Today is a momentous day for the Bluebell Railway in Sussex. Public services will run into East Grinstead from the south for the first time in 55 years. A quarter of a century since the first rails were laid on the Bluebell's "Northern Extension" project, the full 6 miles are now open. Having lived near the line for many years and been a volunteer for a short while in my teenage years, I have long had a soft spot for the BLuebell, and have followed the progress on the extension with great interest so may I offer my congratulations to all concerned. It has been a particularly challenging undertaking, especially the removal of over 100,000 tons of domestic waste which was dumped in a cutting. Regrettably, I won't be travelling on the opening day, due to other commitments, but with a few days' holiday booked over Easter, I'm looking forward to going down to Sussex to travel on this new stretch of line for the first time.
The Bluebell Railway was the first standard gauge "heritage" operation on a former British Rail branch line. It first started operation between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes in August 1960 with two locomotives and two carriages. Since then, its rolling stock collection has increased significantly, and many similar lines have spring up all over the country. Some carry over 200,000 passengers each year, and have grown so big that they need to supplement their volunteer workforce with upwards of 50 paid staff.
Why has nostalgia become such big business? Part of the answer, dare I say it, is that it is a pleasant escape into a gentler age from the harshness of modern life. Of course, one mustn't look at the past through rose-tinted spectacles. Pete Waterman, the pop impresario who owns a few steam locos himself, has rightly pointed out that for all the charm of these ancient machines, he'd rather catch a 125 mph Pendolino when he needs to travel from his home in the north west down to London. One can see his point, which can be made even more forcefully when the nostalgia business in question takes you back to Victorian times or earlier. Who would want to cross the Atlantic today in one of the poky little cabins in Brunel's splendidly-restored SS Great Britain? - or live in a draughty, cold mediaeval castle in authentic 13th century condition?
However, the 1950s cameo rpresented in the picture above (although it was actually taken in November 2011), depicts a period still within the lifetime of many millions of people. By then we had suffered the 1945-51 Labour Attlee government, with its widespread programme of nationalisation, but the tax take of 30% or so was lower than today. Furthermore, British society was far more cohesive. Divorce and cohabitation was rare. Most children lived with their natural parents. In 1946, 40% of all children were sent ot Sunday School. Multiculturalism and political correctness were unheard of. Support for a free press was virtually universal. Winston Churchill was adamant that Britain would not be joining the Common Market.
Of course, some areas of life have improved since then, notably the medical world where huge advances have been made for which we must all be grateful, but how much better life would be today were it not for the damage influcted by the corrosive anti-Christian legislation that began with Roy Jenkins and which reached its peak under Tony Blair. We can't turn the clock back to the age of steam, enjoyable as a bit of nostalgia can be at times, but we can and must pray for a great revival in our nation that will bring its leaders to repentance and exalt once again the Bible's place in determining our laws and customs.
The Bluebell Railway was the first standard gauge "heritage" operation on a former British Rail branch line. It first started operation between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes in August 1960 with two locomotives and two carriages. Since then, its rolling stock collection has increased significantly, and many similar lines have spring up all over the country. Some carry over 200,000 passengers each year, and have grown so big that they need to supplement their volunteer workforce with upwards of 50 paid staff.
Why has nostalgia become such big business? Part of the answer, dare I say it, is that it is a pleasant escape into a gentler age from the harshness of modern life. Of course, one mustn't look at the past through rose-tinted spectacles. Pete Waterman, the pop impresario who owns a few steam locos himself, has rightly pointed out that for all the charm of these ancient machines, he'd rather catch a 125 mph Pendolino when he needs to travel from his home in the north west down to London. One can see his point, which can be made even more forcefully when the nostalgia business in question takes you back to Victorian times or earlier. Who would want to cross the Atlantic today in one of the poky little cabins in Brunel's splendidly-restored SS Great Britain? - or live in a draughty, cold mediaeval castle in authentic 13th century condition?
However, the 1950s cameo rpresented in the picture above (although it was actually taken in November 2011), depicts a period still within the lifetime of many millions of people. By then we had suffered the 1945-51 Labour Attlee government, with its widespread programme of nationalisation, but the tax take of 30% or so was lower than today. Furthermore, British society was far more cohesive. Divorce and cohabitation was rare. Most children lived with their natural parents. In 1946, 40% of all children were sent ot Sunday School. Multiculturalism and political correctness were unheard of. Support for a free press was virtually universal. Winston Churchill was adamant that Britain would not be joining the Common Market.
Of course, some areas of life have improved since then, notably the medical world where huge advances have been made for which we must all be grateful, but how much better life would be today were it not for the damage influcted by the corrosive anti-Christian legislation that began with Roy Jenkins and which reached its peak under Tony Blair. We can't turn the clock back to the age of steam, enjoyable as a bit of nostalgia can be at times, but we can and must pray for a great revival in our nation that will bring its leaders to repentance and exalt once again the Bible's place in determining our laws and customs.