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Steel Steam and Stars III

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by admin, Mar 28, 2011.

  1. lewis.maddox

    lewis.maddox Member

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    Cavalcade ran an hour late in very window conditions.

    The 14.35 train was also cancelled presumable to gain time...unfortunately it didn't work and the 15.50 departed an hour late. A case of late running also plaguing trains today, not helped by the atrocious mix of wind/rain/cold conditions!

    Thanks,
    Lewis
     
  2. Waterbuck

    Waterbuck Member

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  3. lewis.maddox

    lewis.maddox Member

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  4. frazoulaswak

    frazoulaswak Member

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    Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to look at my photos from six days of SSSIII, and especially to those who have given feedback here.
    Unfortunately, the awful weather and the prospect of a three plus hour journey home was enough to convince me to abandon plans to see the cavalcade yesterday, so I have no images to show from the final day. That aside, it was an excellent gala which I really enjoyed, whether I was photographing or travelling on the trains. My congratulations to the Llangollen Railway in general and the Betton Grange Society in particular for their efforts, and I sincerely hope that the latter will be in a position to order 6880's new cylinder casting soon.

    The full set of my images from six days of SSSIII is available here - Mick Rogers Photography | Steel, Steam & Stars III - 23rd to 29th April 2012

    There will be at least one video added in due course.

    Cheers,
    Mick
     
  5. Clive Hanley

    Clive Hanley Member

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  6. Foxhunter

    Foxhunter Member

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    I'd just like to say "thank you" to the L.R., Betton Grange boys and all the supporting cast for a splendid week. As a member of one of the visiting crews I can safely say we were well looked after and had a tremendous time (despite the weather!).

    I have to admit I was awestruck to see the three new sets of frames in the works.... when was a sight like that last seen?

    Foxy
     
  7. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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  8. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    My rather mediocre pics from yesturday due to the weather: Steel, Steam & Stars (& Soaked!) III - a set on Flickr

    Weather aside, the Railway put on a really good show and I quite enjoyed my two round trips, though the first one in the brakevan behind the Coal Tank was rather akin to a white knuckle ride at Alton Towers with the gales and driving rain blowing through!, had a second drier run behind 60163 in the Maroon Mk1's.

    Well done guys for ironing out the problems after the first weekend and making a pretty decent event despite the weather.
     
  9. RA & FC

    RA & FC Well-Known Member

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    I think you were right with that!!!
     
  10. glynsgirl

    glynsgirl Member Moderator

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    Any pictures of our dog Mia ( little terrier in hivis) will be great :) thank you xx
     
  11. Clive Hanley

    Clive Hanley Member

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  12. Taliesin

    Taliesin New Member

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    You'll like this then... DSCF4159.JPG
     
  13. 49010

    49010 Well-Known Member

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    Brought the old man down for Saturday 28th. He is not one for giving praise freely but he was very impressed with the line (which he'd never ridden before - even in "the old days"), the scenery, the mix of locos ("I never thought I'd ride behind a Caley" he said) the stock - everything. In spite of all the negativity that has been shown on this thread I really enjoyed my two visits to the Gala. Shame about the weather but this is the British Isles and it was April after all.

    Thank you to one and all, keep your chin(s) up, don't let the moaners get to you and good luck with raising funds for the Grange. Looking forward to returning for the Autumn Gala.
     
  14. JohnRobinson

    JohnRobinson Member

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    Finally put my pictures up from sundays torrential rain and low temperture. Despite that I still rate it as the best gala since SSS11 with all the other attractions to see and do - (pictures of traction engines / models / static and titling exhibits still to add)

    Steel,Steam & Stars III- Llangollen- 2012 - Steaming Around the North


    enjoy

    John
     
  15. lil Bear

    lil Bear Part of the furniture

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    I think despite all the issues (which the organisers are aware of) most people have similar feelings to yourself, they've gone away still having had a good visit. The event has made a profit for 6880, which at the end of the day is what it was all about. So despite there being more difficulties than SSS1+2 its still achieved its aims. Should there be a SSSIV I would think the issues will be addressed, but at present nothing has been confirmed by the 6880 Board and I think its best we let them take a well earned rest after what must of been a stressful week.
     
  16. Waterbuck

    Waterbuck Member

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    Is this the little mite ? =

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    The 34081 team had a great time by all accounts in spite of the weather and raised a few bob for the loco at the same time. I was told today that 92 Squadron Ale was in demand with the NatPres team. Well done lads, see you at SSS4.
     
