WSR 2011 Spring Gala

What a truly awesome 5 days at the WSR staring on Wednesday afternoon enjoying Britannia & the Auto Train in action as a gala weekend bonus. My Dad & I have been going to this gala for 6 years... the is the 1st time we've caught a break with the weather. It was awesome to see the Brit back after so long and she does look the business in black. However, star of the show for me was 2807. We had a fantastic run up to Blue Anchor from Bishops Lydeard with her on the Saturday and I have to say she's one photogenic loco - just about all my best shots from the weekend were of this loco. Looked the business on the freight and equally so on the passenger trains.... in fact it just looked the business on the WSR period! Thanks to all who put in the work to put a wonderful show together.

A couple of shots for you.... will get a few more up in the coming days!!

 

A nice shot of 2807 there Andrew and good to see you again even if it was from a carriage window.
My photos from a fairly murky, for the most part, second weekend are now on my new photo site.
http://paulgildersleve.smugmug.com/

Cheers,

Paul

 

Three sunny days and no rain for a West Somerset Spring Gala...impossible!

Many thanks to the West Somerset Railway for making this such an enjoyable event. One or two quibbles about the lack of Britannia and chimney first locos on the most popular day, Saturday, but the other days more than compensated and we all had a great time. Britannia and 2807 put on some excellent performances, although legendary Arthurian Sir 'Leakalot' remained modestly hidden behind a smokescreen.

Video for the first couple of days: http://www.youtube.com/user/steamontheweb

Mike

 

Heres my video of sunday 27 March. Really enjoyed the day. Managed to get two nice shots of Britannia which was one of my aims for the day.. Great Gala as usual from the West Somerset Railway,many thanks to EVERYBODY involved in putting on a fantastic show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7UqQhLIJKw

 

Alright Pauly.... was good to see you too, for a min a thought you were off on another one of those long walk of yours ;-)

Thanks for the comment about my photo... quite pleased with that one myself

I really like this one of yours http://paulgildersleve.smugmug.com/...ailway-Sunday/16376852_Snzj2#1231536998_etoes

 

Quality viewing as ever Snowy!! What ever happened to your own website though?

Was good to see you Thursday morning stumbling around as usual at Watersmeet ;-)

 

Have to agree with previous comments, an excellent gala with the added bonus of some great weather. First part of my video including scenes from Wednesday to Friday now uploaded;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3f-F_A5foc

 

I like the one of 6430 & auto under the bridge at Williton. That new footbridge really ads something to the station( not the obvious!)
Had a brilliant day on 6430 on the Wed. I was the fireman.

 

From Orion

got back late last evening from the gala, and most enjoyable it was too. It was noticeable that there were fewer visitors, particularly on Sunday, and it was very noticeable that there was no activity at the S&DT site at Washford. Why was this?



Reply
We had problem with one of the injector steam valves leaking by on the Peckett and is having some work done to it off site. Hence our lack activity which was a disapointment to us as well.

 

Thank you for this, and I'm sorry for your disappointment.

Regards

 

I have uploaded my film of the Saturday of this event to YouTube. Amongst other sequences it features KEI and Britannia double heading on Washford bank and Sir Lamiel being turned at Minehead. I hope everyone enjoys it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gWt97i6Pq8

Regards

 

Good video's.

 

Second and final part of my video from the gala;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhv2gVcjy8w

Thanks to all involved at the WSR for such a great event.

 

Pleased so many enjoyed the event and yes it was good to have the home fleet in action; I had three firing turns all on home engines, 5553 Thurs 24th on the 0920 MD Goods & return on 1200 BL, round trip on 88 (shame she was tender first both ways) on Fri, and 5553 on the Dunster Shunt on Sat 26th. We were really lucky with the weather, though not so good on the final Sunday, I understand passenger figures were up on last year's event.

 

I had a brilliant weekend, on the trains mostly on Friday and lineside Sunday, shame the weather was dull until late afternoon Sunday but still very nice. A few photos are on Flickr, videos from Friday, Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday to follow!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/sets/72157626389112206/

 

I have uploaded my film of the Friday and Sunday of this event. It features Sir Lamiel, Britannia, 2807 and the Autotrain with the residential locos as well.

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

Regards

 

Good video's again. What a good railway the WSR is!
Just a question to you video men, why dont you pan with the engines when they go past you? Surely a rake of carriages looks equally as good going away with the engine on front!

 

I do pan when it's possible, but quite often there are other things in the way, like people, bridges etc. Also, if the film is running over the time that YouTube permit, I do edit down the video to suit and the carriages can quite often be a victim of this.

Personally, I would prefer to see as many trains, and as many locations, in a video as possible and my films reflect that preference. There are videos published on YouTube where the photographer specialises on long shots and the film comprises of just three or so long panning shots from the same location. Not for me!

Regards

 

Many thanks for uploading the videos and photos to view, it most certainly looked to be a very enjoyable and interesting gala.
Cheers Phil.

 

Yes, really enjoyed my two days there. Loco of the gala for me had to be 70000, particularly on the last Sunday when crews seemed to have got used to her, and opened her out a bit. She sounded awesome on Crowcombe Bank! 70000 was closely followed by 30777, as I had spent the previous four years trying to see her, and the gala finally gave me the chance to get some fairly decent photos and a ride behind her. I was really impressed with how she has been kept by the 5305 L. S. chaps, and all credit to them. I also didn't realise just how handsome the N15s actually are (even with the 'blinkers' on), as photography doesn't seem to do them justice!