Rail enthusiasts let off steam over mock Nazis

[emad]

Times
By Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent



THE sleepy world of steam railways has become embroiled in a bitter dispute over the passion among some enthusiasts for staging war games involving soldiers in Nazi uniforms.

The Heritage Railway Association, under pressure from Jewish members, has issued new rules ordering groups not to cause offence by permitting the “display of offensive and unsuitable military uniforms and insignia”. But many members have been outraged by what they regard as a politically correct ban on their harmless re-enactment of wartime scenes from the golden age of steam.

More than a dozen heritage lines hold 1940s “wartime weekends”, including Severn Valley, Forest of Dean, Bluebell and North Yorkshire Moors.

Several invite Nazi re-enactors to hold mock battles with British troops. Severn Valley organised mock interrogations by SS officers. Some lines, including Severn Valley, have now agreed to ban swastikas.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1490078,00.html

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

1. Re-enactment people..

always seem to be a little off anyway...and then grown men obsessed with trains...combine the two hobbies and you definitely have adults without common sense and a discerning side.

[RetroLounge]

3. Your obvious lack of understanding about trains

and your total ignorance of the railfan hobby makes the rest of your post pure shite.

RL

[BiggJawn]

2. Ever play the Sim "Aces of the Deep"?

No swastikas in there, either.

So how long before the forces of PC start screaming about Civil War re-enactors marching under the Stars and Bars?

I was a little surprised to find that there are WWII German re-enactors. I thought "Wow, bet those guys have a hard time stopping off for a beer on their way home from a meet..."