WSR Spring Steam Gala, 20-21 & 25-28 March 2010

Passenger numbers appeared to be much better today (Saturday). Let's hope that the gala figures produce a healthy profit. <BJ>

 

Yeah I think that maybe a bit more variety could be included, maybe 4 trains each way not calling at Washford and Stogumber but evenly spread out through the day in both directions, maybe the same for Dunster and Watchet, but only 1 or 2 each way at these stations.

Saturday's timetable at the ASG last year seemed to work fine, the majority of trains were within 10mins of their booked times, in fact it only messed up because 5029 and 6024 failed, so I don't really understand why this wasn't used as trains started later and ended not long after this gala's, but had an extra path which could of been dropped. I don't think most people mind trains running 10 late, compared to the hour delays that used to happen. Also the non-stop NF-MD service and limited stoppers (as in 3 stops at most) I feel make a gala timetable different from normal days, so a pitty these were non existance but I understand that they couldn't be pathed. The only thing that worries me about the mixed traction weekend using the same timetable as this event is the diesels tend to be on time or early, not late so the waiting time could be further increased and today was just about bearable.

I congratulate the WSR on yet another great gala and hope it proves to be very succesful in profit, today was very busy. Nice to see the Dunster Shunt return to enable a goods run on the Saturday and Sundays of the event. Also I found the layout at Williton this time a lot better, with signs on items telling the reader information.

 

Had a good day yesterday was great to jump from one 9F To another at Blue Anchor shades of the S&D in the 60s The runs with Braunton and the King were great also, gave the Duke a miss as the train was crowded. I thought the timetable worked well with everything on time not sure how much more variety people want with 5 big engines.

 

Heres my video of the Gala.
Just like to say thanks to everybody involved in making the Gala happen.Time-table worked really well.
Special thanks to the trackside clearing gang.Fantastic effort to get the line as it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMjoagu6ATE

 

A big thanks also from me for the great Spring Gala at WSR. I had a rover the first weekend and enjoyed my window hanging from a variety of locomotives with a great timetable.

On Saturday I linesided and enjoyed a different view, plus tea and lemon drizzle cake at Crowcombe, and a cheeseburger at BL for lunch.

Fantastic P/Way stuff WSR. Big pats on the back all the way round!!! Also thanks to the crews for a superbly turned out set of locomotives.

Here is my video from Saturday. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed filming it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-pzgxLGhPo

Photographs here: taken on my camera by our newest w/p 6024 member Thomas.

http://fireboxchaser.fotopic.net/c1830488.html

Enjoy!

FC

 

GWR 175 - "The Standard Revolution" Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 2010

Hello All,

I visited the WSR's GWR 175 - The Standard Revolution Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 2010. I must say I enjoyed myself all day and was most impressed by the presentation of the whole railway. You could see that a lot of hard work had gone into every aspect of preparation for a super Gala. Well done West Somerset Railway. I would like to add that I personally thought the "new" Gala timetable worked very well.

I spent a lot of time at Williton, as the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group and West Somerset Restoration had put a lot of effort in showing the visitor what goes on there in the way of displays etc. and helpful, face to face verbal information. Thank you.

When I get a chance to caption my own images from my visit, I shall add a few of them for others to view to my fotopic site. I shall put a note on this forum when I have updated.

One last thing, I wish to catch up with and hopefully photograph the Class 2MT 2-6-0 78019 again. Does anyone know if this locomotive will be operation on the WSR during the few days or so. Or is she booked to move on or back to base at the Great Central Railway. If anyone is able to supply any information on the future movements of this locomotive, I would be most appreciative. Thank you in advance.

Best regards SteamHawk216.

 

Athough I was disappointed to see that tender first running was scheduled for the last 4 runs from Minehead, I enjoyed the day out. Blue Anchor station had some excellent sandwiches and cakes. Given that my arm is stll broken, I decided to take pictures at Kerr Moor. Thanks to all WSR staff, volunteers and loco owners and crews for a great gala.

some pics from yesterday.

http://michael527.fotopic.net/c1830240.html

 

Re: GWR 175 - "The Standard Revolution" Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 20

Not hopeful SteamHawk216 - no (steam) trains on 29 March and then No 78019 is due to leave the WSR on 30 March. Over Easter weekend and the following week, nos 34046 and 6024 will be in use (see roster on the "loco" page at www.wsr.org.uk for details nearer the time).

Steve
WSW

 

Re: GWR 175 - "The Standard Revolution" Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 20

"I spent a lot of time at Williton, as the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group and West Somerset Restoration had put a lot of effort in showing the visitor what goes on there in the way of displays etc. and helpful, face to face verbal information. Thank you."


As one part of the 'Williton display' we were very pleased with the new 'easy access' arrangements with much more room for visitors to take in the different work that goes one there. The Williton workshop staff and volunteers are to be congratulated on the new format and we on the Auto 169 stand thank everyone for their interest in and contributions towards our project and look forward to seeing you again soon.

John

 

Re: GWR 175 - "The Standard Revolution" Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 20

Another excellent event and not too much to add to what has already been said. I spent Friday and Saturday at the railway and had a great time. My photos of the two days can be seen on my fotopic site including a couple of that wonderful bus. I also met John, the conductor, on Friday morning and said "Hi" just as he asked us to do if we travelled on the bus. I've also included a couple of photos of the bus including one with a very smart conductor on the steps.
By the way, my own personal award for friendliest station staff encountered goes to the staff at Dunster. Well done everyone at the WSR.

http://paulgildersleve.fotopic.net/

Cheers,

Paul

 

Re: GWR 175 - "The Standard Revolution" Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 20

I was extremely disappointed by this gala. I don't think I have ever been to one which has disappointed so much. I spent over £350 over the four days - on petrol, B&B, food and on the railway itself - and I really cannot say that it was value for money.

