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

Galas are obviously very different to a normal weekend and many people prefer the latter - I don't think it's solely an advancing age thing - just different experiences bring different perspectives.

 

Hello all,

Better late than never. Report here from the Severn Valley Gala weekend:

https://www.blackhatrailwaypictures.co.uk/p261474384

Arriving into the area around the Severn Valley listening ironically to Big Trains, East Coast Racer track, I was able to see a few trains tackle the climb on Erdington Bank. Then with me starting to feel none too well, it was time to get the tent up and prepare for the next few days. Friday turned out to be a day of glorious weather but with me having a heavy cold, wearing black saw me more like a lizard during the hot sunny weather. Resting between photos. There were some nice sights as I started out photographing the viaduct near Kidderminster, the new bridge providing a good new vantage point for something different. Then it was nearby for the closer photos, joined by others which forced me to change my vantage point.

With the sun panning round and joined by a new friend, Harvey, who volunteered to be a new guide for the area, I photographed near the tunnel. Thence it was over to near Bewdley, before heading for Arley and Victoria bridge in the fading light. The angle here was not good, nor was the river shot at this time of day – the foliage having grown too high.

Saturday started with a shot nearby, breakfast and starting to feel better made me more confident for the day. I ventured to Highley for the Autocoach; saw that before then heading back to near Bewdley. Some photos here were nicely lit before then joined by Tom, I set off on foot for the decent side of Victoria Bridge and was joined by John from down south somewhere… The friendship and convo that you have when meeting people is what makes this as much fun as the engines and photography, so perched on the banks of the Severn, on our own little islands we admired the trains, scenery and the chance of me falling in.

Saturday night proved to be memorable, joined now by the excellent photographer and good friend Tom Houseman, we admired that gorgeous Darlington built machine 43106 being turned out instead of the Q class. Then it was food and a slight rest before the night time running. This was the main reason I was there, the experience and sight of being on a station in the early hours, odd photo and chat to others being something not often experienced. Sadly for me the two trains seemed to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, some revelling in the occasion with perhaps too much merriment, the other set being one that was already a travelling hostel. To me, it defeats the purpose. Yes some might want overnight travel and rest, but the many volunteers that manned the stations, signal boxes, engines and stock all deserve better. They were working unsocial hours, for free, on a shift pattern few sleeping on the trains would countenance. They deserved better, with more enjoying their graft and hard work, with all the facilities and atmosphere the railway could offer. If you wanted to sleep you should have left the train, it is not a travelling hotel designed to give cheap accommodation with the cost of rover tickets for all those on board unlikely to meet the many trips along the line or the energy used by staffing and powering the facilities.

In any case, Sunday proved to turn wet, it gave chance for some photography again on the bank to Kidderminster, before then riding on a turn to there and back from Bewdley. Once done, it was time to bid a good gala goodbye and return north, thinking of where engines climb hills proper – the forthcoming NYMR gala weekend.

 

Kind of been busy since the gala, so finally getting around to adding photos to flickr and therefore here.
I will do separate posts for each loco, but will spread out when I post so as to not flood the thread with updates.

1450 0-4-2T Autotrain at Highley and Eardington

 

The Q Class at Bewdley - due to reliability issues I was lucky to see her in steam (and did therefore only see her at Bewdley)

 

During the Autumn Gala, 0-6-0 PT No, 7144 crossing Falling Sands Viaduct, at Bewdley Station and descending from the Bewdley Tunnel

 

The Ivatt Mogul (No. 43106) at Bridgnorth, Bewdley, Kidderminster, Eardington Bank and on the climb past the Rifle Range to Bewdley Tunnel

 

Too many shots of BR Standad 4 Mogul No. 76017 during her guest appearance, so will do two posts for this one. The first set are from the Sunny Saturday with Shots at Highley, Bridgnorth (including one of the fireman dancing on the coal in the tender - ok kicking the coal forwards) and near Arley

 

Shots of 76017 from the Sunday - the sun tried to break through a few times but didn't really sustain it for long

 

Large Prairie No. 4144 at various locations on the Saturday and Sunday of the gala

 

Am I imagining things or are the tanks a different colour to the bunker and boiler barrel? Or is it just a trick of the light?

 

I think the same as you, from seeing it as well as pictures. The boiler etc. looks like GW green whilst the tanks look like the brighter BR Brunswick Green.

 

There does appear to be a difference - this is the only evenly lit, side on view I have.

 

No it's not a trick of the light. The loco is painted in varying shades of green.

 

Likewise 1450 looks to be a peculiar shade of green! Certainly not prototypical from the photos that I have seen.

Maybe looks different in the flesh, but I haven’t seen it recently.

 

Anybody have any idea why?