SVR Santas

[FONT=&quot][/FONT] [FONT=&quot]If anyone is planning to go and phot the SVR Santas, be warned that the smokeboxes are festooned with decorations and tinsel[/FONT]

 

Er yes it's Christmas..........these are Santa Special trains!

 

Santas are vital revenue for Heritage lines, they are for the families that have paid good money for their visit. They are not primarily for photographers.
Put your camera away, and just enjoy the steam action, or just be a bit more creative with your photography...or use Photoshop to do the necessary!!

Chill out man....!

46118

 

Traditional headboards are ok but tinsel isn't very railway like!

I was going to visit the Severn Valley this year but probably won't bother now. This means the railway will lose the money I would have spent in the shop(s) and cafe/pub. How many extra passengers will the tinsel attract? It will also put me off taking my daughter when she is old enough to enjoy such things - I like my railways to look like railways not fairground attractions!

Also should the railway be doing anything to discourage any of a large group of visitors to the railway and the wider area? All revenue should be welcomed from whatever source especially in the middle of recesion.This is particuarly the case with the SVR where a large amount of public money has recently been spent on the railway on the basis of its economic value to the local area.

 

Hunslets Finest: "I like my railways to look like railways not fairground attractions"

I've got bad news for you, most of our Heritage lines are decked out for Christmas and their Santa operations! Stay away, you will be in shock! Lots of youngsters visiting the Severn Valley and most of our other Heritage lines at present will think it is just magical, and will be one of the highlights of the run up to Christmas.

You also said: "discouraging a large group of visitors to the railway"...

Are you really saying that a bit of tinsel is going to "discourage large groups" from visiting the Severn Valley? Well I've got news for you, the Severn Valley is heaving with happy families there to see Santa, all good fare-paying customers who are most welcome.

Santa trains are not run for the benefit of lineside photographers. If a large group of linesiders "stay away" for the next four weeks, then so be it.

(Incidentally this is not intended as a slur against lineside photographs, few are "freeloaders", most photograph, and spend and travel on our Heritage lines)

Merry Christmas, Hunslet!

 

On a more positive note, for those who just want to stand and see an intensive service with at least five steam engines, the weekend Santa trains start from Kidderminster for Arley at 0945, then every 30 minutes until 1245, and then 1315, 1400 and every 30 minutes until 1600. (last two trains do not run on Christmas Eve)

A portfolio of images from yesterday are here: http://www.sharpos-world.co.uk/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=659

Enjoy.

 

A heritage railway has to cater to as many markets as it can. I have no problem with the Santa specials, Thomas, Murder & mystery / fish & chip / witches & wizards and of course the beer trains. They can paint the Loco's pink if they want (an alternative lifestyle gala perhaps ? ;-) ) as a one off.

As long as there are a few gala's a year run on traditional lines with the odd bit of freight then I am happy. We have to inspire more people to join the heritage movement and if it means a bit of discomfort for us diehards then so be it. We are unlikely to walk away after all, just grumble a bit every now and again.

The railways need the money that the themed special events bring so we can continue to enjoy them long term. Stating the obvious but its a fact.

 

Blimey in all the years of photographing santa trains I had never noticed - some must do it with more style than others!

46118, if you read my post you would have seen that I wrote ''Also should the railway be doing anything to discourage ANY of a large group of visitors to the railway.....''.

Railway photographers/enthusiasts make up a large group of visitors to the railway (but obviously not the biggest). If any visitors are discouraged then that is lost revenue to the railway and the economy of the Severn Valley in general. I am sure the total spend by photographers at the railway in the lead up to Christmas is in the £1000s (only 25 per day spending a £5 per head soon addds up). For example I would have done some Christmas shopping at the Kidderminster shop but I will now use Amazon or visit another railway. How much extra evenue will the tinsel bring in? The fact is not a single penny! Take it off, keep everyone happy (apart from 46118 ) and the railway is the winner!

PS the decorations in the photos don't look as bad last year!

 

That's great, they're vitally important to the viability of the railway - but how many of them come because there's some tinsel etc on the front of the locomotive?

 

http://www.lok-report.de/news/news_museum.html

A weekend of packed steam hauled Santa's across the country and not a silly headboard or any tinsel in sight!

I am sure on the trips closer to Christmas some trees may appear as per tradition.

 

Santa trains are for the family market - I suspect a number of lines have rathrr mixed rakes of coaches on these trains that are not the best for photography either. If shops etc, consider adding Christmas decorations to their premises and means of attracting custom important, then surely it must be a factor for heritage railways as well. Families love having their picture taken with the loco (where possible) and I am sorry if that spoils the day for a few photographers standing out along the line probably miles away from where they are able (assuming they are willing) to spend anything supporting the railway in question.

