Severn Valley Railway 2019 Autumn Gala 19th-22nd September

What problems did it have Thursday evening?

 

That climb with 34092 sounded pretty good from the gallery too!

 

Injector and ash pan

 

Thanks.

 

The following (after a cross post) has appeared from one of the Directors on the Unofficial Facebook Page "There are always two sides to every story and we have only one reference. There was a security guard in the coach who did not feel the need to take any steps which says something. It appears we have part of the story of what happened, yes it sounds like two members of staff, but not those who have been suggested were getting loud with one playing with a cardboard lemon. This is not the person who you associate with the lemon for clarity. Some other non SVR staff got on and sat around the group and were loud. The lady with the children who were asleep felt she could not move as she did not want to wake them. It does appear that some of the other non-SVR staff may well been the ones who were being offensive"

 

Indeed, I joined that group only the other day (I expect it was you who let me in!) to enjoy watching all the pictures and videos coming in as I couldn't be there in person, and was quite surprised to see so many negative comments.

 

Happens every year to be honest.

 

Yes just left Hampton Loade behind 6960 after changing trains.

 

Where are lots reports of bad lineside behaviour?

 

Sadly have to say that Q class 30541 failed yet again last night (Not sure what with). It is expected to be replaced by Ivatt 4MT No 43106 all day today (Sunday)

 

I have been going to the Galas for many years but this will be my last. Combination of a number of things but including overloaded trains as bad as I experienced in my commuting days, failed locos and a very long day as long as for a main line steam charter. It’s a great railway and run very professionally but future visits will be by car as short breaks with my wife on a normal weekend so we can enjoy both the railway and the great walking to be had in the Country Park. Sign of advancing years I suppose. I do though appreciate the hard work that goes into these events by all at the SVR

 

I had a good day at the railway on Thursday. Decided to go then as the 3 guest locos were out and sticking to the same sets so more oppourtinity to see them working and have a ride behind. Also meant I could see a daytime Goods working.

43106 was supposed to be out but 75069 replaced, can't see any reason on here for that?

Car park at Kidderminster was pretty much full when I arrived at 0940 which I was surprised at to be honest. Trains were well loaded, glad it was 8 coaches per rake.

Beautiful day! Really enjoyed my trips behind all 3 guests.

 

One thing I would say about Thursday was there were some long dwells, particularly at Arley. Seeing as it was auto,4 sets and Goods out, maybe something like the usual timetable B could be implemented instead or just use the timetable that was being used for Fri/Sat/Sun anyway, with trains crossing at KR (effectively), Arley & Hampton Loade. The auto could pretty much do what it did Friday too within that, and I'm sure the Goods could be ran at some point.

 

I'm happy to write yesterday down as a one-off. The trains I chose weren't too crowded, but the operational difficulties did make it a very frustrating day for those wanting to actually travel on trains.

I arrived for the 1420 local and was impressed that everything was on time. They day started well until I decided to bail from 76017 at HL to take the autocoach. The northbound train was late away, and the southbound service with 43106 (as 34092 had been pulled at very short notice) was trapped for around 45 minutes following signal failure. Eventually the train was reversed out of the station and then headed straight through the down platform to get on its way.

As a team headed of to examine the points the autocoach was cancelled. Although apparently able to get out of the siding and to head north from the up platform, concerns were raised about the amount of water left in 1450's tanks so it headed bacl to Bridgnorth light engine.

That was the last movement at HL for around an hour until a temporary fix was found (just before the cause of the problem was discovered right outside the signalbox).

Eventually 34027 took me north, and some excellent station work at Bridnorth cut arrears to around 30 minutes. I got off at Highley, expecting a wait of around 20 minutes for 43106 to come through. For reasons that aren't clear it ended up being around 45 minutes, but we then had a good run through to Bridgnorth.

Cue 1450, and the alleged 'non-stop' run to Kidderminster, timed for 51 minutes. We set off just 20 minutes down but, after the reported 25 minutes of slipping, resetting and false starts, we were around 45 minutes late by the time we finally hauled ourselves out.

Any falacy of a non-stop run ended just south of HL where a problem with 1450 led to another stop. At Bewdley we stopped again, partly to allow north a train that we should have connected with at Kidderminster, but also to fill up with water having used uo our supply. We stopped again just after the tunnel for an unknown reason and eventually crawled into Kidderminster one hour and 20 minutes late, after a one hour 50 minutes run - surely my slowest ever run there.

There seemed to be a lot of 'overnight' travellers, with more alcohol being drunk on trains than I have seen at previous galas. And what on Earth does 'hellfire' mean?!

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There were several lineside fires yesterday between Bewdley and Kidderminster. One late ca. 11pm led to the line being shut whilst the fire brigade dealt with it. In an attempt to recover time, the 23.45 ex-KR was cancelled with train going north from Bewdley. The 22.51 arrival was eventually let through 106 mins late.

 

I have been to the ASG for the past few years since 2014, this is the busiest I can remember seeing the railway aside from the 2016 Scotsman visit. I guess the weather being so good apart from today brought every man and his dog out. Eardington station really could have done with the farmer's field open for parking as per for Scotsman. Maybe something to consider next year, of course we can't know how the weather will be but the ASG doesn't seem to be getting any less popular.

 

Sorry to hear about the various issues yesterday. I attended from first turn on Friday until about 1300 on Saturday both traveling and linesiding and did not get affected by failures, fires etc. and had a brilliant time even allowing for the 'noisy' folk on the one overnight set (which actually led to a brilliant experience at Highley - see above!). I must take my hat off to the folk at Kiddy museum who provided hot drinks and snacks ALL NIGHT and to all of the wonderful working members at the railway who worked so hard given what seemed to be the very large crowds who attended the gala. The weather certainly did bring out the visitors a lot whom seemed to be ordinary folk out for the day to enjoy the lovely countryside which looked a picture in the glorious weather. In short and from my perspective another great gala which I thoroughly enjoyed.

 

I'll second what Andy said above. I didn't get affected by the problems experienced later on Saturday, fires etc. Got too hot at times but we are never happy.
One or two shots from a great three days ( Thurs to Sat) Thanks SVR for all you do.

 

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