WSR S&D Spring Steam Gala, 5-6 and 10-13 March 2016

Where there are two locomotives listed above a 'path', they will both be heading the train. There's a couple of instances of banking/top & tail, but the vast majority of instances are double headed.

Having just finished proofing the working instructions for the Operating department, I can certainly say you're all in for a treat! (Although @RobinWhite is going to be pulling a fair few levers at Minehead! )

 

Well I'm delighted at the lack of them.

What's the point?

The virtue of the class was their ability to haul big loads over the Mendips, double heading 6 or 7 coaches is plain silly and a waste of coal.

 

Incase you didn't notice today is 2016 and the last 7F to be withdrawn was circa 50 years ago! For the pure spectacle! Many joe public could say any steam loco in service these days are 'a waste of coal'.

 

Just received the programme, had a quick skim through. Disappointed that 34098 (34053) is not in traffic on the last day. At first glance I think every other day features all engines on full line trains. 44422 is also on Dunster shunt all day. Not so bothered as the 4F is a WSR resident but just feel penalised for going on this day and feel like I am getting less for my cash.

Despite not going on these days, I think it is a great idea that there is an early afternoon goods train on the 5/6/10. I appreciate it is difficult to path on the hourly timetable but it is a shame there are no goods trains on the main two days, not even in the morning as is the case Friday.

 

I think @Respite was saying he was glad at the lack of double-headed 7Fs, not the total lack of such engines.

I agree: if you are going to make a big deal out of trying to accurately represent the past, you may as well look at what actually happened, and I don't believe double-headed 7Fs were a very common sight in pre-preservation days. Perhaps if someone wants to new-build a 2P in the next couple of weeks...

Tom

 

That isn't my point. Double 7Fs will be a draw for many people, I know I would like to see that if it was happening the day I was going. This is not an accurate recreation of the past anyway, it's a different line for starters.

 

I think you are right regarding the interest, I believe double headed 7F's did run on the S&D on a couple of occasions so it did happen but as has been rightly said much more common was the usual combinations that are being run on various Gala Days. However many will know that Don Bishop is running two days of photo charters on the line over the period, his day with double headed 7F's is fully booked (but maybe try ringing him anyway if you are desperate to photograph these two) and his day with a Bullied and a 7F still has some places left so it would seem that people as you say are being drawn by the 7F's together. Go to here to have a look and book: http://www.donbishop.co.uk/charter-details.php?id=161

 

You tell them Andy. Also by the end of the Gala, Don could well owe you a pint or two.

 

No, I may well owe him a pint. I'm booked on one of the 7F's in the afternoon as a Fireman so I'm getting to play with double-headed 7F's, 7/8 coaches and lots of long gradients thanks to his Photo Charter so it should be me with my hand in my pocket

 

Hmm why the sarcasm? Quite unnecessary.

 

Seems strange to hire in a loco, rename it and then not run it on last day of gala, will be selling my ticket as I could only make Sunday 13th and only for SKP.

 

Are you mad?

The WSR gala is attempting to create a vision of what the Somerset and Dorset railway was really like.
The sight of 4Fs, 7Fs, 9Fs and Bulleids on the long and torturous 1-50 inclines. I'm sure that you will enjoy the gala ....and if you don't, you could always wait until SKP returns to the SVR and have a nice steady ride behind her there. <BJ>

 

So the timetable will run late then..........well that was what the S+D was really like.
And that was said rather tongue in cheek

 

Not when the legendary manning crew of Donald Beale and Peter Smith were in charge. <BJ>

 

There's probably a good reason for it not running on Sunday, eg. it may be needed back at the SVR.

 

I'm not trying to start a "whose railway has got the steepest hill" argument, but neither 34070 or 34092 had any problem with that upgrade between Grosmont and Goathland!

 

In 1962 combinations included 73049+75072, 75009+73047, 75073+73054, 75023+75027, 44559+34039, 75009+44417. I never saw double headed 7Fs and the 9Fs never took a pilot.

 

9Fs certainly did take a pilot on a regular basis. In their first year on the S&D (1960) they were often seen with a 2P up front. By 1962 the 2Ps had gone but Standard Class 4s did the piloting instead. Then there was the unique occasion in Aug'62 when 92245 was piloted by 34043 to save a light engine path.

I believe that Ivo Peters recorded that he only ever saw double headed 7Fs on six occasions in forty years, so it was significantly rare but it did happen.

A more pertinent question, in view of the love that charter organisers have for putting 7Fs on the "Pines", is how often, if ever, did this actually occur?

Peter James

 

Sorry I have to disagree, these combinations were rare but did happen. I’m looking at The Somerset & Dorset, An English Cross Country Railway book by Ivo Peters as I type this. Just this one book has two photos of double headed 7F’s on different passenger trains and two photos of 9F’s with pilots, one of which is a 9F with a 7F pilot and one a 76xxx.

It’s also go a lot more combinations such as 7F’s and Bullieds as pilots and even a Jinty as a pilot running bunker first !!!. I’ll agree that most of the photos show 4F’s, 2P’s and Standards as pilots but the combinations photographed are very wide.

 

If that is the case maybe pre-warn people but it seems the way of the WSR to do these type of things, eg last year running 4270 one trip in the morning yet running 4160 all day, pretty sure it was two round trips, on the Friday. No surprise to me to find 88 doing two round trips on the 13th and Sir Keith not in traffic at all. 34053 is not in service on the 10th either.