Santas and Snow

Thank you very much

Lewis

 

A small amount of snow has survived the big thaw at Bo'ness. WPR No. 17 and Morayshire were in action today, back to double heading after last weeks top+tail working and seen here nearing Kinneil with the Fife hills reflected in the Forth.
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Unfortunately, No.17 failed with injector problems later on this working and the 'shire was topped by 47643 for the rest of the day.

 

Not a snow scene, but how about this one from Swanage:-
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/apmw/santa/05dec10/apmw075.jpg

 

Do you know which loco is rostered for this Saturdays Evening dining train Lee? 45379 or 73096 I guess. Apparently an extra carriage has been added to the formation due to the high demand for seats. Looking forward to it (if we can get there!) Snow is falling as I write.............

 

SVR santas are again running as normal, although those photographers wanting to catch the light engine moves early in the morning should be aware that they are now 30 mins earlier, being 07.35 and 08.40 ex Bewdley as well as 07.40 ex Bridgnorth, Although the up Staff train (single coach top and tailed with two fairly big locos) remains at 09.30

 

Blimey! Woke this morning and the snow is back in Aldershot with a vengeance. MHR Santa's are CANCELLED today but website says they are hoping to run tonight's Dining service. I don't think we will be able to make it.


EDIT: FURTHER UPDATE - THE EVENING DINING TRAIN IS NOW CANCELLED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED TO ANOTHER DATE.

 

SDJR 2-8-0 no 88 made light of the six inches of snow as it took the Santa Express out of a very snowy Bishops Lydeard Station on its way to Williton and back. What a fine spectacle. Driver Paul Conibeare and Fireman Raymond Lee in charge. Good S&DJR men both (not) )

Steve

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisbodell/5230133556/ Just to give an idea of some of the snow we had to shift last week...

 

"Whilst the Railway has operated a near normal service today our evening dining train and our Christmas Carol Train have been CANCELLED"

Patrick

 

Welshpool and LLanfair Santas ran today. Andrew Charman has some slendid pictures on his Flickr site'

PH

 

From reports seen alsewhere it looks as though the Saturday SVR Santas were only kept operational by the dedication of staff and volunteers who spent a long cold day on the line keeping points clear, signalling operational and platforms safe.

Well done to all concerned, and no doubt they will be doing it all again today, given that at 0700 this morning it was minus 19 degrees at Shawbury.

 

All services trains did run today with the help of 33053 and 37905.

MHR Santa snow photos here.
http://lee.mediaobjects.co.uk/c1923644.html

 

Some very snowy images here from the SVR on the 18th, with due credit to the photographer, a member of the SVR P-Way team, who spent a very cold start to the day getting points and locking mechs. operating so that services could start:

http://pigfacespre2005railwaysite.fotopic.net/p68462051.html

 

had a very cold day myself guarding the teak set on the 18th!

 

The snow is great for pictures but even if all the trains run it must hit the passenger figures which can not be good as for some railways they are the busiest trains of the year.

Found this on the Internet showing snow clearance today on the Talyllyn, it explains whilst trains were curtailed yersterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckB-XavQbuc

I like the snowman on the buffer beam. they have more pictures on their website of the drifts blocking the line. I presuume other railways may have had similar problems but I have not found from a quick internet search

http://www.talyllyn.co.uk/news/talyllyn-railway-snow-171819-december-2010

 

We managed to run our last weekend of Santa Specials at the PBR with no real problems. Below is a picture of RSH Austerity 71515 coming off shed on Saturday 18 December. Photo by Aled Williams.

 

Two pieces of info re Santas: The Glos-Warks have announced that they have decided for weather-related reasons to cancel their Santas on the 23rd and 24th, and their Boxing Day mince pie specials. Hoping to run their diesel day on the 27th.

The Severn Valley (see announcement on their public website) have had to cancel some of their Xmas Eve Santa departures due to operational problems (thought to be points-related) at Kidderminster.

 

I went to the Bluebell this morning for some lineside shots of the Santa trains in the snow. Very dull and very very cold! Some photos are below, will upload a video over the next few days...

http://ashleysmith355.fotopic.net/c1868998_136.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/sets/72157624840040439/

 

Thanks for posting those Ashley. Looking at the forecast I'll have a drive down to the Bluebell tomorrow. It was either there or GCR again but the forecast is mist for Loughborough, whereas it's sunny intervals for East Grinstead after some overnight snow. Hopefully the roads won't be too bad round there.

 

The Spa Valley Railway at Tunbridge Wells ran a complete 100% Santa Special service. A magnificent effort by dedicated members cleared a foot of snow to enable the first train to run on 4th December. Although some members of staff were unable to travel to the railway to work others came in on unrostered dates to help cover those absent. The roads around Groombridge were impassable for several days and many villagers took the train into Tunbridge Wells to do their shopping. A heavy blizzard during the daytime on the 18th December caused the roads in Tunbridge Wells town centre to come to a standstill but the trains kept moving---on time! Well done to all concerned.