The main problem was the timetable. Just why did a loco, on all four days, come into MH from BL tender first, was then turned on the turntable to return to BL tender first? Just why, on Saturday and Sunday, did chimney first departures cease from both MH and BL in mid-afternoon?

On the railways which don't have turntables, the photographer can be sure that half of all departures will be chimney first, but not on the WSR, oh no. There the timetablers rip up the rule book and ensure by their dotty turning of engines that less than half of the departures are chimney first.

The other matter is the engines booked for this gala. Just when will the preserved railways realise that the big engines, the Class 8 and Class 9 engines, are not suited to running at galas, purely because the railways cannot load them up enough to work them hard. They look ordinary because of this and they sound ordinary too, entirely because of the lack of a decent load behind the tender. The 'Duke' is used to 500 tons plus for goodness sake and it takes that to provide a spectacle. Having no fewer than three Class 8 and 9 engines rostered for this weekend might have seemed to be a big coup by the powers-that-be at BL but it made for a very quite gala.

The last Spring Steam Gala was a disappointment because of poor timetabling, but the timetablers have excelled themselves this time. I have re-booked the B&B for September, but my patience is wearing thin. If the WSR doesn't get its act together that will be the last time and I shall not be renewing my membership of the WSRA next March. No chance.

I spent around £350 this weekend. I have just finished editing down my footage. Out of the four days at the gala I have less than 18 minutes of footage. There was no filming on Thursday because of the driving rain, a little on Friday, just less than 10 minutes after editing, and not quite seven and a half on Saturday - filming stopped at 3.55pm because there were no more chimney first runs in spite of the brilliant conditions. I came home early this morning, rain was forecast and I'm totally fed up with the WSR.

This railway is going off the rails. Since last September there has been the controversy over some bright spark wanting to delete the smaller stations off the PTT, there has been the matter of wheelchairs and the breakfasts on the trains and now this cock-up. Enough is enough.

Sorry if this offends.

Regards

 

Well,i had a fantastic couple of weekends,well done to the WSR for another brilliant gala and thanks also for the great work clearing the trackside areas over the winter!!

I have to disagree with the above post,i had some brilliant runs,especially with the 9Fs,and for me the Duke was making plenty of noise. Especially coming out of Watchet towards Washford on the 1 in 76 or whatever it is round that curve.

The only thing i didn't really like was the fact that 78019 barely worked any trains on the main railway from BL-MD alone,which to say its a visiting loco is very surprising.

I was told 71000 (or 5542!) is running next week,is this the case??? Also,will it be the DMU,a diesel loco or a steam loco on the diesel on the diagrammed working????

All in all,10/10 from me,fantastic event.

Cheers,
Mark

 

Good 4 days despite the weather not being what I hoped for.

Anyone know why the King is making an odd noise? Had an awesome run with her but seemed to be working a lot harder than normal.... Not that I'm complaining cause it was an awesome sound. Just didn't seem quite right.

Pics will follow but just wanted to say a quick big thanks to all involved.

 

No 78019 was limited to five coaches when it did two round trips on the (non-Gala) Wednesday, with some reports of it being a tad "Light Footed" at times. Five coaches does not provide sufficient capacity at Galas but I too think one or two runs could have been programmed in.

I haven't heard about No 71000 running next week. The rostered locos are 9351 and 4160 from 30 March to 3 April, with 4160, 34046 and 6024 from 4 to 8 April. The DMU will do the "diesel" turns as far as I know. But if I get anything definite about the Duke, it'll appear on the loco roster table on www.wsr.org.uk

Steve
WSW

 

Re: GWR 175 - "The Standard Revolution" Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 20

No offence taken, Orion. This is useful feedback for the Railway. I hope you can send same to the Special Events team c/o justin.ops@wsrail.net Despite a few recent "issues", I hope you don't give up on this Railway...not just yet anyway.

Steve
(WSW)

 

78019 did have one run on its own during the gala - it worked the 17.00 BL-MD on Sunday 21 March. I believe the load was specially reduced to 5 coaches for this train, with two (?) coaches transferred to another service.

David

 

Me and Alts1985 were on the bus friday at 11am ish! ive still got my ticket lol

 

Re: GWR 175 - "The Standard Revolution" Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 20

I do agree slightly as parts of 'gala specials' have been lost. Locals - where have they gone?, not even at the Somerset in Autumn last year or the past two Winter Steam Festivals when there isn't a demand for a train in each direction at every available path. No breakfast at the galas, why? Dunster shunt was lost for a while but glad to see that it is now back. Limited stoppers are being lost and non-stops have disappeared. Double heading these days seems to be a rarity. Only 5 timetabled double headers at this gala, previous galas have had more than 5 double headers in a day. These things make a gala in my opinion.

 

The thing with the double headers today (i suspect) was that the one with 78019/80104 was wedged,as the 16:00 ex MD usually is?? Wheras we went on the one with 4160/5553 and there was plenty of spare seats.

Would it be feasible to do a double header in the middle of the day in future? I noticed the same with the 34028/46 double header in the Autumn.

 

The two 9fs and Braunton made plenty of noise on the trains i was in Big engines attract the ordinary punters these events would not make money if you had to rely on the enthusiast market.Did find it strange that the last four departures from Minehead were tender first out of Minehead.this must of hacked off the photographers as it was quite sunny at this time.