On Friday 9 February the Heritage Operations Processing System known as HOPs acquired its 50,000th member, as lineside vegetation cutting-back volunteer Paul Mayo of the Great Central Railway joined the system.

Paul and his fellow colleagues work to maintain the tracksides along the length of the Great Central Railway. This includes keeping undergrowth under control so other workers such as track gangs can walk along the tracksides safely and stand in safe positions away from passing trains.

Vegetation clearance is a very important role, it helps keep down the spread of lineside fires, prevents signal, points and telegraph wires from becoming entangled in vegetation and clearing and maintaining track side drains to prevent flooding of the tracks.

Paul was presented with the special milestone certificate by Bob Machon from HOPs at Loughborough Central station, he was also accompanied by Great Central Railway Director Scott Manley, with class fifty diesel No. 50017 ‘Royal Oak’ providing an appropriate backdrop.

HOPs is used by many Heritage Railways and Museums in the UK and Australia, it is a compliance management system used to display and share information to its members at each individual heritage centre including rosters, operating and maintenance documents as well as safety information and training courses along with instructional videos.

Since HOPs was first launched back in 2009, it now has over 50,000 users, including those that perform the administration of the system that the Heritage Railway sector use. It is used by 170 heritage railways in the UK, 20 in Australia, and in a handful of other places across the globe.

Like most heritage railways across the UK, the Great Central Railway operates thanks to the immense dedication, enthusiasm and generosity of its members and volunteers. The Heritage Railway sector is always looking for more volunteers across a range of departments performing all types of job roles. So You could become HOPs member 75,000!

GCR Head of Marketing & Communications, Simon Bracewell said: “We are delighted to be working with HOPS as we strive to continually operate a safe and compliant railway. Collaboration is key in any sector, and we are pleased to contribute to and learn from our sector colleagues by using the insight gained from the system. The HOPS community combines best practices from all heritage railways and helps everyone deliver a 1950s heritage railway experience for visitors with 21st century levels of operations, safety, and compliance.

Bob Machon, from HOPS Heritage Railways said: “We are delighted to be working with our friends to help deliver that here at the Great Central Railway, as the railway itself completes its 50th year in preservation. Since its inception in 2009, HOPS has now supported improved business processes for over 50,000 staff and volunteers at heritage railways in the UK, Australia, and other countries around the world. All those railways can take pride in this achievement, and for taking part in the biggest ever collaboration to advance heritage railways.”