SVR Autumn Gala 17-20th September

Stunning light for the Scot's first run up Bewdley Bank this morning - very impressive performance as well... looked superb on the maroon set!



Britannia at Bewdley just now...

James

 

This ones for everyones favorite Yorkshireman @Victor , mate just had 46100, it made a lovely sound and Im now in Bridgo having a rather nice pint of Jaipur! What a top day I'm having!

 

I can almost taste my first pint, at Stourbridge 15 mins to the King and Castle and then Sir Keith Park to Bridgnorth

 

Just got to say that despite all the wailing and nashing of teeth re the timetable I have had a cracking 2 days so far. Trains are very full today but crowds are friendly. Just happily hung from a door window of a an LMS coach behind 46100 from Bridgnorth to Kiddy - magic!

 

My God it's busy, the 15.06 off Highley behind 46100 was similar to my normal Friday night commute. She was looking amazing though.

 

Just starting to quieten down a little bit now compared to the late morning services. Nestled myself down in the gw set for my second trip behind the Scot...sounded fantastic out of bridgo this morning.

 

Don't see how they are going to top this next year - a BR green A3 is hardly as am exciting as 46100

 

Arrived at Kiddy, getting the first pint in before hopping on the 1733. Let the fun begin!

PS if you see a young looking chap in an England rugby top, that's me.

 

Well the trains were certainly crowded but the timetable is still IMHO naff. And who decide to only put one coach on the 0-4-2 tank?

 

CB Collett ...

Tom

 

46100 this morning:

https://flic.kr/p/yMxpg6

 

A

Auto coaches are often that way

 

Dusk, full rake of GW Coaching stock, eight coupled freight plus a fresh pint of Bathams = bliss!

 

They are, but the SVR normally, rather sensibly, adds additional coaches and in fact there is one timetable late in the day with two. As it was the train was full including standing passengers 20 minutes before departure.

 

My video and a few photos from an enjoyable Thursday of the gala.



4566 on Taster Course at Kidderminster


46521 with a goods run north of Bewdley


34027 'Taw Valley' arriving at Bewdley with a train for Bridgnorth


70000 'Britannia' departing Hampton Loade for Bridgnorth


1450 with the royal train conveying the Duke Of Gloucester shortly after departing Hampton Loade


46100 'Royal Scot' stands at Highley prior to departure for Kidderminster


46521 passes 70000 'Britannia' at Highley with the goods train bound for Kidderminster

 

Tenbury Wall this evening...

James

 

Just driven from Fflint to Old Warden and back in one day for the Bedfordshire Steam Fayre. Just a few hours of sleep and off to the SVR in the early morning. CAN'T WAIT!

 

Give me ashout

 

The 2-8-0 from bridgenorth to kiddy with 8 and a manor doing nothing was run of the day for me

 

Had a good day yesterday, but have to agree - the timetable is really disappointing. This was my 22nd consecutive autumn gala, so I hope I can speak with some experience! If locals had been added then some of the overcrowding issues could have been avoided. this is a 50th anniversary gala, the locals have always been an integral part of autumn galas, why remove them? the capacity, loco's and carriages exist, why not use them? When you're crammed like a sardine it isn't good to see spare loco's, platforms and stock.
Catering was also an issue yesterday, I deliberately went for the 08:30am train only to find the breakfast service was not operating as advertised. Hung on until Bridgnorth to be faced with a 35 min wait for hot food. The sausage was like a chipolata and they had withdrawn proper cutlery in favour of cheap plastic stuff that broke as soon as you tried to use it - not good enough Svr.. & not worth £5. And very different from the cracking meal I had at kidder later in the day.
Aside from these grumbles, the Scot, Brit and West Countries were sublime. The drivers were attempting to get into gala spirit, however, the timetable was so slack there was still much hanging around. THE after dark running is still special and the visiting loco's were great, but this was way down on what the Svr is capable of.