YP Letters: Penalty for this depressing vandalism must fit the crime

North Yorkshire Moors Railway said it has been inundated with support after seven historic carriages were vandalised. (JPress).

So, what do you do when you’ve broken up from school and are already a bit bored with that expensive smartphone?

You go and maliciously smash up some beautifully restored 90 year old LNER teak railway carriages, destroying the enjoyment of thousands of people. Words, unless you are tempted to use profane ones unprintable in a family newspaper, cannot describe the sense of disgust, upset and anger many people must be feeling at this moment. Not least NYMR volunteers and others who have painstakingly restored these superb examples of British heritage. Massively damaged by ignorant, self-indulgent drunken fools.

Where were the parents of these children, and why did they not contact the police?

Or were they lied to, as is standard?

I doubt if these people were from impoverished homes; more likely affluent, middle-class backgrounds where they acquire their impregnable sense of entitlement and narcissism. These people have no sense of history, and certainly no sense of the value of anything, other than the constant present of social media and celebrities famous for being famous.

When these individuals are arrested, the NYMR should press for the harshest penalties/fines or whatever punishments are around these days (probably not much).

Parents should be made accountable, and cards should be marked with future employers.

A bit of local naming and shaming wouldn’t go amiss, either.

From: David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York.

I WAS shocked, sickened and very annoyed to hear about the vandalism on the North York Moors Railway, of their fleet of beautifully restored 1923-1950 period teak former LNER carriages.

The windows have been smashed, the lamps pulled out and broken, the seating and tables severely damaged and/or ruined.

It takes months, often years, to painstakingly restore these beautiful old carriages and it costs a great deal of money, even though much of the work is carried out by dedicated volunteers.

Two weeks ago I travelled with some Scottish friends in these very same teak carriages from Pickering to Whitby, and what a joy and a treat it was.

What motivates anyone to carry out such stupid, mindless wanton vandalism?

I sincerely hope the punishment fits the crime.