SVR Autumn Steam Gala on 23 -25 September 2011

Doesn't alter the point that the SVR could have got more out of the visits by spreading them out

 

Its at the Mid Hants over half term, who have reschuduled their own Autumn Steam Spectular (from 9-11 Sept to 28-30 Oct) to enable Tornado to take part. I do have the same school of thought though regarding bringing in 60163 for its own week as it will attract people to visit the railway who probably would go to the ASG anyway. Defo avoiding 60163 trains at this gala.

 

You've missed the issue here. It's not that its another guest loco on top of what is already booked. Its the fact its 60163, which brings masses of followers with her from both the Joe Public and the Enthusiast markets. Bringing these extra people in for what is already one of your busiest weekends of the year is going to make some trains and places rather busy to say the least at times, especially on the Saturday.

We are merely raising concern at the potential for overcrowding at times, and that this may put some people off coming (which already seems to be true going by some people's responses). Obviously we can't change anything but that still doesn't mean we can't raise our concerns/opinions. Having Tornado visit for her own event like you did in 2009 seems a much better solution, though obviously that can't be in October 2011.

 

Another concern for me is that for 60163's visit in 2009 the rake she hauled was formed of 9 or 10 coaches. I doubt this will be possible at the autumn gala due to loop lengths etc, but if this does happen thats a bad move because this will take coaches from other rakes which shouldn't be shortened. I don't get why the SVR run with full line rakes of 6 on some sets at galas sometimes (with spares sitting in sidings) as they are simply overcrowded, especially on Saturdays. I know some engines are restricted like 78019, 3717 and 9017 to load 6 but I do think a minimum of 7 should be used but where possible full line sets made up of 8.

 

Let's bear in mind that desperately uncomfortable overcrowding is not a uniquely SVR issue, nor a uniquely 60163 issue. Galas, as far as I can tell, seem to be getting busier and busier. The GCR gala in January was very crushed, and I can't say that I truly enjoyed a single journey whilst there - I ended up staying at Quorn for most of the day.

I don't know when you saw carriages sitting idle and six coach sets, if a coach is sitting idle you can guess there is something the matter with it. The only thing I can think of close to this is at the 2008 gala the GW set was split to provide for the locals. Every other set was 7 or 8.

You can bet though that if a mucky Mk1 was put on the back of the GW set to provide seating numbers everyone would moan and gripe about lost photo opportunities!

 

Of course, this partly assumes that Tornado will attract the same numbers a second time around.
Also I should point that during the last visit, I did notice that the non-reserved part of the train was full but some of the reserved part was free. So, as it won't have a reserved bit this time, it might not need to be a full 9 or 10.
Overcrowding is a problem which can only have so much done to prevent it. During the summer, with the kids for a quid promotion, many days had full trains, even on the 1.00pm departure fom kiddy which is rare. Even extending the sets to 8 coaches didn't prevent crowded trains. I'm sure the gala commitee have had it pointed out to them and they will try to organise it in a way to reduce the risk.
Of course, the SVR have yet to confirm Steam Railway's report, so we could be wastling our time.

 

Very true, it is a balance between providing a service and doing it in a pleasing way.

 

Anyway, there's long time to go before September, and a lot of locos can fail before then, so it might be a completely different line up eventually.

 

That's true! Steam Railway have been known to get things wrong.

 

They do run some longer coach sets at the galas. I definitely travelled behind 34070 and 7812 with 8/9 coach sets at last years event. I was even behind 5764 on 7! From what I remember there was only 2 coaches not out at ASG10, and the SVR did put information out to say that this was because they were under repair at the time despite their best efforts to have them out. Normally the smaller rakes are used on the shuttles and in the evening/nightime.

The GCR does only run 6coach sets though. One TSO is able to sit 64 is it, with a CK able to hold 42? Just adding/removing 1 coach makes a big difference.

 

And could also explain this observation of coaching stock being left out of use in sidings during the peak events which was made earlier in this thread.

 

The coach used for Driving Experiences (a blood & custard Mk1 BSO I think it is) wasn't in service even though it has been at previous events such as the 60s weekend. I know a SK in Set C had wheel flats. Was there something wrong with the 8th Set L vechile?

 

Very few, I would think and it is a tremendous achievement for the SVR. But in spite of that it is still true that 7 Mk1s weigh about 250 tons empty and that isn't much of a load for a Cl 8 loco. Sorry, but the place for these engines is out on the main line where they can be loaded up to 550-600 tons!

Regards

 

Agreed - the thrill of the mainline cannot be replicated anywhere but on the mainline. However it's the only way of getting engines into contact with the masses at reasonable prices and for a reasonable length of time.

 

Perhaps it's time to follow up Taw Valley's run in the late '80s when it did a trip on the SVR with load 16. My Dad travelled on it and told me that it was booked as load 12 by putting 1 + 1/2 sets together but they apparently didn't bother to split the second set so left it as two full sets coupled together!