright side though,if it hits you ,you can claim compensation.
So, a ROAD TRAIN is proposed. This may be a sensible proposal.
ReplyDeleteI've seen these used at large exhibition sites to take those not wishing to walk longer distances around. They seem quite efficient, and don't cause any real obstruction, though the driving of them seems a skilled art.
Off the cuff, I would have thought they couldn't be used on the public highway. But I saw one in use at Shanklin, Isle of Wight, in 2009. From the timetable, it did a run from the beach, up quite a long hill to the town centre, a supermarket, and the railway station (I think), using just the normal roads.
It seemed to be well used, but of course it may have been a free service paid for by the council, to encourage summer visitors
to park their cars.
Now that's a thought for Nairn!
This is the Nice one, and having seen it, it is actually quite nice, and popular too !.... http://www.trainstouristiquesdenice.com/en/plan-d-acces-au-petit-train-nice.php
ReplyDeleteRoad train (??) or bend bus, whatever you want to brand it so it doesn't sound old fashioned or quaint.
ReplyDeleteAs long us us taxpayers aren't funding it. We have enough financial burden these days, without funding some gimmicky hobby some individual hopes to make money on, at our
expense.
If a sound business plan can be produced and pass serious audit, there might be a project here. However if not, it's a pipedream or at worse, a doomed enterprise.
Think right now, would it gain investment in the Dragon's Den? If not, dream on.
They can be used on the public highway. London has had them for years. They're called bendy buses. Airports also use them with multiple coaches on roads.
ReplyDeleteI love it!! What a wonderful surreal idea. Will it have a licensed bar and/or cute men selling snax & fizzy pop?
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous Numbers Five and Six.
ReplyDeleteWe're at cross-purposes here. Normally a road vehicle can only legally tow ONE trailer.
London's 'bendy' buses come into that category. The trailer wheels are set close together in the centre of the vehicle, and I believe don't 'steer', and some of the trailer weight is carried by the powered vehicle. This is so that they can get round tight corners without taking out other vehicles and street furniture.
The 'Road Train' concept is slightly different. A set of very short-wheelbase trailers, say six or so in number each carrying four to six passengers, and having a wheel at each corner, are close-coupled behind the towing tractor, which usually has a mock-up steam loco outline. The front wheels of each trailer are free to steer left or right to allow the 'train' to get round corners.
As I said before, driving them looks a rather skilled job!
I feel it would only work if it was a free service. Can you imagine collecting fares on one, as it goes along?
The good doctor should ignore the sarcasm and negativity of some of the commentators on here and give it a go.
ReplyDeletePeople probably thought Dr G was stark raving mad first time around with his new fangled 'salt water bathing' fad, but hey, Nairn still trades on it 100 years later, so what's to lose.
The train in Nice runs, without any problems, right along the Promenade des Anglais which is a wee bit busier than the prom at Nairn ever gets, the driver just rings his wee bell and folk get out of the way - no big deal.
I've just remembered where else I've seen one, and it was in Paris where it runs right up through Montmartre to the Sacre Coeur, so hills are nae bother...
http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/kid-friendly-montmartre-sacre-coeur-dali-museum-co/
In Nairn, it could run right along the prom, up through the West End and round by the High Street and back through Fishertown to the Harbour, giving tourists a view of the whole town.
please keep it off the prom and the west end and fishertown.. go away up the riverside or somewhere out of town..It will ruin any attraction the prom has for people just now.
ReplyDeleteYork's National Railway Museum has one.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nrm.org.uk/planavisit/events/roadtrain.aspx
I'm In!
what happens when it rains if its an open vehicle, remembering tht it usually rains 4 out oh 7 days here
ReplyDeleteThere could be plastic headscarves supplied and applied by cute men. Pookie here by the way, I've just published my shortie collection of very short dark and horribly funny short stories: Cheeky Devil. My nom de plombe is Jane Harkiss - I know, bit unimaginative, but believable, I feel, Check it out:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005F3U3YK - enjoy!
Nice to see a local writer getting all kindled up Cheeky :-)
ReplyDeleteNext to appear on the annals (?!) of Amazon Kindle is an exclusive TEEN SERIES entitled 'WYKKYD'.
ReplyDelete1st episode due out any day now. In a nutshell, it's like the Power Rangers and Highlander meet The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo down a dark alley, in order to do battle with an evil shape shifter going by the name of 'Raymond Burr'.
Unmissable!
As long as the council aren't expected to automatically bankrole this idea, then crack on with it Grigor. I want my council tax to go to essential services.
ReplyDeleteUs Gurns will support any enterprising businessman. Just don't expect all council tax payers to each pay for someone else's profit.