Severn Valley Spring Steam Gala: 21st - 24th April 2022

That maroon in the middle of the rake is rather unfortunate.

 

You should of heard the groans at Foley Park on the ECS move.

 

I guess if they need 8 coaches in the rake and that's the only one available, that's the one that goes in. Admittedly you could have put it at the North end of the train so when 2999 is running Chimney first it's as far away and doesn't break up the image as much...

 

not too obvious !

 

It would also be cover for 75069 which is due at the WSR and E&OR in May.

 

75069 visit to EOR is on 2nd-5th June now. Was rescheduled due to a local sporting event over 27-29 May.

 

Early trains out of Bewdley are quite full.

 

Here's my footage of the Severn Valley Railway Spring Steam Gala yesterday. My main highlights featured the S15 climbing Eardington Bank and the spectacular evening run of Sir Nigel Gresley flying up Eardington Bank. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

Some images taken of Sir Nigel at the Severn Valley today

 

My pictures of visitors Sir Nigel approaching Highley and 506 at Kidderminster and approaching Bewdley on Friday. The weather certainly cleared up later on.

 

Indeed, today was quite full. Arguably too full to be enjoyable for some, but hopefully most enjoyed their time today.

 

Worth mentioning - 813 has failed at Hampton Loade with a broken spring this evening. Final local train cancelled.

 

Myself and a mate from the GCR visited over the past couple of days. We're massive SVR fans and safe to say we've had the best two days on the railway since the 2019 Autumn Gala! Yesterday was very busy but we only stood on one train although we could easily have squeezed in with others if we'd have been that bothered. Today was a different story, pretty rammed all day but no complaints. It was great to see the railway thriving again after a pretty horrible two years for obvious reasons. We made use of the open top bus to Eardington which was an excellent addition to proceedings (the 125 isn't the most reliable bus service in the world) and as ever the cake alone was well worth the trip! It felt like a proper SVR gala again, something I've been looking forward to for so long and it didn't disappoint.

Interestingly from talking to a few people the impression I got regarding the coal situation is that it's more along the lines that the railway can't afford to pay for it rather than can't source it. Whether that is correct or not I hope whatever the difficulties are can be overcome with time. I really hope the railway will be able to put on the spectacular gala in September in it's complete form that so many of us have missed since the last one in 2019.

Finally a massive thanks to all the volunteers and staff involved in the preparation and operation of the event, it truly has been an awesome couple of days for us and it was so good to see that it clearly meant a lot to those on duty as well. A fantastic gala, for those of you going tomorrow I hope you have a great day!

 

A few snaps from a rather gloomy Friday. I gather it brightened up late afternoon, by which time I was heading south on the M5! Had a very enjoyable day riding and photting. \huge thanks to all at the 'Valley for arranging. Roll on the 'all-nighters' in September!!