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South Devon Rly Branch Line gala in Febrauary

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by nanstallon, Jan 2, 2015.

  1. Ganger

    Ganger Member

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    Good news: 6412 has been out again on a short test run and has been declared fit to run. It will work the 11.35 service as booked along with 1369 as an assurance. If everything then goes well, 6412 will return from Totnes solo with the auto train and 1369 will doublehead the 13.17 from Totnes with 3205.
     
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  2. RayMason

    RayMason Member

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    A very enjoyable visit with haulage from 4 locos!!!
    1369/6412 was unusual as we only had 2 auto coaches but 6412 propelled back to Buckfastleigh on its own
    This is a very good gala. The freight is a delight
    Many thanks to SO many people who enabled this gala to take place

    Ray Mason
     
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  3. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    I would have gone today, but for Valentines Day making it diplomatic to spend the day at home! I'll be there next Saturday, and hopefully some day during the week.

    John
     
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  4. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    My video from today. Features numbers 6412, 3205 and 4566 as 4555 on auto, goods and passenger workings.

    Very enjoyable event. I liked the shunting at Buckfastleigh, very good to watch, shame it seems less and less railways move the brake van from end to end now so I hope the SDR keep the tradition up! Well done everybody involved!
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2015
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  5. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Not been there for a while but have a very soft spot for the SDR really is an idlliyc spot on Gods Wonderful Railway. Nice one JBT makes me want to pay a visit!
     
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  6. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    The weather forecast for the SDR area looks very promising for Tuesday.

    I feel it would be rude not to pay the railway a visit after all the hard work that has been put in by the SDR folk
    ...... oh, and it would mean a day off work for me. :Happy: <BJ>

    http://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/...bruary%20Gala%202015%20weekend%201-2 copy.pdf
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2015
  7. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    Oh yes I nearly forgot.

    The SDR have done away with normal fares on special event days. I was expecting to pay the 2015 adult return fare of £14 and so put down a £20 at the ticket office but was then asked to pay a further £2.

    Can I just say I thought £22 was a bit excessive for 3 (planned) steam locos and a railcar, considering I can have a cheaper gala day at the WSR by £2.50 and that includes buying a programme.
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2015
  8. 45076

    45076 Member

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    Thats a rather large increase, think I paid about £15 last year for a "Special Event".
    Previous years as you say it was normal fares, I was paying about £10.
     
  9. Ganger

    Ganger Member

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    SDR News update: 1369 will replace 6412 for the weekday services from tomorrow. 6412, after running several miles this weekend, needs a little bit more TLC as part of its running in following major overhaul. 1369 has been chosen to run as it will be on the SDR for just a short period before returning to Chinnor. 6412 will be back out for the gala next weekend. Timetable for the weekdays remains the same with 1369 and the two auto trailers running along with W55000. The weekend has been a great start to the 2015 season and it has been great to see so many people enjoying the branchline event.
     
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  10. Journalist

    Journalist New Member

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    Had a really good day today - and really this weekend was only the teaser before things get even more varied with the second weekend timetable. The fare increase did seem a bit abrupt, came as a surprise to me too (presumably there was somewhere where the price was published beforehand but I couldn't see it on the event page on the main SDR website or anywhere on the Association site. Was I missing something obvious?). Not complaining too much as the SDR is putting on some very inventive galas at the moment and always bringing in visiting engines, but from memory that price has taken some leaps over the last few years.

    What you got for your money was excellent as ever - all three locos in action today sounded great, I love the variety of freights that appear during the day and the shunting, and when a coach had to be removed from the blood & custard set it was handled slickly and the half-hour delay looked like it was being recouped pretty quickly by the time I left.

    I can't go next weekend as I'm out of the country for work, but would wholeheartedly recommend that anyone who can should go because the gala planning team at the SDR is so bold and creative considering the relatively short length of line and only having one mid-route passing loop. All five locos out and that amazing variety of stock formations next weekend will be a truly special special event. And if you've read this thread already then at least you're forewarned about the rover price.
     
