SVR Autumn Gala 17-20th September

I would guess there might be one more visitor to come but the event is already sounding to be very good and worth a visit even if its going to be heavy on coal but I am sure that will be made up with visitor numbers.

 

3205 I hope if we're celebrating 50yrs then what better than the loco that started it all off?

 

Well that would nice...there was originally a hope for it be at the Spring gala but alas no.
Personally I'm expecting something like Galatea, something that was based on the SVR but never ran on it.

 

Leander I could see maybe but 45699? Mr Smith dosnt like his engines being used by others does he?

 

I don't think that galatea is a good option with the royal scott thing they are likely to go for GWR loco 6023 would be nice.

 

Only by his friend at MNR.

 

Hmm, well if the railway is going all out for big stuff, why not? I'm sure more will be revealed in the next few weeks. Of course if the railway tries to keep to the 50th theme then 6960 could be a good bet.

 

6960's been mentioned before I've no objections to Ratbag returning but that dosnt really excite me. As I've mentioned before it really should be 3205. They did have 4566 earlier this year too and knowing how much 4566 means to the SDR (last loco overhauled at Newton Abbot) I'd like to think Mr Ballered negotiated a little clause saying '3205 returns home for September'. I could well be wrong though. Failing that 13065 from Bury would be nice. Its a long Journey from Bury to Ropley!

 

There's a difference between enjoying a trip on a busy train though and being crammed in like sardines while hanging around waiting for people to jump about trains. Overcrowding has to be taken seriously.

 

I think the over crowding issue is being dealt with no more smaller visitors on short full line trains maybe just on shuttles where standing is tolerable for a short time.
The best gala I have been to in a while was march 2013 all the attraction there but the snow reduced the numbers I do think the event may benefit from being heald over two weekends with only one containing night running.

 

Spreading it over 4 days helps a bit more now I think. Tricky getting the balance right though, I know some like the smaller trains but I think last years timetable was rather over ambitious. Take a leaf out of the diesel gala TT that works pretty well.

 

I've thought for a few years the diesel gala timetable is spot on. Full line workings and shuttles restricted to Kiddy - Bewdley. Nice and simple, no two minute cross-platform dashes at either end, and just enough recovery time in there to allow everything to run smoothly.

The steam gala timetable is usually far too complicated, meaning trains have to wait around en route for anything up to 25 minutes. That's just daft! It's a struggle to work out who the gala is aimed at - not photographers, the stock and locos often don't match, not people travelling, the journey times are too long. It seems it's just so someone can have a play around writing a timetable.

 

6023 would be very welcome!

 

I knew the guy who wrote the TT for steam galas Im not sure if its the same guy now though. I totally agree though ASG seems to have got too ambitious I remember last year ending up missing our connection for the train home so rather then get in at sensible time of half 8 9ish me and Dad didnt get in til about 10:30. Ok it meant a hour in K+C so it wasnt all bad but it did feel like a day to be endured than enjoyed at the end.

 

I believe 6023 was supposed to guest with 828 in 2011...

 

and then charge £5 a copy rather than a simple A4 pdf which 98% of railways manage to produce.....

 

Maybe because if they didn't charge all the freeloaders would have a free day out.

 

True, the SVR is very viewable from public footpaths which probably makes it more of a problem than with other railways.

 

Then send an A4 pdf to all those who buy rover tickets online.

 

You need to remember that the timetables are set for different markets. The ASG is geared to both enthusiasts AND the public - many of whom arrange to make a weekend break linked to local events and are happy to simply travel on a steam train - hence the short runs giving access to walks and related SVR non-railway activities. IMHO the Diesel Gala is geared more to the enthusiast who seeks a longer run behind the traction types on offer and is less interested in the short runs between adjacent stations hence a different style of timetable is called for.

Because of the complexity of the workings required for the ASG the SVR has created a WTT for its staff but because it has value to the enthusiast it is made available at a price that helps cover its printing cost. As a regular visitor I am happy to pay the cost both to support the SVR and identify the train movements in order to decide the best location for specific locos. Regular visitors to the SVR will know that certain locations suit certain locomotives better than others and bunker / tender first workings are less popular thus help provide time to move onto different locations. This is less of a problem with diesel traction where most examples have a cab at each end, although a single 20 does need a bit more attention - as does the "gronks" - to determine the best forward-facing locations.