SVR General Discussion

I am looking at this with my professional hat on, and I do understand why hours may be cut down but I can’t understand why when you have an asset like the K & C why it can’t be opened on say a Tuesday and Wednesday evening as well as the hours stated?

I’ve seen this happen several times and once you go down the road of selective opening times it’s very difficult to get customers back, especially if you get a reputation for crap beer because it’s not being turned over it then becomes a vicious circle.

 

To be fair, I'd expect mailing an A4 to be quite pricey.

It is 71ft long and just over 100 tons after all

;-)

 

In defence of and to support D1039 and his co- editors I find the monthly newsletter a great help in keeping up with current happenings on the SVR. I am no longer a member so don't receive the quarterly SVR News magazine, but inevitably being quarterly some of the news in that can be a bit dated.
In addition to the monthly newsletter I do receive the shareholder letter, but not being on any form of social media (thankfully) I am not a party to any news about the SVR disseminated by facebook or whatever. I can live without that.

As an aside, I agree with others that the SVR has missed a trick by not operating some sort of service, even if only Kidderminster-Bewdley this half-term. Benefit of hindsight of course, but the weather has been favourable.

46118

 

I've heard positive things wrt the Limited and FEs. The Venturer is a little harder with the Kidderminster only starts at the moment.

 

I notice Jeffrey Atkins is on that list. Is that famous 2000s rapper and star of the Fast and the Furious Ja Rule? That would make my day.

 

He says on social media

 

Interesting. What locos will that leave the SVR with this year - 7714, 75069, 34027 (or 21C127 as it seems to be going to this year), 4930, 43106 (limited) and... anything else I've forgotten? I know there are some locos undergoing overhaul but I forget whether any are due back this year?
Great coup for the WSR too - Minehead is almost becoming a mini Machynlleth with the number of Manors that will be there this year!

 

Unbelievable.

 

Press release issued jointly and simultaneously by the EMF and SVR

 

Sorry, just my little joke that possibly only the Gen X folk will get…

 

Half term in Worcestershire is next week

 

Understandable but a bitter blow and surely letting a 'star' loco fresh from overhaul go for the summer isn't going to help in the quest for more passengers. The enthusiast visitor might be in a minority but they do exist and better they spend their fares on the SVR than the WSR ?

 

if the railway continues with the same timetable then there is not going to be much need for many engines better to earn some revenue away from the SVR the railway can use Hagley hall which i presume will not attract any hire fees

 

It’s not their engine to let go. The EMF may look at the new timetable and think they will not get the number of steaming they want on the Valley, who knows

 

More to the point, AFAIK 7714, 75069 and 43106 are on run and repair contracts while 4930 is the SVR's own loco, so no daily steaming fees will be incurred this year on those. That would not be the case with 7812, so once again from the SVR's point of view it looks like a case of a definite saving at the risk of an unquantified loss of visitor income.

 

The latest news on proposed redundancies.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/0...alley-railway-begins-consultation-period.html

 

This is precisely the explanation given to us shareholders in a lengthy email today. The fund were looking at just 30 steaming days as opposed to 100 normally.
Locos on 'run and repair' agreements will obviously get priority on the reduced number of steam days that are on offer as that is a much reduced cost for the SVR. 75069 & 4930 will be steamed ahead of 7812 for example.
The West Somerset approached the EMF speculatively and have made a better offer of more steam days. This will provide the trust with guaranteed income to complete the overhaul of 7802 and commence 5164.
The SVR have offered regular use for 7812 on Santa specials so she will be returning then and it is reiterated that she is still an SVR based locomotive.
7812 will be running at the spring gala along with 4930 and 4079, a line up I will certainly be attending for.

 

That does rather bring matters into focus. Enthusiasts tend to forget that behind their fantasies about engines and liveries someone has to earn a living and when it's taken away it's not funny. I assume the SVR supporters will be starting a hardship fund to soften the blow?

 

A great point its a clear saving why would any business do anything else its not as if its the first time the loco has run on the line.