SVR Autumn Steam Gala 20th-23rd September 2018

My video and a few photos from an enjoyable Thursday and Friday at the gala. Opted to ride the trains on Thursday due to the rather poor conditions, didn't struggle to find a seat all day so looks like the weather put a few off, but still a good time nonetheless.



7714 - Bewdley - Severn Valley Railway by Adam Ashford, on Flickr

6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' - Eardington - Severn Valley Railway by Adam Ashford, on Flickr

6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' - Orchard Crossing - Severn Valley Railway by Adam Ashford, on Flickr

6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' - Rifle Range - Severn Valley Railway by Adam Ashford, on Flickr

70000 'Britannia' - Orchard Crossing - Severn Valley Railway by Adam Ashford, on Flickr

70000 'Britannia' - Orchard Crossing - Severn Valley Railway by Adam Ashford, on Flickr

46100 'Royal Scot' - Highley - Severn Valley Railway by Adam Ashford, on Flickr

 

A set of images from the Friday of this year's Autumn Steam Gala can be viewed at my Zenfolio website at https://mickrogers.zenfolio.com/p392962786 - as always a great event, especially with the opportunity to photograph steam during the hours of darkness, and my thanks go to all involved.



Cheers,

 

hello
a few from friday at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/15931796@N00/with/43938978325/
more to follow

 

Certainly wasn't quiet today despite rather grotty weather. All trains were full (although not as full as when Tornado first visited or when City of Truro came). Unfortunately the rain started at about 10am and didn't stop. The timetable slipped quite badly - left KR on the 0900 on time but had to wait 15 mins for the Q6 to come through. Arrived in BH 10 mins late but then just about the whole train decided to cross to the other platform to join the 1030 departure which didn't get away until 1045. After that it just got worse so that by 6pm everything was about 45 mins down. Not sure what caused the problems other than the time it takes for people to get on/off and change trains. Don't think there were any problems with the locos although Taw Valley was proving a little bit difficult to get off the blocks (had to set back a couple of times).

So, with the weather and timekeeping it was rather a frustrating day but nonetheless enjoyable. Good to see all the guest engines in action (first time I'd seen the Q6) plus the usual suspects from the home fleet. Star of the show undoubtedly the Duchess - look forward to seeing her at Swanage too.

 

I understand the inital delay stemmed from a defective carriage window presenting a safety hazard requiring immediate attention at Bridgenorth just before departure on one of the early trains. With every passing loop in use, large crowds and the desire to allow folk to transfer from one train to another there was no ability to recover things and as noted the delay got steadily grater throughout the day.

 

Very jealous of those who've been able to attend, a Brit, a Scot, a Lizzie but that Q! That looks right at home! What a cracking looking machine!

 

Didn't help when the 10 am left 8 late for no apparent reason and then lost another 12 minutes. The big LM pacific didn't like the wet conditions with it's 300 ton train away from the stops. Good to see trains being held at Bridgnorth to allow transfers but simply not the infrastructure to deal with this in the time once the time keeping deteriorated. We quickly revised our plans otherwise we would have missed our booked XC home from Brum. In doing so missed out on runs with 46100 and 34027 but got 63395 which was the main objective. A very expensive day for us at £3 per steam mile. SVR need to plan more robust timetables for Galas even at the expense of fewer trains

 

SVR need to plan more robust timetables for Galas even at the expense of fewer trains

And then get loads of people complaining about fewer and more crowded trains.

 

Deleted

 

Not a problem with the timetable on Friday. The trains ran like clockwork.

If you want a more robust gala timetable visit the West Somerset Railway ….. but their services still manage to run late. <BJ>

 

You mean more boring Does it matter if the timetable slips? If they come in the right order and theres always something going on thats far better than a timetable with bog gaps.

 

Indeed they did - but the number of visitors was a lot less thus avoiding the extended dwell times at stations.

Unfortunately with short platforms and narrow platforms, running long crowded trains is always going to make it a struggle to operate an intensive service - but without that it wouldn't be a gala would it.

 

Yes that's all relevant but the planners also need to be aware that not one sectional time was kept by the trains we were on despite speeds well up to the limit. Heavy trains mean slow starts and very busy narrow platforms mean understandably cautious slow stops. Apart from the big locos the GWR and Midland stock was a big incentive for us to go. Why is the 8P 6233 carrying 7P on the cab? Was this the top rating of the old LMS?

 

You'll find that answer in the Duchess thread. I think you're close to the mark.

 

I do wonder if having a pre prepared plan to reduce the delays by removing a local service, or running empty if it was due to recess at Highley (going straight into the yard) should be considered when late running reaches a pre defined level. I appreciate it is a delicate balance but being 70 late as occurred on Saturday by around 1910 at Kidderminster makes it a long day.

Sent from my PRA-LX1 using Tapatalk

 

My footage from a very wet Saturday, very enjoyable day they highlight being watching the Duchess in the dark climbing away from Bewdley. And a cracking run from Bewdley to bridgnorth Behind Bradley manor

 

It was one of the internal windows on the GW set.

 

Gala organisers are between a rock and a hard place in terms of dealing with timetable slippage it seems too me. Possible solutions could be:

1) Run fewer trains - leaving out some of the "local" services. I think they did that at a Severn Valley gala a few years ago (I missed that one) - they produced a simpler timetable and people complained it was boring.

2) Station staff to play hardball and allow trains to leave before passengers have had a chance to cross from the other platform (seemed to take ages for this to happen at Hampton Loade yesterday. You thought everyone from the northbound train had come across to join the southbound one and then another lot would turn up and the station staff kept letting them across). I think they tried this on the Severn Valley in the past - staff were instructed to make sure trains left as close to time as possible and the result was a lot of upset people getting left behind. What is more important - running the trains on time or keeping everyone happy?

I wonder whether a bit more "thinking on one's feet" could be done. Could the problem be eased by cancelling the local / auto services if things run late? Then of course you risk upsetting those who turned up especially to ride with 1450 or 813...…. There is no easy answer.

Does it matter if the timetable slips? Not really to me as I drive to galas but many people who have onward train connections to make can be seriously inconvenienced.

 

At least they did not adopt the modern railway favourite of cutting out most of the intermediate stops to try to gain time.