Steel Steam and Stars 4 - March 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 2015

Always nice to see suburban Mk1s out

 

Slight variation next weekend to cover the 5's diagrams, mostly to suit water and coal capacity of locos (as 5199 was booked spare on Saturday and Sunday).

Friday - 3802 replaces 45231.
Saturday - 92214 replaces 45231, 3802 replaces 92214, 5199 replaces 3802.
Sunday - 92214 replaces 45231, 5199 replaces 92214

 

Yeah, but 6880 isn't going to get built by not making money is it...

 

...and don't forget about the error in the timetable mentioned earlier which transposes 3802 (now 5199) and 34092 on two trains!

Sounds like we're going to have to scrawl all over our nice glossy brochures to keep track of what loco is on what train!

 

Is it perhaps time to point out that the SSS events are held to raise money for 6880 Project, and involve a massive investment in hire and haulage of guest locos by the 6880 lads. If people feel happier making a conscious donation rather than buying a brochure, so be it, but no heritage line runs a Gala just out of the kindness of their hearts, and I actually suspect many don't make anything like enough to really justify the time, expenditure and hence risk involved.

Steven

 

Massive is not the word! A rough estimate of the coal bill comes out between 15 and 20k! Transport costs could be 40k or so! Then there's all the little costs here and there, hire of railway and what not. Advertising etc.

These galas are done to make money so they can build an engine. The group has provided a public timetable, without loco diagrams. If you want to know what works which train, it costs a fiver. Not a lot in the grand scheme of things when that money wont even buy you 2 pints (1 in some establishments)! I'm not going to go down the normal path of freeloading photographers, but if you didn't charge anything for the full timetable, then there would be quite a number of people contributing Nil to the costs mentioned above.

Its not as if they are charging for a paper copy of the timetable either, but a very nicely put together glossy paged event guide. Well worth it in my opinion and a nice souvenir of the event (to go with your Beer festival pint glass).

 

Probably best not to, in light of the numerous associated photo charters going on at Llangollen this week...

 

What would you prefer, a change to the locos on the train, or the relevant service cancelled? Realistically these are the only two options. It is stupid blaming the 6880 group for 45231 failing, as it is clearly not their fault. They have put in a lot of effort to organise the event, and are still working hard to try and make sure there is a timetable which works and runs smoothly. If you really don't want to scrawl on the brochure you could just take a photocopy.

 

Of course, I accept that the failure of 45231 is not the fault of the owning group and I accept that this is chiefly a money raising exercise and £5 is not a lot to pay for a glossy brochure if a glossy brochure is what you want.
However, all I'm really interested in is a timetable showing which loco is working which train, so that I know how best to make use of my day rover ticket. I would be quite happy with a photocopied A4 sheet (which is actually more manageable and can more easily show the late loco alterations etc.

 

Does that now mean 3802 will be running the evening service on Friday as well?

 

If the evening service was the 5's diagram then yes.

 

Really enjoyed the event and thanks to all for organising it.

We were also on the train when 45231 suffered its issues, maybe some lessons to be learned in my view as I personally felt some poor decision making occurred at key points with what appeared to be a desire to get the loco back to the Llangollen/shed potentially overriding what was best for the old girl.

It was clear as we travelled from Carrog to Glyndyfrdwy that there was a serious issue, low speed and a distinct missing beat being a give away. When arrived at Glyndyfrdwy, we were told they were having trouble with the cylinder cocks, my immediate thought was that the loco would be removed due to the dangers of trying to compress water in a cylinder and the consequential damage this can cause (or make worse if damage had already occurred).

Next thing we know there is a 9F on the back and as we set off, the coach we were in rose up as the buffers between it and the next coach took the load and tried to override each other. Then we stopped at the loop to await the passing of another train, we got no more than 100m when there was two sudden jolts followed by a series of short blasts of the whistle on 45231. At this point we were dragged back to the loop by the 9F leaving 45231 blocking the line at which point the 9F ran round.

