SVR Autumn Steam Gala 16th-19th September

@acorb I'm been informed that there will be a limit of tickets per day at the ASG.

 

Many thanks for confirming this, a sensible move.

Hopefully the timetable will be designed to maximise access to 6233 to ensure folk don't flock to just a few trains.

 

As a railway member for many years, to say I’m annoyed is an understatement.
Ok, they have changed their mind, but I feel the railway has scored an extraordinary own goal.


When tickets went on sale, within a matter of days single person seating from Kidderminster on my selected train and the Friday night train were already unavailable.
I booked an alternative train - for all 4 days - only to be told that it and the overnight service was not stopping at Bewdley which was where I had a B&B booked.
So, I canceled my tickets, my B&B, and annual leave.

And now the backflip!

For a great many people, the Autumn Gala is the highlight of the heritage year. I would have expected the railway to be a little less risk averse from the outset.
I have now made alternative arrangements to visit the NYM gala the following weekend.
I appreciate the difficulties created by Covid, but this has been totally shambolic.

 

No locals, so assuming this is the covid gala timetable still being used. Guess they don't want to run before they can walk. Shame the goods train can't do a run up the valley.

 

There is a note at the bottom of the timetable saying it's subject to change though. I wonder whether now that they've changed the rules they may want to put on more trains.

 

The U-turn was like a microcosm of government - ignore reality and the public interest and reason and follow the clamour.
They refunded without trouble, but I'm very disappointed. I had been really looking forward to it - there were still plenty of options at each end and at Highley.
The current arrangement would not suit me. There will still be lots of people on narrow platforms waiting and then mingling with those getting off. The Autumn Gala was always manic, with masses of people and little variety of trains: hopefully by spring things will be safer.
I do hope it goes well. But not for me, especially as they had devised such a clever arrangement to give most of the benefit at minimal risk.

 

Can resonate with much of the above, however, if they limit numbers then much of the risk is removed for me. If it is a nice weekend the trains will be well ventilated too. Having travelled on several rather busy service trains recently I do not wish however to see that replicated on a leisure visit.

The risk is everyone will want to bag the Duchess and that these trains will be far busier than others - that was eliminated with the original plan of 'locos come to you'. You were also guaranteed travel behind all locos, something which I like to try and do - this will now be more challenging and increases risk.

I also predict there will be another spike with schools returning, (cases are already high) hence my original comment that the SVR's original format was one they could guarantee that they could deliver safely.

I don't think the SVR can win to be honest, judging the majority mood is difficult - it is just a shame they didn't decide before releasing tickets. It would seem however that they have bowed to market pressures, especially as other railways have returned to some form of normality. I think the public are tired of the virus and there is a definite element of wishing it away, not helped by government policy that is wooly at best. That however is for another thread!

 

I must admit to being disappointed by the change of decision. Notwithstanding the messaging about limiting numbers I have no particular desire to spend the day in rammed trains so I'll give it a miss.

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Second loco has gone from being announced today to announced 'soon'.

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Wasn't the second gala visitor going to be announced today?

 

Yes that is why I said it had changed.

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Agree with all the above. By removing the legal requirement for social distancing, masks etc.... the government have pushed responsibility down to event organisers to make things as safe as possible. The SVR were trying to be responsible and organise a safe event but then people like me said "that doesn't work for me so I won't be supporting it." So they absolutely can't win.

 

And due to double head with 1501.

 

Least it means enough time to start the guesses

 

Go on then, I will guess LHJC No.29, on its way back from Didcot?

 

Hmm, I wonder if it could be 300 Frank S. Ross from the Kent and East Sussex Railway; fits the VIP theme, being named after a Major General and all...

 

That's what I was thinking, but had not got round to posting.

 

Yeah. That's a gala for you. If you've had both jabs, it's less likely to kill you than the flu. If you haven't had both jabs, you shouldn't be complaining.

 

Is that because of Covid? Galas have always been like that. Why are people still worried about it if the government isn't?