KWVR February Steam Gala

A good idea would be co-inciding the KWVR departures with the mainline station allowing people to make connections. I'm travelling up from London on the Saturday to do the gala in a day and it would be nice if there wasn't a half an hour wait around for a train. Should be good though, havn't been to the KWVR in about 5-6 years.

 

I agree with this as I will be travelling with a group of people from the South West and South Wales and we won't get there till about 1045, in the summer the 1040 had just left and we had a 25min wait.

 

I can get there from Bath....but freights all day with proper engines would make me happy! GC doesn't seem to suffer.

 

But then people who travel long distances in a day miss out on the goods and thats what a lot of people what to see.

 

That's because the GC can run a train up to every 10 mins Loughborough - Rothley, KWVR can't do that!

As for connections from the main line, bearing in mind delays, and that people have to change platforms, buy tickets, etc, a +20 or so sounds pretty reasonable really...

 

I feel more comfortable with a 20 minutes or so wait - much more relaxed and time for cuppa, watch incoming train etc

 

Someone mentioned a "pick-up" goods. Are there any stations on the KWVR where shunting can carry on without interfering with the passenger trains? I've never seen any "proper" shunting performed while there are people around to appreciate it. On the MHR, shunting involves occupying the running lines, even if only briefly, which would be a very bad idea when you are running an intensive service. As if the bobby didn't have enough to do! Horstead Keynes is the only place that comes to mind where the layout might allow shunting without being in the way.

 

Steamage you should get along to the Foxfield Gala.

Usually plenty of shunting at the colliery between the runs up the bank which are every 40 minutes or so. Also at Blythe Bridge you can enjoy a pint watching freight shunting demos between the passenger trains.

Next years gala in July is expected to be the same format as in recent years so your needs should be satisfied!

Another railway that does plenty of freight shunting at galas is the Southy Devon. If you are at Staverton at the right time freights often turn round there which requies the brake to move ends. Usually no high viz warn as at Foxfield so all nicely in keeping with the era.

Looking forward to the KWVR already esp if it is nice long freight as in the past.

Cheers,

 

Indeed - I had my first taste of Foxfield's particular magic at last year's gala. I spent quite a while at the colliery, but didn't make it down to the exchange sidings at Blythe Bridge. Couldn't make it this year, but I'll certainly be back before long.

Returning the the KWVR thread, though, I guess such shunting wouldn't be practical during an intensive service such as the gala.

 

To be practical, proper shunting probably isn't a possibility on the K&WVR. Ingrow could be a possibility for some kind of simple demo. You could also perhaps lock a short train in at Oakworth and walk the token back to the loop for the next train.
The pick-up goods that has run at galas in the part has attached a few wagons at Oakworth (& Ingrow?) but that always has run before I can get there! That's why I asked for it later in the day.
On the subject of connections at Keighley; come on chaps, there's a train at least every 30 mins from Leeds. Surely that's convenient enough?

 

While we are greeting an old friend in the form of the N2 wouldn't it be nice to see the Scot return to her first preservation home, this time in steam. Not sure of the axle weights but only 3.5 tons heavier than Bahamas.

If it's too heavy for the branch,how about a couple of trips to Blea Moor on Saturday and Sunday, that would bring in the punters, tnt with a Class 33 or 37.

 

Please send your cheque for say £1000 to cover the coal bill to:
KWVR
Haworth Station
Keighley
BD22 8NJ

 

Please expain half a Hymek man?

All I was suggesting is perhaps there could be freights throughout the day rather just a early am and a half trip in the pm. Other railways manage perfectly fine with this including the East lancs at times.

 

The railway has a finite number of paths during the day-so until Haworth loop is open,then runnning freights during the main part of the day results in less passenger trains,therefore less passengers ,therefore loss of income,unless your cheque covers this loss of income.

Being a KWVR lineside permit holder,freights do make a change-but at the ends of the day,when few passengers are inconvinienced.ie more a summer gala idea than those dreary mornings in February.

 

Well i've just finishing compiling the sales figures for 2009 for Steaming Around Yorkshire and the highest % selling DVD of 2009 was the 'KWVR Summer Steam gala' DVD mainly because of the amount of copies the KWVR actually took themselves. I will therefore be considering doing another gala DVD for this gala, but I don't know what I could do to make it stand out from the Summer one? The summer one had a tone of unique features including footage from 957's footplate, 5690's support coach & the brake van of a banked freight, what do you all think would make this one stand out more?

 

Yep those dull and dreary mornings in February are awful....see attached.

The beauty of the KWVR, GC, Tanfield (coal train day) and East Lancs Winter gala is the chance for some decent pics which just don't happen in Summer. I will attend some of these each year despite living in the South West as they are generally so good. On a good morning the East Lancs early morning photo charters were worth the trip on their own. The KWVR gala in 08 was just stunning.

Also totally agree with Martin - galas need to be different to attract the crowds . First thing I look at is the diagrams and what, if any,freights are running. Nothing different to the normal rakes of MK1s and I will attend on a quieter day when things are a lot easier.

 

Well said!

 

I'm sure no one would mind one passenger path at lunchtime replaced with a goods run.