Alanko
Member
Not every heritage railway needs to be the North Yorkshire Moors or the Severn Valley. Just because a line is on a smaller scale doesn’t mean it’s somehow not viable or not worth bothering with.
Some lines clearly exist more for the benefit of members and volunteers 'playing trains' than presenting any credible commercial/heritage/industry credibility.
Presumably most heritage railways, beyond those presenting a niche subject matter as in the case of Rocks by Rail, are in gentle competition with each other. Their main customer base is not rail enthusiasts, so they have to present something that is worthwhile for a family on a day trip (who came to your railway rather than the local petting zoo, pumpkin patch, Digger World et al).