Heritage Railway Magazine 255 - 07 June 2019 Back Issue

As we reported last issue, the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) was dealt a major blow by the £80,000 damage inflicted on five rail vehicles in the latest in a series of vandal attacks, and the West Somerset Railway has also had coach windows smashed.

Then there was the beyond belief appalling destruction in May of a complete model railway exhibition at Stamford in Lincolnshire,which prompted more than £100,000 in donations from people all across the globe, including £10,000 from rock legend Rod Stewart.

The public have been magnanimous in their response, butwhyshould either they or the victims have to stump up a single penny?

The powers that be should take steps to ensure that the culprits, or those who have legal responsibility for them, should foot the entire bill,whether it be by way of outright compensation orders, tax penalties on earnings or even benefit cuts or meaningful community service orders.

Deliberate damage to a heritage railway is no less serious than that caused to any historic site, be it a church, castle, ancient monument or stately
home, and is tantamount to an attack on society as a whole.

Deterrents must be guaranteed to be effective.