Safety on the line: balancing authentic experiences against risks and hazards

Pryce, Josephine

Abstract

[Extract] Heritage railways offer opportunities to participate in recreational activities linked to historic modes of transport (Urry, 1990) and to connect with 'history and industrial archaeology' (Halsall, 2001: 152). They draw visitors who seek exciting, educational and authentic experiences in heritage places (Halsall, 2001; Tillman, 2002). The interaction of visitors with railway heritage environments inextricably exposes people to potentially harmful situations. The range of hazards and the inexperience and lack of specific knowledge of visitors heighten the potential risk from hazards and activities. Understanding, identifying and mitigating these risks are critical to ensure the safety of visitors engaged with railway heritage environments. This chapter examines the health and safety issues faced by railway attractions and explores approaches to mitigating risks and implementing standards and guidelines which balance providing a quality experience for visitors and achieving other business objectives. It presents two illustrative case studies from Australia - the Ipswich Heritage Railway Workshops (Queensland) and Puffing Billy in Belgrave (Victoria) - to provide insights into how safety can be effectively managed for all involved in the travel and leisure industry.

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Railway Heritage and Tourism: global perspectives

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978-1-84541-438-2

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Channel View Publications

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Bristol, UK

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