A bit of messing about then to recover her back to the loop, which took some time, before setting off (not sure why the 9f could not be used to pull 45213 and place her behind the train, uncoupled, rather than calling yet another loco forward with the associated issues of token movements etc. but none the less, it worked, all be it a bit longer winded).

Still, made it interesting, we were also stuck in the tunnel at the last SSS so must be jinxed!

 

Far be it from me to question what has actually happened with 45231 but if a beat/ 2 beats are missing it wouldnt be a problem with the cylinder drain cocks. From one of the various videos already posted it sounded and looked the cylinder relief valve was working which points to something else inside the cylinder.

 

I advised the crew of 45231 to put it in the siding at Glyndyfrdwy & call for a spare loco, but somebody subsequently took the decision to proceed.

Bob.

 

Possibly, merely conveying what we were informed by the staff at the time, although if they were stuck open at this stage then the same could result.

Either way, the decision made at this time resulted in a total failure (with what we are told is potentially significant and costly damage) and a blocked line.......

 

Some advice how to avoid negative press...

Rover ticket £20 + brouchure £5 =£25......Having to pay extra to get more info of event can lead to bad press

A Solution
Rover ticket £25 and give the brouchure away as part of ticket price....you could be sneaky and ask for a £1 donation towqrds the cost of brouchure.
This will give you very good publicity and punters will feel they have value for money.

Just an idea...but there again what do I know about galas?

 

That's going to ruin the double-headers. Still, if it can't be helped...

 

Or charge £23 for a rover with a free up to date roster on a sheet of A4, printed last night/this morning. Anyone not buying a rover pays £3 for said sheet of paper and save on the cost of printing glossy brochures therefore reducing the risk of ordering and paying for an excessive quantity. Income may be down but it's bottom line profit that counts...

 

Well, I went along for last Friday and Saturday and have to say it's an impressive railway.
My two mates and me felt that the gala was a bit of a let down, trains seemed to take an age to get anywhere (an hour for ten miles?) and there was endless faffing about changing engines. We didn't like the top and tailing either as it just didn't look authentic. The variation was good but where were the ten engines promised (I know it said up to ten in later adverts), by my reckoning there was only seven over both days.
We got trapped by the Black 5 incident which was a pain, it's a shame it happened especially when obviously qualified people like Thompson 1706 had already advised that there was a problem.
For us a good effort, perhaps seven out of ten, but not quite everything we had expected after reading the publicity.
Hope the gala makes some money for the Grange people anyway.

 

So finally finished editing the set of images from the first weekend of Steam steel ad stars. The railway and surroundings were looking at their very best and despite some operational challenges, everyone seemed to be having a great time. It was lovely to meet several friends there and catch up. However some of the best moments were just spent sitting very high on a hill watching the great scenes unfold below, its a very special place. The full collection of images is now available https://flic.kr/s/aHsk9aKo6A So good I'm coming back on Friday to do it all again.

As regards the brochure, its far more than a working timetable, there is a lot of good content and perhaps people on here might to reflect a lot of gala attendees are not dyed in the wool hard core enthusiasts, there are a lot of retired people, familys and tourists who vist the area for this event, so a larger general publication suits the overall market better. I might be slightly biased, I was surprised and very chuffed to find when I bought my copy that several of my images had been used including my own double spread, it was a great start to the weekend for me

The scenery is stunning, the locos all make a great noise and there is something for everybody at this gala, I strongly recommend you make a trip over if you can.


20150307-LAP_1081.jpg by inspiring.images, on Flickr


20150306-LAP_0792.jpg by inspiring.images, on Flickr


Valley meanderer by inspiring.images, on Flickr


20150308-LAP_0917-Edit.jpg by inspiring.images, on Flickr


20150307-LAP_1089-Edit.jpg by inspiring.images, on Flickr