SVR Autumn Steam Gala 20th-23rd September 2018

This was my 15th Autumn Gala 13th overnight. It had to be one of the best I've been to. Thursday I got absolutely soaked at Arley but along with Friday everything ran perfectly. Saturday and Sunday not so but i still managed to get everything i wanted, staff/volunteers where pretty good at informing us why and how long we be delayed.

A Duchess, Brittania and Royal Scot what a line up and they certainly performed.. The Q6 was equally good.

However one highlight for me was 7802 on the Sunday afternoon local to Arley with a rake of 6, did she shift..

The overnights as mentioned above in previous posts did have a few idiots, although nothing compared to previous years. Though i overheard a group saying they had come down for a session of drinking with the svr volunteers,one lad in particular (a badly dressed poirot) made a slightly childish insult to a few people in our carriage. I am all for a good time but sometimes a little decorum is required.

On Saturday night with 43106 we had the General Manager as guard so anyone causing trouble would have been pretty foolish.


All volunteers/staff where very friendly and welcoming on the whole. Although a couple of them need to smile little more.

And yes Kidderminster museum still provides a good cup of tea at 3am.

Anyway Bring on 2019..

 

A close study of the working timetable showed that they'd reform the set. They used to do it at midnight or 3 am..

 

My shots from the Saturday and Sunday of the gala - wet weather, but a brilliant event!!

 

The reason was they had some cleaners in to quickly zap through the set at the same time they were adding the extra coaches on hence the eviction. Next time I go I think I'll probably settle down a little earlier so I can guarantee somewhere to sleep; my 9am lecture this morning just didn't happen, neither did the 10 or 11am either!

 

hello
just managed to edit my photos from a great gala what a lineup 63395 and 2857 stole the show for me photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/15931796@N00/
regards

 

I have been to all the asg's since the first all nighter in (was it) 93. I have slept in tents, cars and occasional hotels. Mostly, and for the last 15 years, I have slept on the trains. Compartment stock is best. I managed both nights in a compartment, Friday horizontal and Saturday vertical. By catching the 9.00 ish from Kidder I was able to stay on the same train for 11 hours both nights. I also managed a walk on breakfast as an afterthought.

The SVR ASG has always been the highlight of the steam year. This year was no exception with a Duchess, Brit, Scot and best of all, the Q6. Yes there was late running but, as long as trains were not cancelled, it was still possible to pick your locos etc. The atmosphere after dark is special, the stations magical, especially with oil/gas light and there is always food/drink around. Then there are warm welcomes at all stations, with the waiting room at Hampton Loade a firm favourite.

Thanks again, SVR. Another wonderful gala. Roll on next year.

 

My humble effort from the Saturday and Sunday. A couple of highlights for me were Royal Scot's ascent of Eardington Bank on the Saturday afternoon and filming Britannia at Sandy Lane in the gorgeous evening light on Sunday. I hope you enjoy the video

 

I went on the Saturday and enjoyed the event a good variety of locos something for everyone. I think the organisers got it right going for bigger loco as it seems to be what the public want and most off the trains were full.

 

Some photos covering Friday Saturday and Sunday, plenty to go through so I enjoyed the gala all over again! Once again a massive thanks to everyone who made it happen.

 

Excellent weekend at the gala. Travelled on the Saturday and spent Sunday afternoon by the lineside. Yes the timetable slipped on both of those days, which was a tad frustrating, but wasn't the end of the world.


A few photos from the weekend here.

 

I went on Friday for the first time this year - it was great! My first SVR autumn gala since 2012 and I think this was one of my favourites - loved all the visitors, especially the Duchess in red, she looked stunning. Royal Scot was great, especially being at the front window going up Eardington Bank. Video of that to come.
Here's my video from Friday:

Enjoy!

 

Have uploaded selection of photos from Friday, Saturday and Sunday to Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/djcs_trains/albums/72157701450274024

Just wondering how they're going to top this year's event in 2019!

 

@David likes trains - great selection of photos! Thanks for sharing them. Loved the shot of the autotrain on the viaduct especially

 

Here are a few from Sunday. These and more at https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanh_1953/albums/72157700226650681

 

Thank you, yes that photo was a good one to start the weekend with first thing on Friday morning. I spoke to a couple of guys there who had come from Switzerland for the gala.

 

Still working through my shots, here are another two....

70000 at Orchard crossing and crossing Victoria Bridge, both in gorgeous light. The colours in the Orchard crossing shot appear to be very bold (the blues and greens in particular), but I can assure you that this has not been edited in photoshop. In fact, the colours were dulled down as they were even brighter originally!




James

 

Some absolutely stunning images there, many thanks for posting. Yes, 2018 will be a very difficult act to follow!
Andy

 

Hi, many thanks for posting; I must have been standing next to you at Bewdley; see 9 minutes in on your film! Cheers, Andy

 

Luckys SVR Gala Story

 

I think that was me and my mate trying to pick up time.