Heritage Railways are not one huge photocharter paid for by the passengers. They are a major tourism business and should try to eductate (which requires an element of authenticity, clearly) as well as entertain. Usually, the promise of entertainment is what attracts people to give the railways the opportunity to educate. I suspect that Santa Specials are the first time many will travel behing a steam locomotive - if the steps the railway feels it needs to take to enter into the seasonal spirit offend some (although I suspect far from all) photographers, may I suggest that it is those who are offended who have the problem not the railways!

(My view - not that of any organisation I am a member of!)

Steven

 

The Severn Valley is expecting up to 44,000 passengers in December. We must be doing something right. When I last drove a Santa special, there were 4 engines steam-heating 4 rakes at Kidderminster at 0900hrs on a Sunday morning. Where else can you see that? Shame you won't be coming, HF. Your loss.

 

Hunslet: I am sure the SVR hasn't put tinsel on loco smokebox doors to "discourage" photographers. It is just part of the festive decoration of the railway for the Santa market, a family attraction. Photographers are not the consideration, as Bean-Counter mentions. As others have said, there are 48 other weeks for the authenticity.

You say photographers are a large group, maybe 50 a day during the Santas? Well the local rag says over 25000 people are booked on the SVR's Santa specials alone.that equates to about 3600/3700 per day. Now, every traveller pays £10-50, so thats revenue of circa £262,500 just on fares, and if we assume a modest extra spend of say £4 per head, thats another £100,000 coming in. I respectfully suggest that the impact of photographers "not" turning up because the engines are carrying tinsel is minimal. Bear in mind that you cannot take some photos and then travel on the train, it is a fully pre-booked service to Santaland.

The advance weather forecast for next weekend--if you believe these things a week ahead!- is for the photographers dream, cold sunny high pressure weather. Spurred on by Mr Sharpe's efforts I intend to visit next weekend and try my very amateur hand at some photogaphy, but more than that, just to stand and witness the intense steam activity, at either Kidderminster, Bewdley, or even Arley, but respectfully keeping "out of the way" of the Santa crowds! I have never actually been to the SVR to witness the intensive Santa service, but this discussion on Nat Pres has spurred me to do so for the first time.

I must admit, the wife and I dont make a great thing about Christmas now, our kids are long since grown up, but I'll come and soak up some of the atmosphere, and spend some cash in the cafes and shops. (Any one know if Graham will have the Erlestoke Manor Fund shop open next weekend?)

Regards

46118

 

Good move, 46118. You will not regret it. The atmosphere is great and its is seriously BUSY!

 

jtx,thanks. I'm a member and regular visitor to the SVR, but have just avoided the Santas in the past.
I'll give it a try next weekend, and I shall also be at KDR on the 26th December for the book and model sale at the Museum, amongst other things....( a post- Christmas "day rover" for a start!)

 

Obviously Santa's are important. Obviously the SVR are very good at running the events. Obviously they raise significant revenue. No argument. Santa season is probably the most important single revenue raising event for all railways and ensure we can all enjoy our railway hobby in whichever way we wish.

All I said was the tinsel may put photographers off and the railway may lose some valuable revenue. Taking it off won't cost the railway a penny in revenue.

 

I'm disappointed at the Bah-Humbug tone of many of the posts on this thread. Last year I visited the SVR and spent a thoroughly enjoyable day watching the intensive timetable between Kidderminster and Arley. I can well believe that Kidderminster was heaving last weekend, it certainly was last year.

I was going to drive to the SVR yesterday but there was an absolutely torrential downpour with gale force winds here in north-west London yesterday morning for two hours and there was no chance of me driving in that! By the time the storm had passed it was too late to go. Never mind, I'll try again next weekend, weather permitting.

I can recommend to fellow enthusiasts the SVR Santa weekends, the intensive timetable affords lots of opportunities. Last year I didn't come across anybody else at all; not one. Do go, and don't forget to spend some dosh in the shop.

Regards

 

It amuses me to read the grumblings of a few. With most Santa trains on most railways full to standing, I doubt that they would exchange this income for your possible donation and visit to the buffet and shop. Not if they have any sense, that is, and I'm sure that our heritage railways are run by sensible people. My local doesn't have to decorate its lounge and a couple of the bah humbug regulars moan about it. Yes, it doesn't make the beer any better but the landlords attitude is that it helps with the festive spirit and leads to better takings. it's a part of the all round ambience of the festive season.
I also seem to remember that some crews decorated their locos on occasion in steam days. I bet someone, somewhere has a photo of a BR loco decked out in, tinsel, holly and mistletoe. I'm certain that if a driver on the main line did the same (safely, of course), people would be out there to photograph it as something outside the norm. And to please Hunslet's finest, I've also got a slide somewhere of an Austerity at Wheldale colliery with a christmas tree on the front!