PRAGMATIC PRESERVATION
It’s 9am sharp and I’ve arrived at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s (NYMR) Pickering head office, which is located across the road from the station. The sunny, bright blue sky mirrors the warm welcome I receive from general manager Chris Price, who kindly offers me a coffee. We head upstairs to his office – the meeting room being otherwise engaged.
It’s the second time I’ve met Chris – we enjoyed what I call a ‘coffee meeting’ last autumn. Back then, we established that we’re both quietly proud and passionate about what we do for a living and naturally tend towards a pragmatic, ‘no-nonsense’ approach. We also appear to share a similar sense of humour. Recalling poor experiences at the hands of editorial staff on a local newspaper known to both of us, Chris quipped: “They could sensationalise the opening of a tin of beans!”
Chris is easy to talk to and like me, wants to get the work done, but also enjoys a laugh.
His neat but functional office includes comfortable chairs along two walls for visitors.
Photos and paintings adorn his office walls – including a BR Standard 4MT on the banks of the Mawddach on the old Ruabon-Barmouth line; an ‘arty’ black and white scene of a locomotive crew in action; a side-on view of Talyllyn; and a double-header of BR 4MTs amid the stunning scenery of the Moors. His doorstop is an old brake block – I like his style.
Career
■ Heritage Railway (HR): I always say people’s experiences shape their attitudes and beliefs. Tell us about your career, starting with how you became involved in the heritage railway sector.
■ Chris Price (CP): From the age of 16 onwards, my volunteering CV included Didcot, Tyseley and the Talyllyn (TR). I enjoyed being part of the cleaning gang at Didcot in the 1980s. I remember fondly lighting up a Castle and also digging out the smokebox ash of King George V after it came in on a railtour.
I was predominantly a TR volunteer – and if I’m honest, that’s where my heart is and always will be. I still enjoy driving there periodically.
Aged 18, I joined the RAF. After just shy of 11 years’ service, I left as a technician in 1994. I joined the TR as a member of staff and ended up being the workshop supervisor at Pendre Works. Between 2004 and 2012, I was general manager of the Fairbourne Railway. My ambition was to make it the best little beach railway it could be. I learned the daily challenges associated with tourist railways.
In August 2012, I joined the Workers Education Association of North Wales, an adult community learning college, as estates manager. When an all-Wales body was formed, I became the project manager.
During that process, I was offered the chance to become general manager of the TR in December 2013. I enjoyed it there a lot. I would like to think I was an agent for change, but the actual change and the development of that has been done by others – probably far better than I could have done as I was so entwined with the organisation. Others have come in with the advantage of being unknown to a certain extent.
I congratulate Stuart Williams for all he’s achieving at the TR as GM. We’re seeing it become more prominent – and that’s a great thing.
My two years at the TR were good for me and the line – and I like to think it was good for the NYMR.
The opportunity came to attend an interview at the Moors and I took up the role of GM in September 2015.
Walking a knife edge
■ HR : What were your first impressions? Can you explain some of the changes you’ve implemented?
“That’s the challenge – managing a lot of people, who have lots of different dreams and aspirations. To a certain extent, they all have different ideas of where the NYMR should come and where it should go. There are extremes in all that. Some want it to be run purely as a business in a business-like manner – and others want it run museum and heritage-like.”
■ CP: There were no major problems when I came through the door here. There were internal issues I felt needed sorting out. Inevitably, when a new GM comes in, things will be done differently. That isn’t to
