Severn Valley 2014 Spring Gala.

Has she gone back to Bridgnorth facing south this evening? And what about 1638?

 

She was double-heading with 6435 heading to B'north when I saw her this afternoon. 6435 is north-facing. Didn't see 1638 today but she was facing south last night.

 

Just seen a pic of the bunker to bunker formation of 4566 lead by 6435 on this afternoon's trip.

Shame 6435 wasn't given a solo run with the stock, she used to take 7 on the Kingswear line regularly!

 

Yeah I watched them leave Bewdley like that but put my camera away when I saw them in that formation...

 

With respect to the weight the 64 is allowed to drag around, there are a number of factors that govern weather a loco is allowed to handle longer trains on their own, not just weather it can do it, but owners wishes, water capacity and weather the loadings will place excessive wear on the loco (hence why 4566 and 46443 were dropped to 6 coaches).
Neil, I hope you got some decent photos, I was firing on 2857 this afternoon, and I am duty shed master at Bewdley Tomorrow, but if any of yo are traveling on sunday I might see you for a pint (Personal recommendation is Bewdley Brewery's 2857 or Sir Keith Park)

 

An early start yesterday saw me at Bridgnorth to catch the 08:30am non-stop to Bewdley behind visiting pannier number 1638. Unfortunately non-stop proved to be optimistic, as 2 unscheduled brake applications brought us to a halt outside Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, both of which required inspection and rectification by the crew. Now late, against a sharp 40 minute schedule to Bewdley, 1638 and her crew turned back the clock to show what it must have really been like on the valley line 50 years ago. The pannier and her 2 coaches were opened up soon after leaving Highley and once clear of fisherman's crossing, the regulator was left open until about quarter of a mile short of Arley - quite simply one of the best runs I've ever had down the SVR in over 20 years. The spirited running continued and we arrived at Bewdley a minute early, superb.
The rest of the gala was a little more relaxed against an easy schedule, although there was still some entertaining performances. It was great to ride the auto trains (without paying a supplement), finally get a full line run behind 1501, as well as the larger visitors 7828 & 4936. A nice meal in the engine house and some lovely sunshine (dodging the showers) made for a fantastic day. Well done SVR and all who organised this event.

 

Totally agree with your sentiments. Definitely the best Spring Gala I've been to in a while, and one of my fav SVR gala of all time (still to beat '08 Cambrian!).

The timetable was very relaxed, plenty of time to ride the trains and explore the stations during stops with plenty of variety going on all over the line. 1638 first train certainly was a highlight, as was the 1450/1638 DH last night. Also well done on all the lineside clearance North of Bewdley! Really opened the views up and the journey is a lot more scenic from the constant trees that was there before.

Only down points would be whilst the branchline theme is nice, surely a gala is also about moving people and with the local sets being either an autocoach or 2x Blood/Custard it did get a bit like sardines at times. 1638 could of done with an additional coach, and maybe it would of been worth 1x of the autosets being an auto-sandwich whilst the 2nd autotank operated the Toplights? Would have just increased capacity that little bit more and made some of the 'local' services a bit more comfortable. However they are only small suggestions for next time, and don't want to detract from what is a top quality event. May return tomorrow if I can as I enjoyed yesterday that much.

 

Footage from our windswept day ! Though some nice sunshine was around

 

JBT evans :
"Can anybody help me with finding Little Rock"

I have no idea where it is but the only one I have heard of might be worth visiting if these two ladies are from there! :

 

Three words... what a Gala! Had a great time yesterday on my first visit to the line. If this is on offer it won't be the last!
http://bit.ly/Q1dlb1

 

Why anyone should wish to go to the state capital of Arkansas is beyond me - unless they are going to see Bill Clinton for a few tips on Marital Fidelity.

 

A few scenes from Friday and Saturday;

 

I wished I had been able to hang on for the double header, but the early start and a wish to get back to Wales before it was too dark dictated otherwise. It did seem odd that given this was a western theme gala no GWR stock was out at all yesterday. I know there are concerns about using it every day because the doors require manual shutting, but at an enthusiast event this surely shouldn't be an issue. As much as I like the teak stock it did seem out of place and knowing there were 2 rakes of fantastic GWR coaches sat in the shed at Kidder was disappointing. For me, the SVR is as much about it's carriages as motive power.
I agree an auto sandwich and toplights would have been a good option to increase capacity.
It would have also been nice to see 1638 & 1501 paired up as well as the 2 manors, but I think there are weight restrictions even on the Kidderminster to Bewdley section now - no doubt someone more local would be able to confirm.

 

Genuinely not photoshopped (only for processing the RAW image) - I didnt check whether the plates had been switched too. Did it run like this for all of the Saturday? Was it planned or did one of the Hagley Hall group happen to see an opportunity while it was on shed in the morning? Either way, it was a nice surprise, and hopefully a vision into the future!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/94873334@N05/13351564193

I only visited on the Saturday. An excellent gala, despite the unwanted appearance of the wind and rain on numerous unexpected occasions. In terms of numbers, there didnt seem to me to be as many people there as there has been on previous years, but I cannot comment about Friday or Sunday, so cannot say this for certain. Trains were excellent though - my personal favourite being a delayed 1501 out of Arley at around 4, the raging bull living up to its moniker!

 

Here's my offering from a very enjoyable day at the valley yesterday, managed to avoid the rain for the most part! Enjoyed see 1638 for the first time, and 4566 looked amazing in her new livery.

 

My footage from the Saturday of the gala.

 

That was me, 84A, attempting, with some success, to repair a 30 minute tear in the timetable, caused by a signalling fault at Kidderminster, which locked everything, including the train I was relieving at Bewdley, in the station.

A bit of enthusiasm, assisted by some first-class firing by my fireman, Owen, and some sharp work by the guard, Martin, and his TTIs, meant we eliminated most of the deficit by the time we reached Bridgnorth.

KristianGWR, below, has a bit of footage of the departure you enjoyed.

Regards,

jtx

 

my video of the event, with a variety of locations mostly lineside with a few station shots at Bewdley and Hampton Loade. All engines bar 4936 feature.

 

I saw her on Saturday evening and noticed the number but didn't quite realise that it wasn't her own! The plates were kept as per 4936.

 

Alan - Re closing doors on GW stock - enthusiasts are on average no better informed re having to manually return handles to horizontal than gen Public. At the autumn gala from a distance I witnessed the folowing - slam door - slam harder - turn handle wilh door open and slam, door flies open even more violently. Platform staff got there before me and resolved situation. It is fairly clear that some form of stock allocation, other than the full WTT, is required as the GW setwas scheduled for sunday. Note: even though off duty I found myself tweaking door handles on this set prior to its departure from KD

Dave