WSR Mixed Traction Weekend 10-12 June 2016

Please could we have 50026 visit the line. Love NSE livery.

 

As the gala is seemingly staying put in June with its accompanying light evenings is there anything to be said for two later trains, one in each direction a hour or so after "normal" services have ended then you might get use of one of the lines built in attractions ie. the town facilities at Minehead, if you get a arrival into Minehead and the break for hour/hour and half to enjoy the pubs or chippies or have a quick prom along the front that would be attractive, you could run them as a very limited stopping services say Wiliton only for passing/interchange purposes, now I know that would mean late shifts in at least three of the boxes, as well of course as the on train staff but if you ran one with the pair of 35's (7018) permitting and something EE say 37/40 or 50 on the other, I know from many visits to the ELR the late services on the gala there has a lovley feel about them, nice wind down (for the passengers) at the end of the day, but again I stress this the choice of motive power for the train has to be selected with the passengers in mind not particularly the OPS dept, the use of the 47 on the late train from Minehead last year was a particular poor choice of loco

 

If sufficient people expressed a desire for late services to run, then perhaps something could happen. Every year the numbers travelling fall off rapidly after 5.oopm (at steam as well as diesel galas). Whether this is because there are no late trains running to stay for, or because a lot of people have to travel a long way home, I don't know. However, two years ago when the Warship worked the 'megatrain' one way and the Western the other, numbers were not much greater than last year with the 47 - in fact in both cases I understand the passengers could easily have been catered for in 2 coaches. I expect that, as far as the WSR are concerned, these late trains are a waste of time and resources. Perhaps you could start canvassing your friends and acquaintances? If you could guarantee 200 passengers, they might be seriously considered!

 

This is in stark contrast to the recent highly successful gala at the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway. A late evening service hauled by Merchant Navy class 35006 managed to haul 14 coaches and a class 9F steam loco between Cheltenham and Toddington. The service was very well patronized.

The SVR manages to run trains all through the night at some of their galas. Perhaps the WSR should investigate how other railways manage to keep the interest in their galas alive and kicking well into the evening. (BJ)

 

The reason the SVR's night trains do so well is that there are lots of B&Bs and decent sized towns along the line, at Kidderminster, Bewdley and Bridgenorth. And I think the reason the GWSR's evening train was so successful was 35006! The one a couple of years ago was the same as WSR's, only needed a couple of coaches.

 

The SVR's night trains are the ASG USP. Because no-one else runs overnight, it is special and therefore people come for them. I suspect if other railways did it, it wouldn't be special and thus the trains wouldn't be as well patronised.

 

Thats not much of the apology I'm due is it ?

You know what if you don't like what I type don't read it.not gonna argue with you, as a wise man once said.

No idea what your problem is, Well I do but I'd get banned for saying it here.

 

Can we please get back on the subject of the thread and stop using it to belittle other members.

There's an ignore button if you don't want to read her posts.

 

Tread very careful young man. (BJ)

 

This comment will not make you any friends on this site nor on any railway.
So you know what Robin's problem is.......? What an arrogant statement.


Nick

 

comon now lets keep this civil, i thought this was all to go through ideas to make this gala relevant again after so long in the doldrums, if we go down the road of name calling that wont get anyone anywhere, im trying to come up with things that will add value to the gala that will cost the railway little or nothing so that money can be spent on bringing some nice visitors in
*Message to 34098 why dont you give us a good idea on what could be added, instead of standing on the bylines just knocking others, the gala this year WAS p*** poor we all knew it before the event and some of said so, so what would YOU do then

 

First, let me say that I am grateful for @Captain Fantastic and those others who made the remarks they did following the vile post at 02:40 this morning. I am not long home after spending all day working with one of the WSR plc Directors to move our Railway forward.

So, an important question.

Please find attached the Saturday timetable for the Gala this year. This is in .pdf format, but I will happily e-mail it in the original .xls format to anyone who wants it. This timetable, devised by D&EG Chairman John Cronin, a very experienced professional railwayman, is the WSR Gala timetable we have been using for some time. It has many advantages. It is robust, and reliable, and provides an even hour departure from either end of the Railway throughout the pattern. It has stood the test of time of a number of years now, without the late running that was a feature of Galas with more, how shall I put it.....ambitious......timetables. For we operators with folk to get home, and volunteers who want to finish their duties when they expected to, and public who want to know when the next train to ..... is, these are powerful advantages.

