SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

D1062, D821, D8059 and 50031 out on Sunday. As mentioned 43106 on the diner. So no steam on normal services.

 

It doesn't appear to have been mentioned here yet so I will pass on the good news that 2857's boiler returned to the frames yesterday afternoon by way of the boilershop overhead crane. I don't need to tell you all that this is a major step to getting the old girl back in traffic. The 2857 society (including myself) will be hard at work on the loco on Saturday, so do come and say hello if you're planning on making a visit to peep behind the scenes. Even if it is mainly magic boxes in service, there's plenty to see!

Here's the photo posted on the SVR twitter site: https://twitter.com/svrofficialsite/status/225982645878812673/photo/1/large

Also, the SVR engineering department now has it's own twitter feed, delivering news directly from the works manager and boiler shop manager. Here's the link: https://twitter.com/svrengineering

 

Fair point, but it is notable that the services on which 4965 was advertised were to all intents and purposes mainline VT/WCRC operated affairs, not 'normal' heritage railway services.

 

Didn't say it was the customer's fault. But all lines can only make best of what they have avaialble, which is what happened in the circumstance being spoken of here at SVR. The advertised steam driving experience was run with steam, the passenger service (steam hauled subject to availability) ran with a diesel due to avaialilbility issues with the steam locos.

As for CVR, we advertise a heritage train ride, only time we advertise steam is for the Santa Specials. Yes we try our best to run steam but from time to time we can't provide such as was the case earlier this year when we had no steam engines. At least SVR had one!

 

Yes there are very good practical & safety reasons why boiler washouts are not deferred. The washout is not just that but importantly also gives regular opportunity for inspection of the boiler & firebox, an essential part of the continued safe operation of the locomotive. Washouts & inspections take place at intervals defined by the Safety Management System on each heritage railway. This loco will have reached the maximum number of permitted steamings before a washout becomes due.

 

Severn Valley Railway Locomotive and Carriage Engineering Services has this plus updates on 1501 and Hunslet No3794, Furness Railway 150 ‘Cumbria’

Patrick

 

Why do you think that the SVR would state that on passenger trains steam haulage is subject to availability but not put a similar clause in their contracts with regard to footplate experience. I would expect every railway does as you have to cover your backside in case it does not run be it due to the weather, crew shortages mechanical problems etc. Who is to say a loco about to go off shed on a footplate experience will not be failed?

As I have said I think the SVR made the correct call but to believe it is because of a subject to availability clauses being was written in on passenger trains but not footplate experience trains is a long way from the mark

 

And don't forget also that 9600 + 9466 came onto the SVR with a VT working (including Ironbridge) a couple of years ago.

They were scheduled to work back from Bewdley to TYS but were instead serviced at Kidderminster before returning to conserve coal & water. The VT working was worked too & from Bridgnorth by 5764 & 4566 double headed.

The imminent upgrading of the SVR/NR connection at Kidderminster will make such moves easier for the future.

 

An apology for the current troubles is now on the SVR website. It states that this is a short term issue that should be sorted in a couple of weeks. With 34053 on test, 1501 imminent and 2857 coming together nicely, then I can see light at the end of the tunnel. Personally i'm quite looking forward to some Manor and Western hydraulic traction tomorrow!

 

http://www.svr.co.uk/pdf/brochures/1070X7_FootplateExperience_5F.pdf

Whilst every effort will be made to maintain courses,
the Company reserves the right to cancel or suspend
them without notice.

The Footplate Experience - General Information

Conditions of Booking

If we cancel your course:

Whilst every effort will be made to operate Footplate Experience Courses on the dates advertised and agreed, there may be occasions when we have to curtail or cancel a course for operational reasons. If we cancel your course we will offer you:

An alternative date or
A full refund of the course fee


We will not reimburse travel or accommodation charges associated with a curtailed or cancelled course.

I agree

Patrick

 

I hope it does not hit the passenger figures to hard as whilst I appreciate there wil be some who come because of the diesels I would not want families, who I presume will make up the majority of passengers this time of year, deciding not to come at what is presumably the SVR's busiest time outside Christmas.

Losing 5% of numbers over a peak holiday period is I expect much worse say week than loosing 5% off a week in April say

 

Sh*t happens.

We all know that the SVR didnt have any enough locos in reserve to cover for these failures.
We arent the first railway to go through this nor I suspect will we be the last.

Once we get past this little run of bad luck with failures. 3 locos return. 34053 is immenent, 2857 is coming along quickly, 1501 is in the final stages of assembly.
It is just a run of bad luck with failures.

Just be glad that we have a strong diesel fleet to continue running the service rather than cancelling weekends and midweek services. The management have done the right thing and coming clean and honest to the punters. Remember that 90% of the income comes from average Joe.

 

Once again, a mainline tour visit, not a hire period running service trains with SVR crews. When was the last time a Tyseley owned locomotive was hired out to a heritage railway to operate part of their services, for a gala or as a hire-in to boost loco numbers. My guess is the 90s when I think Clun did a bit of visiting, and since then they've gone right off the idea. Which is their prerogative, I am not criticising that decision. Just trying to explain to those people who say 'hire in from Tyseley, easy!' that it isn't an option.

 

It certainly doesn't look that way but there were other options on the market which the SVR didn't take up. It always looked an engine short even with 34053. 80072 and/or 4936 would have been good additions to the fleet for this year.

 

Both 80072 and 4936 have gone elsewhere, and after its spell at the NYMR last year I'm pretty sure that 80072 was already booked for the following season before it even went home; I wouldn't be surprised if it was already booked for next year as well!

 

Plenty of people travelling on Saturday and nobody seemed too unhappy about the diesel traction, but the reasons were clearly visible on posters around stations. There were plenty diesel fans about and clearly the diesel drivers were enjoying the extra opportunities to show off there steeds, with some very decent thrash on offer! I certainly didn't mind the hydraulics, but my missus wasn't that impressed! Looking forward to having some steam engines back though and 1501 really does look the business.

 

34053 Sir Keith Park made it to Kidderminster on a test run this evening, seen here not half an hour ago...

 

I spent most of yesterday at the SVR, with two steam trips (43106) and two diesel ones (50031 and D8188) and didn't hear a single passenger complaining about the diesels. What I did hear, more than once, were members of SVR staff taking the time and trouble to explain in some detail to curious visitors what the situation was. No attempt to pretend that everything in the steam garden was rosy, no changing the subject, just very clear and helpful explanations. Well done.

As already mentioned, there were also prominent and clear "An apology" notices at stations -- though curiously, only Bridgnorth's mentioned specific locos (1501, 2857 and 34053) that were expected to be in traffic soon. Of course, people could still see plenty of steam locos, at the Engine House and at Bridgnorth, even if most of them weren't running, so probably that helped. Other than one minor thing (are the gents at Arley usually locked at 4.30 pm?) I didn't have the slightest problem all day.

Also, to get back on topic and talk of actual locos again, what a fine sight 34053 is in that photo above. I wish I'd still been in Bewdley yesterday evening to see it go past! Very much looking forward to its entry into traffic once everything's in place.

 

Likewise - it looks superb.

 

According to https://www.facebook.com/pages/GWR-Pannier-Tank-3650/306116932779469 3650 is going to the Severn Valley on Thursday for a few weeks.