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

Because to many folk in the general visiting population heritage railways are mostly about steam.....

Why else are there virtually no diesel only heritage railways? - though you are of course entirely free to go & start one elsewhere...………..

 

Hi, anybody who is coming down the M5 for the Gala, would be advised to come off at Jcn 24 & take the A38 to Monkton Heathfield ...fork right on the dual carriageway & follow brown signs to WSR......could save you a lot of time & hassles at Jcn 25 !!

 

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It was nice to see the Hymek hauled 11 o'clock today loaded quite well, a sign of peeps not voting with their feet, as with the steam diagram at the Diesil gala it is easily avoided if it offends

 

That seems to be the answer to alot of things on here ,

If you don't like it piss off and do it yourself.

Not a very welcoming place here is it, doubt anyone of you has the stones to say some the vile stuff you say on here without your keyboards for protection.

Remembered why I hardly log in on here .

 

I'm sorry but every other railway is able to have a diesel gala with out a kettle out.

What makes this place so special ?

 

I've definitely been to the SVR,GCR,Swanage,Mid Hants,NNR,NYMR,Churnet Valley,Llangollen at galas and there has been one steam out,is it annoying hell yes, can the steam be avoided yes,sometimes you have to go around the problem not try and smash through it

 

Grow up.0

 

I like the two wagons one the local set. Fits in well with the gala theme

 

Should'nt you be on the SVR this weekend? Whisper it quietly but there is a diesel gala on up there, though the traditional Sunday lunch trains will of course be steam hauled.

 

Yes we were beginning to wonder that too.

 

Much as I hate to interrupt the steam vs diesel debate, did anyone else think the attendance yesterday was down on previous years? I know that Thursday is normally the quietest day, but it did seem quieter than usual.

The final guest loco, 4612, arrived at BL just as I was leaving last night.

 

I think you mean 4612. 6412 was very much in service yesterday. Confusing I know!

As for the attendance - I just wonder whether the loco lineup is attractive to everyone. Personally I'm very happy with four GWR panniers but it may not be everyone's cup of tea. It sometimes seems like you need big "celebrity" locos to draw the crowds - something which is not possible on the WSR this year due to the well known weight restrictions. Given the problems that the railway has had recently I think they've done very well to be able to put on a gala at all this year.

 

Yes, I did. Grrrr!! I'll correct my original post.

I agree with you about panniers. Had a great run up Washford bank behind 7752 yesterday. It's a pity that they didn't tweak the roster a bit more yesterday so they could still do double headed panniers, and put 53808 on its own, but I appreciate it was done at the last minute.

 

There is something of a law of diminishing returns with galas though. Yes big, famous locos probably draw bigger crowds but they come with bigger costs in hire fees, transport (particularly tender locos) and possibly increased fuel, oil & water costs. Some locos also require support crew accommodation & travel costs to be met.

What matters is the size of the surplus generated when all costs & income have been taken into account.

 

Hymek just passed me. Virtually empty.

 

Yeah that's because everyone wants to be near you though, perfectly understandably of course

 

Oh dear. Just when it was going so well.....

Looks like 6412 failed at BL and the 1140 local service was cancelled. It took ages to move the loco and train out of the way, but eventually after a lot of shunting the 1220 to Minehead got going 50 minutes late double-headed by 4612 and 7714

 

Personally I think that while its not what I might have put together myself the Panniers are rather attractive & I hope to be out tomorrow with my two oldest