However, I appreciate that some think it is boring, and pedestrian, and has too long dwell times at some stations.

Very well then, here is the gauntlet to those who think that. Propose something better, properly worked out, respecting the need for token exchanges at intermediate block post stations and the like by human beings not supermen. Ask what questions you like.

And please feel free to copy the attachment and this e-mail wherever and to whomsoever you choose or who might be interested.

I am genuinely interested to see what you come up with.

kind regards

Robin White

 

For me, it wasn't really the timetable that was the problem, although I would have preferred a busier schedule. However, I admit to not having a clue how to organise such a thing, so that has to be left to the experts I'm afraid. Would it not be possible to squeeze one or two more goods trains in though? Also, I guess it would be quite straightforward for the Sunday timetable to be the same as Saturday's, therefore giving a little extra into Early Sunday evening. On the Sunday, From my point of view, it was a shame that the last train north from BL was 4.55.
You can't please everybody, that's for certain. For example, a friend I was with for the weekend was disappointed that there was no steam on the Friday and only one engine in steam on the Sat & Sun. He commented that it was a mixed traction gala (not a mixed diesel traction gala) and therefore would have preferred more steam. From my point of view, the draw was the diesel hydraulics, so I was a little disappointed that the Hymek was the standby loco on the Friday, rather than one of the other more mundane loco's (dare I suggest the 33), although I appreciate that is a subjective view. Because of the situation with the Class 52, the hydraulic traction on the Friday was limited to the Warship and the Class 14, although sorry I can't get too excited at the latter.
The Colas 56 was a bonus and appreciated by quite a lot of people I think, although the 66 did it for nobody.
I'd be tempted to return for the event next year, although that will depend largely on the loco lineup rather than the timetable. The prospect of a double headed Hymek would I'm sure draw the enthusiasts in, as would to a lesser extent, a double headed 33. Hopefully 1010 will be operational as well. I appreciate however that such things are dependant upon costly restorations being completed and ongoing reliability, etc, etc.
Thanks for the opportunity to be able to give feedback and at least it being considered.

 

I would be very interested to know Nat Pres readers' views as to what role the Quantock Belle should have at future gala events. We served 44 breakfasts on Saturday morning's MTW services but only a handful were served on the Sunday. Conversely, this year we sold a few more lunches on Sunday than Saturday. Statistics show that event Saturdays always provide more business for us than Sundays do. It is also clearly apparent that we need to be in the consist of the first train away from BL, as we were on MTW Saturday (but not the Sunday). Clearly the hauling locomotive is also a relevant factor, probably more so at diesel events than steam galas.

Would you be more inclined to have a QB Gala Breakfast if you could book one in advance? There has been (unfounded) concern expressed elsewhere that we might have been oversubscribed on the day.

Is anyone reading this planning to attend our Late Summer Weekend (3rd & 4th September) for the diesel haulage? I don't think the line up has been announced yet but it is always an enjoyable event albeit 'low key'. QB has never had a role during this event. Were it to be provided, would a restaurant car service help entice you to attend LSW?

Yours inquisitively,

Barrie

 

Barrie
One thing that was mentioned to myself a couple of times on Sunday was that some passengers only wanted a bacon roll etc rather than a full sit down breakfast.
Not sure if you were offering that to everyone on the train so thought I would mention it!
Robin F.

 

Hi Robin,

Once the breakfast service was completed we took trays of 'em through the train. On Sunday morning we had more bacon rolls than passengers. Gave me time to enjoy the 'Western' though!

Barrie

 

Hello Barrie as robin says above the bacon rolls,especially on the return from Minehead have to be ready as people MAY be changing trains as early as Blue Anchor, where as on the Down working there probably would not be a passing train until they reach Blue Anchor which of course would take a lot longer because in all galas the enthusiast will be more likely to change trains a lot during the day to get all the locos in, I know on both days the kitchen coach had to be added quite late on in the proceedings if the bacon rolls were ready there might be an option to serve the rolls whilst the coupling was being undertaken, but it was one of the few bits of the gala I thaught was well done you all did very well and was very nummy