Severn Valley Railway,March 6, 7, 8, 2009 Festival of Steam

Ahh - but are they superior to the famous Highley Slice?

 

A few photos from Friday up now at http://5944.fotopic.net/c1663932.html

Somehow managed to get both 60007 and 70013 in sunlight chimney first! Cheers for the lift Adrian!

 

Yesterday was excellent, even the eventful round trip behind 5029 in the evening...

 

It was very pleasing to see every train yesterday was packed to standing room only.

The weather held very well over Friday and Saturday, incredibly cold on Friday morning on shed at Bridgnorth.
5029 has to win the cleanest loco for me, with even the running plated being polished..... Sorry Dave.

Just being around Oliver (huxley) Cromwell and 71000. I'm afraid all of those who hate Clarkson! His expression POWEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR is appropriate.

Pics up on fotopic later this afternoon.

 

WOW! Some of the footage there is fantastic, all the locos look great! Wish I could have made it!

 

Fantastic photos and footage guys, looked to be a superb event! Man flu got the better of me this weekend But all is not lost, great to be able to come online and see the high quality stuff on here, well done guys!

 

Top time on the SVR ! Thanks EVERYONE! The smaller residents were great too, especially when the sun came out, as it did at Eardington this morning. One question ( I genuinely don't know!) - why the red bodied lamps? There must be a GWR-ish reason ?

 

The lamps were used because one of the cleaners at Bridgnorth was on the engine today.

 

Spent an enjoyable Friday & Saturday at the gala. Great to see the well loaded trains and support for the SVRs work in putting on a cracking show.
One of the hilights for me was watching Nunney Castle drift through an almost deserted Hampton Load with the early morning parcels on Saturday.
videos now up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbHirxixOvg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7GGwJ1exsQ

 

should have posted this as well

 

Nice to see that shot of 'Nunney Castle' at Hampton Loade Mike. I had a great Saturday and Sunday morning and it was good to see that some of the trains were heaving. I think to get the sun was a bonus after what the weather forecast was suggesting. All the engines looked a credit to their respective groups (home fleet included). Well done to all involved for making sure this event was a winner. My photos are now available at my fotopic site.

Cheers,

Paul

 

Well, what a fantastic day out yesterday. Really worth the trip from Swansea, and met a few acquaintances from my various trips around the country, mostly by accident than by design. Managed to ride behind all locomotives but the Prairie, although mostly tender-first (which I don't really mind when riding, but it is a pain when taking photos). The highlight for me was being near the smokebox end of Oliver Cromwell going up Eardington bank. To say it was 'barking' is an understatement, and has made me want to do a railtour! Also, despite them running tender-first, I have now ridden behind my second A4 and 4073 classes. It was also nice to meet the acquaintance of the Duke of Gloucester for the fourth time. Finally, Erlestoke Manor looked a gem, so congratulations on keeping all the locomotives tidy. Well worth the money.

 

Red loco lamps were the norm during earlier GW days - can't quote you the date when they ceased being red though I'm afraid.

A set of red lamps is sometimes used on the SVR GW liveried locos for variation/authenticity.

 

I’d like to add my congratulations to all involved in making this gala a superb event. I managed to get to the event yesterday, after spending the day helping out on 6201 at Crewe. Although it was late afternoon when I got to Bridgnorth, the well planned operations of all the visiting locos meant that I managed to see all of them before it got dark. Highlights for me were seeing Gresley hauling the set of teak stock, the Duke drifting through Bewdley station with a goods train, the sound of Cromwell climbing Eardington Bank and the impressively turned out Nunney Castle, to name but four. It was a pity about the fire on the line between Bewdley and Kidderminster on Saturday evening, but it only cause a 20 minute delay.

The photos and videos in this thread are superb and an excellent record of an outstanding event.

I heard a lot of positive comments from my fellow travellers, even those who were not obviously enthusiasts. I hope this kind of event (large locomotives, night running) will be considered by the SVR for future Spring galas, perhaps alternating each year with the popular branch line Spring gala.

Regards,

Dave.

 

I think we were stood next to each other...

 

I travelled yesterday and a good time was had by all with the locomotives looking superb. The trains were certainly very heavily loaded and I hope the SVR have made a good return on what must of been a very expensive gala to put on. One question but I wonder if the larger locomotive's were more heavily restricted than the SVR's home fleet this year as there seemed to be considerable sub 20 mph running from the pacifics? Certainly in previous years the larger loco's have been worked harder and I remember particularly number 9, the Duchess, Lizzie and the King putting in some spirited assaults of Eardington and up to Bewdley tunnel in recent years. Despite the lack of chimney music for me (maybe I picked the wrong trains!) it was lovely to see some old and new 'friends' up close, particularly Cromwell which has avoided me so far and provided me my first 'brit' haulage ever. That loco sounded as good as it looked and credit to all the cleaners who must of put in considerable time and effort on all the locos. Will add some pics later once i've sorted them.

Maybe a return to a branchline feel next year for me too but this was a pleasant change, maybe mainly smaller locos with one or two larger celebrities for next year?

 

I'd love to see those in glorious colour. ;-)

 

A great gala as ever. Spent friday and saturday there, giving out about 800 Steel Steam and Stars gala leaflets...

Cromwell is a beast!!!!!
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Congratulations are in order. Especially for the A4 with full teak Gresley set.

John