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

I had two good days on Friday and Saturday, just a little too warm in the main part of the day but enjoyable nonetheless. For some years the timetable has left a lot to be desired but there has been a marked improvement this year, with clearly some thought put into loco and stock combinations and more intensity in the branch train operations. I hope they can build on this and fit the good trains working in the day and perhaps a little more intensity between Bewdley and Kidderminster, but overall its a return to form. It was possible to see the Severn Valley for what it is, a Great Western branch line amongst the other larger locos ...


Highley 1949 ... by Inspiring Images, on Flickr


A Great Western branch line - Part 1 by Phoenix Images, on Flickr


A Great Western branch line - Part 2 by Phoenix Images, on Flickr


A Great Western branch line - Part 4 by Phoenix Images, on Flickr

 

A great two day's on the Valley and no doubt the gala will of been a roaring success ! The lineside and the trains were hectic and you would of been mistaken for thinking it was Pacific Power #2 ! Having missed Well's run up Eardington on Thursday evening thankfully I was on board for Saturday afternoons blast ! A great show all round and thanks to all who volunteered ! Hope you enjoy my account of Friday's action !

 

I rode on Thursday and Friday, and then spent Saturday at Eardington to avoid adding to the crowding on the trains! I also felt the timetable worked well apart from the unavoidable problems with failed locos and points. Here's a couple more Great Western memories from the first 2 days:

 

Macko, nice pics, thats a very big step ladder you have

 

I spent all of Friday and some of Saturday on the trains and thankfully avoided most of the operational problems. I liked the timetable and the goods was timed well to fit in with other trains, I managed to see it on four separate occasions at Arley, Highley and twice at Bewdley. Really enjoyed the visiting locos, particularly the Q but poor old Taw Valley was about as surefooted as a newborn giraffe on the 7:25 out of Bridgnorth on Saturday!

Having said all that, I think serious consideration needs to be given to ending the sale of alcohol on trains after say 8PM (it certainly shouldn't be sold off at £1.50 a pint). The late evening/night trains are not a pleasant place to be because of the behaviour of a few who can't handle their ale and they're not all youngsters.

 

My humble offering from the Saturday of the gala. Featuring everything from 34092's storming run up Eardington Bank, to Mexican waves! I hope you enjoy it

 

I'd rather be on an overloaded train on the Severn Valley than one packed with the great British commuter. At least the trains are full of people who are out to enjoy themselves and aren't all wearing headphones and staring at their phones / iPads / whatever. Some of them actually don't mind talking to you either!
I think we all have to expect overloaded trains at SVR galas. The galas (especially the Autumn one) are hugely popular which is great to see - far more so than any other railway I have been to. I can't see how they can increase capacity as all the full-line trains are 8 coaches long. I don't think the crowding this year was too bad - when celebrity locos like Tornado and City of Truro were there it was just crazy. The funny thing is that it seemed less crowded when they held the Flying Scotsman event. The FS trains were by advance ticket only and the other trains seemed to be half empty!

 

Our first ever Autumn Gala and we had a brilliant three days, watching Thursday and Saturday and travelling Friday. Weather, locomotives, scenery and stations all glorious. Two short videos of combined shots from across our three days...

 

Alcohol seems to be a major attraction and thus a money spinner at this gala, the queues in the King & Castle on saturday were very impressive, beer sales at Bewdley and the Arms seemed to going very well, clearly there is money to be made on the night trains too, better passengers spending than kipping for a cheap night, it all keeps the trains running after all.

 

My footage of the Gala on Saturday which as mentioned a few times already, didn't quite go to plan particularly in the afternoon. But the event was still great, helped of course by the weather. The highlight of the day was the climbs of 76017 up Eardington Bank. It's a shame that points failure, City of Wells failing and other niggles affected the day, but these things happen. Enjoy.

 

I'm not sure banning the sale of alcohol would do anything, people would just bring their own. Also blaming all bad behaviour on youngsters also does not help - I've met some pretty obnoxious older people too who definitely can not handle their drink! Try catching the last Cambrian train off Shrewsbury on a Saturday to see plenty of middle aged louts who are old enough to know much better!

Clearly we have a clash of cultures here, people who view the overnight trains as an excuse for a party and others who want to get some kip in lieu of accommodation. Perhaps the idea of some quiet coaches would cater for both sets of people. What we don't want to do is lose the overnight trains, which set this gala apart and are very popular with the younger enthusiasts who are it's future.

 

Quite honestly, I am perplexed as to why you are not seeing the issue here. I really do not understand why people feel that the train is the best place for sleep. The train is for passengers travelling from one destination to another - a hotel, bed and breakfast, caravan, tent, etc. should be used for sleep. Whilst far from ideal, and certainly something I don't frequent in myself, pints sold at £1.50 represent £1.50 in support of the railway, and so should be encouraged under appropriate behaviour.

Put simply, quiet coaches on the big railway don't work due to people's differing definitions of quiet. During a gala, they would require policing, putting volunteers in positions that they shouldn't be put into, and will only encourage more people to attempt to sleep on trains rather than actually finding a proper place to spend the night. Welcome to the modern world, where empathy to other passengers appears to have been swept out of a Mk1 droplight...

By way of comparison on the big railway, you should try either the 23.07 off Marylebone or the 23.30 off Euston one evening. Music broadcast to the whole carriage, debates over the winners of Love Island and M&S Elderflower and Peppermint Gin Tinnies all over the place. It really is as good as it sounds!

 

That might help although I'm certain people bring their own as well, particularly those still boozing at 3 in the morning! The night trains can be like a night out in the pub - and if you're in a pub where people are being too rowdy for your liking then you can move to another part of the building or even go to a different pub, not so easy on a busy train! You can of course get off the train, but then you may be stuck at a station for a couple of hours in the small hours. I don't know if the on board catering staff ever refuse to serve people who they can see have had too much?

 

What a wonderful couple of days at the SVR, a huge credit to the railway and the volunteers, an excellent gala topped off with beautiful weather!

A couple of video clips from the Thursday and Saturday of the gala.

Video Available Here

 

Unfortunately some cheapskates want to bed down on the train to avoid having to pay for a B&B or hotel. They then get upset because some others don't have the same idea as them.

 

A couple of snaps from Saturday - Standing next to everybody else mainly! Another cracking svr gala - - thanks to all involved.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/65931014@N05/48776957808/in/datetaken-public/



https://www.flickr.com/photos/65931014@N05/48777496262/in/datetaken-public/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/65931014@N05/48777305181/in/datetaken-public/


Richard

https://www.flickr.com/photos/65931014@N05/

 

I had three very enjoyable 3 days travelling and photgraphing,will add more detail tomorrow.

IMG_5379lr by Paul Simpson, on Flickr
IMG_5433 edit 3LR by Paul Simpson, on Flickr
IMG_5552 edit 4LR by Paul Simpson, on Flickr

 

My collection from the Saturday of this weekend's gala.

 

Getting round to going through the many pictures captured over Thursday, Friday & Saturday. Here is one from Thursday, could be early BR era somewhere in the South West? 34092 arrives into Bewdley with the 1230 from Kidderminster, as 4144 simmers on shed.

 

Video from a fantastic gala!!