WSR 2020 Spring Steam Gala - Thurs-Sun 23-26 April 2020

My toys are firmly in the pram.

Not exactly asked for something for free.

Have offered options to the usually wrong booklet,

 

I’d like the roster to be free, it’s done for diesel galas so it should be the same for steam galas.

 

The WSR sell a booklet with the roster in it.

That's what they do, why people just can't get on with that I don't know.

Whatever way you spin it, any publication / online roster could be wrong.

Everything is published in good faith, I am sure, and is subject to change.

 

That does on the face of it seem a bit unfair to those attending the steam galas.
I've never been to the diesel galas, so I don't know in what form the roster is published.
Could someone who has been to the diesel galas tell us if the diesel roster is just a few photocopied sheets or a glossy programme like we get for the steam galas.

 

It's just the locos on the online timetable.

 

Issuing an electronic copy is opening up for copies being posted elsewhere by users. Best to protect your revenue streams than risk losing them.
Waiting a couple of days for it to arrive in the post is no big deal, if that's reason for not attending you have bigger issues than the Royal Mail.

 

So why isn't the same thing done for the steam galas?
I'm not averse to buying a gala programme, but I do wonder why the participants of the diesel and steam galas are treated differently in the matter of the publication of loco rosters.

 

I think it’s down to the fact that diesel types vote with their feet and won’t go to an event if they don’t know what’s running whereas steam types generally tend to be happy to pay for the info.

 

You could be right about that.
I seem to recall reading somewhere on NP that diesel types were harder to please than steam types.

 

What railways charge for steam gala loco rosters? Off the top of my head I can only think of Avon Valley and West Somerset galas, plus the Severn Valley autumn gala. Any others?

 

Great Central for their Winter and Autumn.

Kent and East Sussex did but they don't hold galas anymore.

 

An alternative view is that those railways who appear to be offering free rosters or booklets are actually charging you for them in the price of the ticket, so you have to pay for one even if you don't want it!

 

For me not having a freely avaliable timetable with roster, has led me to not attend events in the past, usually when choosing between multiple events on the same day or when deciding to go somewhere last minute. Charging for things works if you already have people coming, but rosters for me are as much of an advertising tool; here's what we are offering now come give us your money and enjoy.

It's not a money thing. Personally as I've said before I belive gala events in general are under priced (compared to football, etc.)

 

That may have been true of the WSR once upon a time - but now an adult day rover costs an eye watering £35.

 

£35 now for a rock up and go WSR adult one day gala rover!

 

I like the idea of ordering a WTT and then planning my visit at leisure when it arrives. The downside is that if there are any changes due to loco failures, substitutions or non appearances, the WTT is useless. <BJ>

 

That's about £13 more than a normal day rover, so an extra £13 isn't too bad considering all the additional locomotives in steam you get at a gala along with a much more intensive timetable than a normal day.

 

£13 is nearly 60% of £22.

I am pretty sure before 2018 it was under £30 on the day too.

I understand things have gone up in cost etc but the WSR really need to look at what they are hiring and run them as much as possible to make them worth hiring. The days of hiring and running a loco for one MD-BL diagram on a gala day should not be around in the current climate.

 

You're probably right about the 2018 day rover, I've always gone for a four day rover because at the distance I am from the WSR a day trip visit while not impossible is not very practical.

I agree with you about making better use of visiting locos, but I wonder if the number of round trips each makes is down to the terms of the hire agreement with the owners.

 

Bloody hell, we’re still bleating on about this?!

Can’t we go back to bickering about diesels appearing at a Steam gala or what colour an engine should be outshopped in?

James