Re: RD October 1999

[gunzel99@yahoo.com]

Might be time to reflect on the railway enthusiast movement and some of
the shameful figures that brought it into disrepute over the years. The
pedophiles who infiltrated the movement, particularly in the 1960s, to
prey on the teenage boys who were developing their interest. Many young
enthusiasts had their faith in the hobby shattered by the activities of
these wicked men. Management committess of societies and railway
museums generally ignored the problem although they knew what was going
on. Several priests and sporting identities have been brought to
account, often years after the offences were committed, but some of
these railway "enthusiasts" got away with it: although there were cases
were people decided to "leave town" rather than face the music. And one
character was convicted in a case that received wide publicity at the
time. Perhaps it is an unsavoury aspect of our hobby but it is one that
happened and one that should not be ignored.


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