Severn Valley Railway 2019 Autumn Gala 19th-22nd September

The pubs last orders are 11pm IIRC. The on-board buffets generally finish around 10pm (or have in previous years). This isn't late for a weekend. If people are drinking beyond these times it is regularly stuff they've brought themselves, something which the SVR will struggle to police themselves.

 

A few of my efforts from Friday and Saturday....

 

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Yes I've known buffet cars still serving until at least midnight, as you say, depends who's on and how much they're enjoying themselves!

 

Replicates a situation I had at a Police Training School where the bar remained open until the early hours; when asked how long the bar would stay open the barmen declared - "as long as you're buying" !

 

Some thoughts of my own on the ASG...

Went on Saturday only this year. Slightly regretted not being able to do Sunday... until I woke that morning to the sound of rain hammering on the windows! I was lucky and didn't experience too many problems on the Saturday, with the only major disappointment being not getting a ride with 34092 at any point. (Was Wells back late in the evening as advertised? Timetable had slipped so much by then that I cut my losses and bailed around 8pm.) I did eventually manage a ride behind the Q Class though, which was probably the thing I most wanted as there's only one of that but several Spamcans!

I've always avoided the overnights, partly because of matters already extensively discussed in this thread. I like steam at night, but I get enough drunken rowdies on post-football trains on the big railway, so no thank you. Not sure there's a quick fix to the alcohol issue though. Decided to experiment with the 0532 instead as a way of getting a night train feel - having it start from Bewdley probably meant a different audience from the overnights, and it seemed to be the case. Quiet and relaxing, and seeing dawn break over the misty Severn Valley was magical. I'd definitely go for a similar train in future.

Did the walk-on breakfast thing and was extremely impressed with the standard of the service. A lot of tips were given, mine included, and quite rightly too. Spent most of the rest of the day between Arley and Highley. For an ASG Saturday with such brilliant weather, the crowding really wasn't too bad, certainly not as painfully wedged as when 70000 and 46100 were here a few years ago. Testament to a well thought out timetable I think, at least until the Hampton points problems messed things up. Did need to stand a couple of times, but that's all part of the fun.

Most people I talked to or overheard seemed to be maintaining good humour in the face of the various problems as the day wore on. Maybe people found it easier to cope with the delays and loco changes because of the fine weather. Sitting peacefully in the garden at Arley was sheer pleasure early on Saturday evening - perhaps less so had Sunday's weather appeared on the scene early! The SVR did reasonably well with keeping people informed, especially families who were fretting to get home, though as ever information was a bit patchy in places.

Finally, I was happy with the loco line-up, when it was all running at least. I accept the point some make that this is a GWR branch line, not the Great Central, but even so I like the variety of seeing a few bigger visitors at gala time. I hope 813 is back for the spring gala, though, as there aren't many chances to travel with that. Silly to pretend that this gala was without its problems, but I don't think any of them were disastrous and I had a good experience on the whole. Hopefully the numbers will add up to a satisfying total when they're all suitably crunched. As always, thank you to everyone who worked hard to make it happen.

 

Nice photos @Andy Louch . May I use the 7714 image in the gallery on SVR Live please?

For all, I've put together a gallery of what I hope is some less usual images, from a range of contributors - over 20 photographers' work shared https://www.svrlive.com/. If others are happy to allow photos to be used, please can you let me know? TIA

Patrick

 

From my non-travelling perspective Sunday did seem relatively quiet, although really that just means "everyone who wanted could get a seat" rather than "carriages were empty". The dull shower weather presumably put people off, although thankfully the thundery downpour that occurred an hour or two before dawn wasn't repeated later in the day. Trains were running pretty much bang on time as far as I remember, maybe 5-10 minutes behind occasionally

 

I was there on Sunday I enjoyed the day it was not crowded but the trains hauled by the visiting locos were full early on in the day. A shame that the Q was not running this may have stopped a few people who had not pre booked. The gala was good a nice balance of different locos that had not visited the line before.
I think the whole point of a gala is to have locos that you would not expect on a rural branch line in Worcestershire.

 

A couple more photos. Photographers removed from the Taw Valley shot.
IMG_5470 edit3Alr by Paul Simpson, on Flickr
IMG_5458 edit 2LR by Paul Simpson, on Flickr

 

Hello Patrick, yes by all means. I have a few more which I will upload to Flickr in due course.
Best wishes, Andy

 

A few images taken during Saturday. If you fancy a browse please follow this link........... http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com/p850382217

Hope you enjoy........Regards to all.........Rick

 

Had a brilliant time last weekend, weather, locos, stations, scenery all the just glorious. Huge thanks to everyone involved in the putting together the show. A few photos have been added to my 2019 album...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/albums/72157679506714888

 

A collection of photos from a tremendous Thursday, Friday, & Saturday at the Gala: https://www.flickr.com/photos/djcs_trains/albums/72157711050691717

 

Incredible morning shots!

 

a surreal morning at Eardington

 

A few shots from the gala. A massive thank you to everyone involved in the gala...



James

 

Some really special photos posted above - would like to treble like if I could! One or two I am very jealous of and wish I had taken.

 

Thanks Will, with that weather forecast plus the all night running the opportunity was not to be missed!

Great shots James, our paths definitely crossed for this one when I nearly fell in the river...