SVR Autumn Steam Gala 16th-19th September

Not according to National Statistics' national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports

Why? Some have noted infections, hospitalisations and deaths are rising despite vaccination and tourism, music festivals, sport and reduced vaccine effectiveness might be contributing. Hospitalisations are again rising for older as well as younger groups. Some vaccinated countries such as Israel are entering a fourth wave.

Leaving aside people don't need government permission to be worried about something, that's not in fact quite what the government is saying:

"The government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed areas where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet, such as public transport."

"You may choose to limit the close contact you have with people you do not usually live with. "

"It is important to consider that others may wish to take a more cautious approach as we open up. We should all be considerate of this and provide the opportunity and space for others to reduce close contacts if they wish."

The government also has guidance on protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable, as some posters have raised.

Also, just because it's not legally mandated doesn't mean businesses can't have it as part of their own terms of trade (think of dress codes, for example, or heritage railways' conditions of travel). Some businesses in retail and hospitality have chosen to continue mask wearing, distancing and table service as a condition of entry, to protect their staff and to reduce the chance of having to close their business. You can't be prosecuted for not doing following their rules, but you can be refused entry/service.

Leaving all that aside, it's up to each railway to balance the risks to their staff and volunteers, passengers and businesses.

Patrick

 

In that case, we'll never go back to normal. The world won't be worth living in, anyway.

 

Because I don't require Government permission to worry about something. I have followed the science closely, including what the Government's scientific advisors have said, and at the moment, despite being double vaccinated, I don't particularly want to be in very crowded indoor spaces for long periods of time unless others are masked, which I suspect they won't be.

Ignoring the Covid point, I have never enjoyed the insanely crowded trains at some galas, and the SVR has generally proved one of the worst for this. The Spring Gala this year was therefore perfect for me. I paid a premium but got a superior product as a consequence for my wants, which is space and no worries about getting a seat. At a railway with less crowded galas I would probably be far less bothered about the loss of such a service. If that means that I won't go back to the SVR gala this year then, given my last visit for a 'standard' gala in 2019 was very disappointing, I'll deal with that.



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We would almost certainly be nearer normal had the government not reduced limits everyone the restrictions were working. UK figures for new infections:

 

Pannier 6466 announced for the gala

 

Sorry can't resist *9466

 

oops yeah its that! !

 

The website has been updated. 9466 is no longer due to double head with 1501....mainly probably because of the weight limits. Should be a good event.

 

I think they may have double headed way back in 1997 at the very short notice Pannier Tank weekend before the Autumn Gala that year. I could well be wrong though. (It was nearly 25 years ago )

 

Typical GW standardisation... turn it upside down and it's a new class...

As a random data point, we didn't do the SVR as the trains only seemed to be all day duration. The small person only has the patience for a short trip we tend to do a trip from Bridgnorth to Arley and look round the engine house and back an hour later. Clearly the SVR has to do risk balancing, but that is the sort of trade lost by following the covid-max lines.

 

Both Wales and Scotland are warning today that some restrictions may need to be reintroduced owing to the sharp rise in cases and hospitalisations. Scotland's schools went back 2 weeks ago and today it has recorded its highest daily case rate ever. Wales is stating it is watching Scotland closely. England and Wales' schools return next week - I honestly hope the SVR have called this correctly.

 

Indeed the BBC mentioned the comaprison to last year last week.
Yes I agree more is open, masks are "optional" which appears to mean virtually no one wears one and we have the Delta variant.
But
August 20 2020 1202 new cases 6 deaths
August 20 2021 37235 new cases 115 deaths

We may be learning to live with it but things will get worse I suspect.
On the ONS figures of 1 in 85 have Covid that means about 4 to 5 on an average gala train, not bad with fixed seating, less good when endless changing over during the day.

 

The timetable has loco allocations https://www.svr.co.uk/pdf/Special Events/SVR Autumn Steam Gala Timetable 2021.pdf

 

Whatever loco 7 is will be interesting...

 

I agree so will give it a miss this year

 

I thought 43106 was part of the lineup but it seems to have disappeared - could there be a third visitor?

 

At one point, the marketing was 'at least two guests'. So maybe

 

I suspect so.
They usually have a loco as spare so will that be 43106 ?

 

The website has been changed and no longer mentions limits on tickets and the need to book ahead to guarantee admission.

“Our Autumn Steam Gala is back to normal!”

“Tickets may be pre-booked or purchased on the day”

“When booking, please select your starting station when pre-booking tickets. However, you can start your day at ANY station.
Tickets can be pre-booked but will also be available on the day from booking offices”.

“Normal booking conditions and terms of travel apply”

Patrick

P.S. normal shareholder travel passes validity isn’t back to normal


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