  18. admin

    admin Founder Administrator

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    And very nice it is too
     
  19. waterbucket

    waterbucket New Member

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    Afternoon All,

    I was at the gala for the full nine days and overall had a great time! Full credit to all the staff and volunteers involved with both the Betton Grange Society and The Llangollen Railway for putting in a massive effort to stage such an event. The staff were all extremely friendly and without exception very helpful and willing to answer any questions or just have a pleasant chat. To those guys in the Beer Festival who seemed to be there every night a huge thanks for a very friendly welcome and a great selection of beers!!

    Whilst I hate to put a sour note on the event I feel there are a few points I have to make and being involved in the operation of a preserved railway myself I hope these points can be appreciated in the context they are meant...that is constructively to learn from in the future because I hate having a moan but after spending so much time at the event there's a few things that stand out for me.

    Firstly the ticket pricing structure seemed overly complicated with those on the entrance gate at Llan sometimes getting themselves confused. One of my friends travelling Thurs and Fri was charged £31 and another £38 for the same ticket (until I pointed this out and it was corrected). We were led to believe evening tickets would be available but these were not clearly advertised at Llan. On asking one of the TTIs on the train he didn't know anything about it but very kindly found out from one of the 6880 guys. However a post then appeared on this forum that contradicted both the prices and times of validity of the information we'd been given. Incidentally the post on here was completely correct!

    Secondly from an operating point of view the first weekend can only be described as chaos! The timetable had several errors including timetabled head on collisions which then led to things slipping from the first departure off Carrog to Llan on the Saturday and the second passenger departure from Llan to Carrog on Sunday which sat at Goods Junction for about 20 mins. Also our last train we rode on Sunday was the freight which arrived back at Llan 108 minutes late. The thing that stood out to me was that when the timetable started to slip there was no obvious effort being made to sort things out. Staff appeared to show no urgency to want to regain time. There was hardly any information given on board the trains to those having to sit and wait in passing loops for what seemed like hours on end by Sunday evening. Credit to the crew on the freight on Sunday afternoon who did try and get some info from the Signalman but he was telling them to just sit and wait whenever they called up. Consequently a lot of negative comments were heard from those people who are not quite as into trains as the rest of us and my group actually resorted to taking bets as to how long we'd be sat at each loop. Even a blackboard saying 'sorry trains are running xxmins late' would have helped. I was able to glean much more information from reading this forum than I did from actually being at the railway!

    Now I know the above seems like a pretty harsh moan and I do appreciate the restrictions of a single line railway with passing loops and that once delays occur it is difficult to regain time. Problems with a train being stuck in a tunnel and low water capacity on the coal tank I appreciate obviously didn't help. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were a lot better but when the delays had already mounted to 40mins by 2:30pm on Thursday with just a two train service in operation (with again no info as to why) I had to leave the railway for fear of just losing it and getting really mad at someone.

    In comparison to the previous weekend the railway really showed what it could do on Friday and my feelings were in complete contrast to the previous day and it for me was probably the best day of the gala. A few delays occured on Saturday but I thought the railway managed them sensibly and ensured they didn't escalate too much. Unfortunately the problems returned on Sunday with the cancellation of the 10:50am due to problems with Brittania. Again nobody told people what was happening and it was only from overhearing another conversation that we knew of the cancellation. The next departure was duly announced over the tannoy but made no mention of the previous cancellation as if the train never existed. Unfortunately with the timetable slipping and the rain not helping we bailed out at lunchtime and headed home.

    So as I said earlier and I must reinforce the point after my moans above we did have a good week...but it could easily have been a great week!! If there is one thing to take from me it's please please please tell people what's happening when delays occur! Even if it's someone walking through the train saying 'sorry i don't know how long we'll be stuck here for' then that's better than nothing. Staff were quite happy to walk through the train selling raffle tickets etc but seemed to disappear when things started to go to pot. The event seemed to be in contrast to SSS2 which was fantastic and the reason that I was there for the whole week this time so to come away quite frustrated is a real disappointment for me!

    Phil
     
  20. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Im sure the new guys doing this event will have learnt by experience as to what works and what needs refinement for any future event, some of the slickest events on others lines started out with dodgy problems initially.
     

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