Severn Valley Spring Steam Gala - 22/23/24 March 2013

On that basis then, would I be right in saying that 34053 takes the 14:56 off Kidderminster as far as Bewdley, at which point 5164 takes over? It would explain 5164 somehow appeared back at Kidderminster from Bewdley having not gone back on a train.

 

No, it goes light back to KR and takes the 14.56 all the way.

 

Ok thanks. So in that case I assume that 34053 runs light up to Bewdley in order to take the 15:13 local to Kidderminster.

 

So with all this confusion, maybe for 2014 SSG we'll see a proper TT with loco diagrams as we saw for 2012..?

 

Does anyone know if there will be any goods workings

 

No goods workings for this gala I'm afraid.

 

Hopefully, though there was a bit that said the WTT might be put on SVRlive. The timetable is the same for friday and saturday ie same locos and stock.

 

A posting on the SVR forum suggests not for the WTT, but on the plus side bookings offices have been asked to keep a tally of people asking about it, presumably with the view of making it available in the future.

 

Well WTTs for every other day are on SVR Live. If they aren't charging for it hopefully it will be posted on there.

 

Probably not though. Just pointing something out, on the SVR website, it says the evening tickets are valid from 4pm onwards. In fact it is 3.50 so anyone wanting to catch the 3.55 ex-BH can. The next train is more than a hour afterwards, so this makes good sense.

1450 has now arrived! Just 3 more to go then.

 

Like others I have shunned the useless offerings by the SVR in favour of making my own timetable gathering together information I can find from various sources for Friday and Saturday. I was struggling through checking it when I thought the best way to be humiliated for any glaring errors would be by a Natpres audience so here it is.

View attachment 6853 For Friday and Saturday NOTE: Updated version now at top of page 9 of this thread

I hope it will give everyone a better understanding of what's going on especially when people are asking questions about specific trains and can be used by people who don't have the time or energy (and why should they?) to do it themselves.

Red areas indicate a few areas where I'm not sure and have guessed. It is not complete as you can see so if anyone can add to this it would be great, and especially if anyone with the actual WTT could correct me on any point I would be most grateful. If we can get it completely correct I suppose anyone could download it and use it alongside the offical SVR info if they wanted.

Thanks everyone.

 

A few stock correction: the first out of KR is C, next is N(7)+obbo not L, it's L(2) not 2M, '53 is on M. That should help.
EDIT: to make clear- N is LNER, L is LMS, C is blood and custard mark 1's, M is maroon mark 1's.

 

Thanks very much! I always get confused with the official designations for the stock so made up my own for now.

 

Oh yes, it confuses quite a few at first.
The weather is looking interesting...while bbc weather is typically vague, the weather updates on my phone suggest possibly wintery for later in the week.:rolleyes1:
Spring, anyone?:rain:

 

65 ran successfully yesterday following the replacement of the valve rings which was not as straight-forward as it should have been.

 

I must admit I am quite disappointing with the gala timetable. Initially, I was very pleased with the lineup, which I thought was diverse and interesting. I personally choose to take photographs during galas and not ride - I prefer instead to take the train at quieter times. Having added the locomotive allocations yesterday evening, it is quite clear to me that a number of locomotives require turning in order to make this gala viable to those taking photographs. For example, SKP is forwards once on the Saturday during daylight hours, yet has two runs in reverse up until 18:32. Between about 4pm and 7pm on the Saturday (possibly the nicest time to see locomotives), there is a whole list of tender/bunker first runs. If Wadebridge was facing North for the gala, you'd get three forward runs on the Saturday, without affecting the Sunday.

I would never suggest that photographic considerations should be considered over operational efficiency, but I see absolutely no reason why the gala planners would bring in locomotives and then not make full use of their time here. Given the lack of freight as well (presumably saved for a paid charter), I think a lot more could have been done for the masses. Even if you are riding, surely its better to have more locomotive first movements than it is tender/bunker first?

 

Unless you choose to turn locos at each end of the line on each trip (not a possibility at the SVR, is it, and in any case quite time consuming?) then surely you have equal numbers of tender-frst and loco-first movements?

Tom

 

Yes, but my original post referred to hours of daylight.I am not suggesting turning locos during the day, just looking at the moves and realizing that by facing a certain way, you maximise the number of loco first moves during hours in which people can see the engine, which is surely what they have come to see (not wishing to discourage beautiful photographs of tenders of West Country's of course!).

 

Nope, I'd much rather be nearer the loud end thanks!

EDIT: Doesn't reply apply to Bulleids, of course, but in principle! :lol: