Severn Valley Autumn Diesel Gala 29th September - 2nd October 2022

First guest announced and arrived as 55009.
https://www.svr.co.uk/events/autumn-diesel-bash/

 

Second guest announced as a 56 from GBRf.

 

ASLEF has apparently given the required 14 day notice that members will strike on 1 October, although all their comms are embargoed until after Monday's bank holiday. The 12 companies with which it is in dispute include West Midlands Trains, Chiltern Railways, Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry. Some disruption is likely to affect later trains on 30 September and continue into the morning of 2 October

 

Timetable with locos: https://www.svr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Autumn-Diesel-Bash-2022-Timetable.pdf

 

That’s annoying class 56 only working at the weekend
Rail strike puts paid to that

 

Not necessarily as it depends on whether the Class 56 was expected to arrive on Friday then depart on the Monday after thus missing network running on the strike day. I await an SVR statement before deciding which day to visit (i.e. either Friday or Saturday).

 

It has been said elsewhere that they are arriving Friday.

 

I attended my first gala for two decades yesterday. All ran well and to time. Trips behind classes 14, 40, 46, 52, 52 and 55.

As mentioned on another thread it was a quiet day.

A shout out to Hampton Loade for their efforts. I was absolutely taken by a poster in 1970s style and misdated 1972, with the 2022 gala times on. Brilliant.

The 46 failed yesterday evening and is being looked at. Some loco changes as a result today (Friday)

 

The 46 failed last night (no, I don't know what with). There has been changes to today's roster: https://www.svr.co.uk/2022/09/30/changes-to-friday-30th-september-autumn-diesel-bash-timetable/
They are going to see if the 46 can be repaired in time for the rest of the weekend.

 

They had 60s style on at the ASG which was fooling me until I noticed Kidderminster Town.

 

I went down to the SVR on Thursday 29th September (was also going to go on Sat 1st but rail strikes put paid to that)
https://tinyurl.com/mr28p7cw
Neil

 

Yes it's rather unfortunate timing with the rail strike this weekend. It's not helped by the SVR charging for parking in their Kidderminster car park, which may put people off who were planning to go by car as a result of the strikes.

 

For reference, the gala program gives the date of next year's Spring Diesel Gala as 18th-21st May.

 

Covered many times before, the surrounding area (and in particular the mainline station) are paid parking. When the SVR was charging less than the mainline station the car park was used widely by commuters, sometimes to the detriment of SVR visitors.

Personally, I doubt £4 would discourage those who would in most cases (PRIV and season tickets excepted) would otherwise have been paying for a mainline ticket to get there.

 

46 repaired and should be in use the rest of gala.

 

As a linesider who always buys an SVR product I find the parking fee acceptable as a contribution to the SVR kitty. Whilst the fees only apply at Bridgnorth, Bewdley and Kidderminster it's surely no deterrent to pay the appropriate fees for the hours of entertainment (and photographic opportunities) that the fees give access to. As an aside if you think £4:00 expensive look at parking fees in many towns / cities in the UK and note the time restrictions; on the SVR there is NO time restriction whilst the gates are open.

 

Regrettably it was unable to work this morning. The 31 picked up the diagram with an 09 vice the 31

 

Seems to be a related issue.

 

Patronage is down this year.