WSR Autumn Steam Gala - 'A Country Railway' - Thurs-Sun 3-6 October 2019

For that £30 you do know what you're getting; 4 Panniers, 2 Manors, a Mogul, a 7F and a Hymek along with unlimited travel for the whole day.

Of course it would be nice to be able to download the WTT from the website beforehand, as we can with some other railways, so we can plan our visits better but £3.50 is hardly a deal-breaker.

 

I don't understand the fuss about programmes, WTTs etc. Being an old git I can remember the days of yore when no such luxuries were available at galas. Just an advert in a railway magazine with possibly a list of featured locos and the time of the first train so you just turned up and took pot luck. In this day and age we've become spoiled and expect everything laid out for us on a plate.

 

Have just received a paper copy of the WTT in the post, with a letter saying that the printed programmes won't be available until "early next week" (I assume this was sent out late last week), and that I can collect a copy of the printed programme upon presenting the letter at the booking office on arrival. Somewhat disappointing, but I appreciate sending this out so people can plan their days. After a quick scan over each day, there is a varying amount of backwards running Thursday to Saturday, with Sunday being the only day where everything is forwards.

 

Maybe but times have moved on from days of yore. We live in the Internet age where information on most things is readily available and people expect it to be.
I think as the consumer I have a right to be given as much information as possible to help me decide whether to attend an event. I live 150 miles from the West Somerset. I have been to many of their galas over the years but if I'm going to do a 300 mile round trip plus the cost of a ticket I need to know that it's going to be worth it. Just turning up and "taking pot luck" isn't good enough - I want to know which locos are running and when so that I can plan the day to some degree.

An important issue here is that there is a lot of competition in the steam gala world. For some reason which I haven't quite fathomed (financial I assume) the railways seem to insist on putting these events on within a window of a few weeks in the Spring and Autumn and there are always clashes. So, next weekend do I head to the West Somerset and take "pot luck" or do I head up to the Great Central where a basic timetable with loco allocations is already online and I can get an programme on the day without having to pay extra for it? Down in the West Country they probably don't see the Great Central as competition but it is - depends where you live.

 

I'm only interested in what trains the Hymek is on.


Didn't have to pay up front to find that out for the diesel gala.

Why do that for the steam gala.

Not taking pot luck to be bowled by a kettle.

 

I thought the term bowled referred to another train getting in the way of the train you wanted to see. Unlikely on a mainly single track line.
I’m sure a polite enquiry direct to the railway or to the loco owning group would provide the information you’re looking for.

 

Not always. I went to Wales v Trinidad & Tobago in March, first game played at Wrexham in just over 11 years. It was billed as an historic return, the Racecourse Ground being the eldest international football stadium still hosting international football matches (1877- ), and sold out well in advance at £20 a ticket (the now usual friendly price - such as friendlies v the Netherlands and Spain).

On the day it was 'Wales B' basically with all the big players in the stands watching which left a few fans a bit miffed.

If you aren't willing to part with £3.50 to see if you want to go or not that's your own choice. If nothing else the railway gains some money for people who don't turn up.

 

Roster wise -

9351, 7822, 7828, 7714, 6412, 7752 and 4612 in use each day.

53808 does not run Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Runs one MD-BL service Sunday only.

D7018 does not run Saturday, and only one round trip Sunday (MD-BL is double headed with 53808).

D7018 covers 5 single line trips including a Goods working over Thursday & Friday.

 

D7018 does not run Saturday, and only one round trip Sunday (MD-BL is double headed with 53808).

D7018 covers 5 single line trips including a Goods working over Thursday & Friday.

 

Can only really do galas in Sept/Oct this side of summer before the clocks go back and hence it gets dark earlier. Also I imagine November a lot of railways get prepped for Santa season.
There's no steam effect in the summer months which is what a lot of photographers want.
From May half term through to start the of September most railways are busy with family events / school holidays etc and so engines aren't so readily available.

I think as long as the SVR / NYMR / WSR don't clash most people are happy. I personally wouldn't travel to the GCR, regardless of what they hire, for the ASG as it clashes with the WSR. No doubt for some the shoe is on the other foot.

 

Does anyone know what coaches the local will use?

 

As a gala is a way of showing the railway at it's best, I'm hoping that the set of blood and custard coaches will run as a full rake. <BJ>

 

Would you be able to say what the 905,955 and 1140 departures from BL are on thurs please

 

Last train of the day into BL yesterday was 5 blood and custard.
The local set is billed as a "short set" which is the one I was wondering about. The 2 maroons plus a van? That would be nice, especially with a BR pannier.

 

If people are able to keep an eye on the webcams today, an idea can be gained what will be about stock-wise tomorrow, especially by the end of the day. Some reforming happened at both BL and MD yesterday - expect more today.

 

Have to say I'm very disappointed with the lack of use of D7018 on the Sat/Sun. I booked a long trip down from Yorkshire based on it being a star of the gala so why it does not appear on the Saturday and just one single trip on its own on the Sunday is a mystery to me.

 

What do you expect at a STEAM gala? Star of the show my foot!

 

Where did I say its the star of the show? It was advertised as one of the attractions for the gala as it has only just returned to use after twenty years out of traffic, so why it is only doing one round trip over fifty percent of the gala is disappointing.
It is the West Somerset railway gala, I mentioned a month ago when the others were whinging at it appearing at the gala it was the core reason for me spending £200 plus to drive down and stay over the weekend amongst the other attractions of multiple panniers and Manors. I want to support the railway, so at short notice to limit its running time as well as the very late in the day announcement of non turning of engines to give another commercial contract precedent seems a strange way to treat enthusiasts who are making the effort to come to the gala.

I want to support the railway in its year of need, but when it doesn't deliver what it had promised I believe it should be raised.

 

Ive got x2 Four day rover tickets (should be £57.95 each) free to any one who can make use of them. Sadly we wont be attending this gala anymore so they might aswell go to someone who can. Drop me an PM with your email address. On a first come first serve basis.

 

"based on it being a star of the gala"