[Apr 15, 2021] Spring Steam Up 2021 (Severn Valley Railway)

Severn Valley Railway's Spring Steam Up 2021 15th to 18th April 2021
Details announced at https://www.svr.co.uk/SEItem.aspx?a=174

Reserved table or private compartment for the whole day as you travel behind seven different steam-powered locomotives, including; 2857, 6960 Raveningham Hall, 7714 and 813 double-heading, 43106, 34027 Taw Valley and a VIP guest loco TBA.

6960 Raveningham Hall's last Gala before the expiry of her boiler certificate in July.

Every ticket is covered by the SVR COVID Guarantee https://www.svr.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?a=951

Patrick

 

I’m surprised there hasn’t been more comments on this post. It’s a brave move by the railway but on the face of it seems a good day out could potentially be had. I’ve got my ticket for the Saturday and whilst I haven’t sat down and worked out all the permutations there should the chance to travel behind most, if not all of the locos. Any ideas as to the guest loco?

 

While I haven't a clue as to which loco it could be, I do have a theory as to what the 'VIP' bit might be referring to; in my mind it could mean something along the lines of Lizzie or King Edward I...

 

I have heard it could be Tornado?

 

It wouldn't surprise me if it was, considering the number of times she's visited the SVR in the past.

 

I heard it's 35022 from Crewe. First steaming an' all.

James

 

As there is a Saphos tour leaving Bridgnorth 10 days later, I know where I’m sticking my wager...

 

I’d say something from Crewe, how much goes there for running in at the mo?

 

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Very interesting! I have no clue what the VIP might be, but almost anything would be welcome. Regardless of the visitor and even in the event that falls through and it's a home fleet event, I commend the SVR for this. The prices are not at all bad either, and with tables as well as compartments they're not prohibitive for singles and couples. A table for one on Thurs/Sun is £30; on Fri/Sat it's £35. That's very good value for the length of the day, although assuming masks are still required for open tables that would be a very long time to wear one even allowing for station breaks.

I won't be travelling myself, since going from nothing to a gala-length day in one leap is just too much for me at the moment. I'll need to wait until something much shorter and hopefully more flexible can be offered, even if that does mean waiting a few extra months. However, assuming it's reasonable to do so I may well go and have a look at this (from a safe public location, of course) and if I do I'll make a suitable donation to the SVR to compensate for the ticket I'm not buying.

 

We've booked a compartment for the Sunday with the plan to head up the Saturday and watch a few trains and stay overnight. Fingers crossed when the time comes everything can go ahead.

 

You don’t have to travel all day, if you only want one round trip you can just do that. You’re basically paying for an all day seat but if you decide not to use it all day, that’s up to you.

 

That's very true James, but not everybody wants to have the "compulsory" visit to The Engine House-me included as I've been sereal times before. It is probable that not every trip includes the Engine House visit but it is impossible to find out which ones do and which ones don't as the detailed timetables are not on the SVR website. In addition, some travellers might have time constraints and just want a trip each way along the line with time for a sandwich and cup of tea between journeys. I've emailed the Railway asking them to consider putting on a short train with one of the smaller locos to accommodate this sort of traveller, but have yet to receive a reply.

 

That to me sounds like during the course of the day, out of the three round trips, you'll only have one chance to visit Highley. Nothing to stop you doing one trip, missing the next one, and rejoining for the third. Or do KD - BN, go for lunch for a couple of hours, then do another 1 1/2 round trips later on.

 

I agree, I don't really want a compulsory visit to the Engine House either as like you I've visited it many times before, however at the moment any day out is preferable to being stuck at home!!

 

On most of our trains this year, including the Spring Steam Up, there is no cumpulsory stop at The Engine House. The only train with a compulsory stop at The Engine House is The Flyer.

Lewis

 

That's not what I want to do though, I just want to travel once from Bridgnorth through to Kidderminster, have a sandwich and a cuppa there then go straight back to Bridgnorth. With travel from home to and from Bridgnorth that makes a day of around 4 hours and that's enough of a day for me.

 

The information on the website implies that the train will stop at the Engine House for 80 minutes then carry on. As the full timetable for each train is not posted on the site it is not made clear at all exactly what will be happening so maybe the timetable should be posted in full rather than just a start and end time, or at least a fuller explanation should be given in the information.

 

I think the writing said optional visit to Engine House so I read that as you can choose to get off and it will stop and pick you up later, you can continue to travel if you wish.