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  11. KEYHAMTRAIN

    KEYHAMTRAIN Member

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  12. RayMason

    RayMason Member

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    Another excellent day at the SDR
    Many snowdrops are out alongside the track and the speed restriction lifted North of Staverton

    Galas face much higher costs for road haulage of a visiting engine and the event needs to wash its face so to speak!
    Some galas receive private help to subsidise a particular loco hire/haulage with participants getting a ( sometimes substantial) subsidy
    I'm sorry if the new rover price hurt. Ordinary returns were available and with a break at Staverton you could get 3 locos for ,I think,£14! Of course a large number of travellers are members who get half price rovers- maybe regular visitors might join the SDRA
    However, no one wants to discourage visitors but I wanted to point out that possibly the old prices were unrealistic and only possible due to payments made by well wishers ........

    Do visit this week. 4566 in black is great and 6412. 1369 and 3205 look wonderful as does the 2 auto coach formation
    Ray Mason
     
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  13. SteamHawk216

    SteamHawk216 Member

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  14. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    I agree with Ray. I think that the SDR have been, if anything, too generous in the past with charging normal fares for intensive gala days that included visiting locos and demonstration freights that obviously didn't carry a payload! And putting full working timetables on line well ahead is a generous approach, too.

    John
     
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  15. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    Yes I understand galas need to make a profit, however over a 50% increase for not much more than a normal day on the 14th/15th to me is not acceptable. The B4 set did four round trips which is a standard timetable for it. 3205 and 4566 both did 3 round trips and a Buck-Stav return so less than a normal day's milage each. 6412 did a standard diagram of 4 return workings. So I paid £8 extra for 2 Stav-Tot railcar return trips and a few goods workings when you work it out set against a regular blue day, plus another steam engine in steam visiting from elsewhere. Something like £18/19 would have been more acceptable in my opinion. £22 has more validity for next week when it seems a lot more is going on and an extra two engines are in steam.

    Gala fares set too high can see a lower footfall or people going for the cheaper one return option, therefore loosing the railway money, so it needs to be a balance.

    I did have a good day and didn't mind as such paying that, but there was no warning on the websites so was a little shocking when asked to pay it. If you have a chance go as it was great and next weekend looks even better with the various formations.
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2015
  16. Journalist

    Journalist New Member

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    I think probably the key thing for any special events where prices are different to standard fares is just to make very clear on the relevant web pages what the price is and what's on offer. Think the point that the SDR has been too much of a bargain at times in the past is a very fair one, the element of surprise at the increase was a bigger problem than the increase itself. And apologies if the price WAS somewhere obvious and I missed it. I bought my Dad a year's SDRA membership as a birthday present while I was there and he was already down yesterday to take advantage of the discounted travel, so will do likewise when my frequent traveller card (now that WAS an incredible bargain - especially in that period with the two-year offer) expires.
     
  17. John Devon

    John Devon New Member

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    Let's get the record straight on the subject of the SDR's fares.
    Normal, one round trip only return tickets are available for £14 (reductions for seniors and children) and there is NO intention to move from that position at galas and special events for general travel. Those tickets act as rover tickets at that price on non-gala days. On gala days they are valid for one round trip only, with break(s) of journey permitted.
    SDR have introduced one day rover tickets for this event at £22 which represents a little more than 1.5 times an ordinary return ticket. Reductions available for children and SDRA members. On this event at least, 2 and 3 day rovers are also available. You can have as many round trips as you wish with a rover ticket.
    I trust that clarifies the position.
     
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  18. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    Quite so. The issue is that the SDR was too cheap (on gala days) rather than now being too expensive!

    John
     
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  19. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    P.S. Most heritage lines do not allow membership privileges on gala days.
     
  20. nhumble37

    nhumble37 New Member

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    Take it that the NIGHT SHOOT @ Buckfastleigh is turn up & pay on the night
    -- anyone advise cost PLEASE
    TIA
    Neale
     

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