SVR Diesel Gala 19th-21st May 2016

Most connections at Kiddy were held, partly to avoid disappointment and partly because there were train crew swaps occurring at KR all three days so sometimes it had to wait there was no alternative.

 

No criticism intended and I fully understand the need for the bars on the underground. However, with several of the main attractions being air braked only, 4 coaches was insufficient on the longer runs and the bars didn't help with the inevitable claustrophobia that can be avoided by sticking your head out. It was this reason that I bailed out early on the 37 run Saturday evening.
This was only a small issue in an otherwise excellent event.

 

I was the guard an I made it right time! Not gunna argue over 2 minutes though, it took a lot of work off every one concerned to pull back time, including the D.O. for permitting everything to run in it's booked path, and the holding of most of the connections at Kidder to avoid disappointment, I did comment to someone at Bewdley that I believed the delay (47 minutes at one point I think) could be recovered given the right management decisions, some swift work and some passengers that were prepared to move swiftly too, so on a personal level I would like to say well done right across the board to everyone who realised what was happening and played their part in eliminating the delay.

 

I have seen that this was the best attendance for a Diesel Gala at the SVR shows that may is the best month to hold the gala.

 

An article on the Kidderminster Shuttle website says 'more than 4000', which is greater than this year's spring gala.
May supposedly is better for modern diesels to visit and has the advantage of lighter evenings.

 

... Or that using a huge budget to bring in many, many locos means there's something for more people than an event with fewer locos?

 

Stated elsewhere that the actual number was 4,690....

 

I suspect a combination of both, plus they were interesting locos, for example, it was probably a once in a life time chance to ride behind 73951 and 952. Next year will be a hard act to follow

 

Pedantry Alert!
No. This year will be a hard act to follow.

 

SVR official FB reports the safe return of the missing builders plate from 68025.

 

well thank the lord for that, it could have repercussions that last a very long time to the detriment of the hobby as a whole if the big players get fed up supporting pres

 

my bad, got half way through posting one thought then decided on another one, clearly ended up trying to post both!

 

The break even attendance for the event was 2500 so not a huge budget considerable less then the amount required for the spring steam gala.