GWSR General Discussion and Operations

Rubbish Gala Just Let The Diesel Boys Have Their Day, All You Are Doing Pissing Everyone Off Steam Dept Have Been Taken Advantage Of Again Nothing Worse Than Seeing A Steam Loco Acting As Glorified Steam Heat Boiler Under The Guise Of A Mixed Traction Gala.
As Far As The New Time Table Unimpressive Just More Diesels With The Odd Day Of Three Steam Engines!!!!

 

Content apart, something which I won't comment on, just curious as to why every single word of your post starts with a capital letter? I'll guess the lack of any punctuation is for the usual reasons.

 

Well actually I think quite a few people are interested enough in both steam and diesel to be attracted by the proposition of a gala offering a good helping of both. It is also entirely possible that they are doing a mixed traction gala (as opposed to a purely steam gala) for reasons such as poor financial takings from previous all-steam crackers, or it may be easier to find a mixture of steam and diesel crew than all steam crew at that time of year.
I highly doubt that the steam locos will be, as you put it, "A glorified steam heat boiler". The steam locos will be earning their keep, in fact if anything I think if you were in a situation with a steam loco at the front and diesel at the back, the steam loco would be doing most of the work and the diesel would just be taking the strain of itself. In no way have the steam department" been "Taken advantage of", and I do not think that everybody has been pissed off.
Here's a free tip for you. Try viewing things with a more positive outlook. It makes life much more fun

 

As only 6948 has heat it would be bloody cold on the rest of the trains gave up going to the winter diesel gala because of this a sensible move to have a mixture of traction plenty of time for diesel haulage during the warmer months

 

I was at Swanage yesterday where the line-up was 30120, 31806, 41312 and D6515. Although the visiting Ivatt and the newly repaired T9 were the star turns, when I was linesiding and the Crompton went past. only a tiny handful of fellow-photographers didn't bother to take a picture or expressed any negative comments. Most people I talked to were happy to have a geographically appropriate diesel in the mix along with the steam locos, especially as its green livery neatly matched the stock. Furthermore, I don't think the people I met at Swanage are necessarily unique; on the main line, trips combining a Castle with a Western or Tornado with a Deltic will sell.

 

I couldn't agree more, particularly the point about a more positive outlook!

 

Didn't know the PC police were about, we will just bury our heads in the sand and think every thing in the garden is coming up roses.
Your assumptions are incorrect.
When you have given most of life to the railway only to be treated in the manor that we have been treated then you might be a little disenfranchised

 

How about actually contributing something constructive to help us ignoramuses understand what we are missing or getting wrong, instead of simply chucking around ill mannered veiled critisisms?

 

Being politically correct just means not being rude, not sure why that's such a problem (or indeed needed mentioning at all)?

 

One positive contribution I can offer, is that ‘mixed’ Galas don’t really work.

The diesel enthusiasts are disappointed by the paths taken up with steam services.

Steam enthusiasts or the general public are generally disappointed when they get a diesel.

So best to keep them separate - as the Swanage does very successfully.

I love both, but not mixed up.

Robin

 

It might also be helpful if they weren't completely anonymous.

 

Uh, no. An earlier age (e.g. Victorian/Edwardian) was huge on 'manners' - of which politeness was a major one. I don't think anyone would accuse them of being 'PC' (although of course they had many issues of their own).

And for some actual Broadway-related content (apologies for the prior off-topic, but...), what's next at Broadway, once work resumes? It seems power is arriving - are the doors in yet?

Noel

 

7828 Odney Manor was the 1st ex-BR steam locomotive to be restored to working order on the GWSR. Perhaps you mean 7820 Dinmore Manor, which is currently based on the Railway.

 

I hardly think encouraging you to have a more positive attitude and trying to suggest a mixed gala might be a success can be described as "political correctness". It is merely my personal preference to look on the positive side of things objecting to a post which is solely negative without anything constructive in it. It is possible to express discontent without making it sound like a rant or a strop.
I concede, I was making assumptions, but they were based on my experiences from talking to other enthusiasts. Perhaps those enthusiasts are not representative of the thoughts of enthusiasts across the country as a whole, but I was not making a blind guess.
If you are becoming disenfranchised simply because the steam department have been asked to run a service on the same day as some diesels, then I think you are massively over-reacting. If this is just the latest in a long line of incidents, may I put forward the following points:
1: Why is this the first I have heard about discontent among the steam department at Toddington? If there were actions that were continually frustrating a large group among the steam department (which your final statement hints at), then I would expect to have heard some indication of it on NP or social media. But you are the first person who is involved at Toddington (again, which I am assuming from your posts) who has expressed any sort of frustration at the actions or decisions being made by the railway's hierarchy
2: If this is a long standing issue, why not challenge the railway's management about it? That will be far more constructive (and result in far less negative perceptions about the railway and/or its management or volunteers) than posting a rant on a preservation forum
3: If you have tried this without success, perhaps it might be worth reviewing whether you think it is worth either deciding to make peace with the aspects of the railway you are not happy with, or if this is not possible, perhaps looking to find another railway to devote your spare time to
4: The word you are looking for is "manner". This describes the way in which something is done. "Manor" is the name for a large country house, 30 of the Great Western's small 4-6-0s being named after examples of this building
5: My point about taking a positive outlook still stands. You may be frustrated about some of the ways in which the GWSR is being run, but look at what the line has achieved in 33 years. You have one of the most faithful recreations of a part of the Great Western network (in fact, of a steam-era railway full stop) in the country. You are just a few months away from opening a new station which has been almost completely rebuilt/constructed new (I'm hazy on the specifics) and extending your route length. There are railway organisations which would kill to have the resources in terms of finances, people, rolling stock and stations that you have. Try celebrating the things you are happy with before complaining about the areas that in your view could be improved.

 

I think this bit may have been added later as I hadn't spotted it. Who is "we" please? I wasn't going to press as to who you were, but if it's a group I think it's more reasonable to ask. I'm well aware that we're not perfect or without politics (which railway is!?) but if anything I'd been led to believe the atmosphere in the SLD has even improved in the last 5 years or so. For the record I've been a full volunteer since I was 14 and been made most welcome by both departments I am a member of.

 

Correct. My post just below his quoted the then full text.

 

Sorry but I disagree. You need to understand the context of this event - which has been successfully run as a mixed traction running day for several years now. It's meant to be a relaxed end of year event, in the spirit of Christmas, not a full blown gala - an enjoyable day for both staff and visitors alike. It brings the diesel and steam crews together and has done much to foster closer relations and an appreciation of each other's charges. Both steam and diesel locos get to 'work' with load 10 or 11 equivalent with an idling loco on the back - only one train (for positioning purposes) is double headed. Have yet to encounter anyone who's not really enjoyed it. It works at this time of year. Fortunately the world has moved on and the perception of 55-60 year old heritage diesels as 'modern' traction with its own niche following is now largely a thing of the past with most people.
The GWR's successful diesel and steam galas are run as separate events in the Spring and Summer.

 

Moderator what in gods name has this thread drift about mixed galas got to do with the thread title "Broadway"

 

I agree, despite an attempt to put it back on track

 

I have been enjoying following the Broadway Station Rebuild thread for some time - it should stand as an example to the rest of us in 'getting things done'. However it seems to have been 'hijacked' into some sort of Diesel v Steam Gala nonsense. If people wish to continue this please do it on a separate thread so those who wish to ignore it, can do.
Ray.