Severn Valley Railway Spring gala 14-16 April (plus Pendennis Castle trips 13 April)

Both 60163 and 6024 require a test track before mainline operations. 6024 is now part of the LSL family which has used the SVR frequently, it said to be too heavy currently for the West Somerset. Before the latest delay, Tornado's first trip (now postponed) was booked off Worcester, not a million miles from Kidderminster..
This is pure unadulterated speculation BTW and ignores the fact that the SVR is currently severed itself..

 

The SVR has the ability to pull off a brilliant gala anyway but....

A hall, a Manor, a pannier, a Castle all in steam, the ability to display 28xx, 15xx, a prairie and 7325 around the railway too.

Thats a fairly special line up and potential for photography.

Appropriate stock too.

Now if they were to manage to have 6024 kicking about too.....

Ultimate GW gala line up?

Chris

 

Certainly would be an impressive lineup, though the West Somerset had quite the lineup too back in 2005 for their Spring gala. 6024, 5051, 4936, 7822, 3440, 5542, 5553, 6412, 4612, 9466, 1450, plus Mogul 9351! Only thing missing really is a heavy freight loco!

 

I was looking at some old video of that gala only the other day - one of the best gala line ups I've ever been to and unlikely to be repeated I suspect. I had an after dark run behind 6024 back to Crowcombe where the driver really opened her up on the gradients - fantastic stuff.

6024 is a special loco for me, I remember her being restored at Quainton when I was only about 4 years old and being run in on the short running line there. It was the biggest steam loco I had ever seen and larger than anything else there by some margin! It probably cemented my interest in steam. Would be a great 2nd visitor for the gala. She has a long association with the SVR and has paid many visits in the past, but only her owners and LSL know the plans for her I'm afraid!

 

Wow! I'm YouTubing that later!

 

4555 confirmed as the second guest.

 

4555 visited pre-SVR preservation https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/60s/650919sl.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78911862@N06/7837700982/

From the PR: The SVR is still in negotiations with a number of owners for a third guest locomotive

 

Not that I'm moaning or anything but:
Surely with 4079, 4555 and the 6 homies, that is plenty for the railway, especially with financial problems.

 

I’ve no idea and I won’t speculate, but in the past they’ve been able on occasion to source a loco either in exchange for access to their engineering facilities or as a swap. In those circumstances it (nominally at least) doesn’t necessarily cost

 

I don't think it has been mentioned that Pendennis Castle will be hauling three round trips from Bridgnorth on 13th April. More info: https://svr.co.uk/event/gwr-4079-pendennis-castle-excursion-days/

 

seems strange they are aiming to replicate a trip that 4079 failed on route and was replaced by a hall!does that mean 4930 will be involved

 

Perhaps the plan is to melt the firebars en route for extra realism?

 

Giving this thread a bump. Line up is excellent. Guessing that the LMS 2-6-0 won’t be ready but still progressing in the shops. Also saw the development of 34027 being in Southern scheme. Final guess is that the final visitor hasn’t been announced still. In agreement with those that have said that what has been announced is fantastic.

 

Goods trains were announced last week.

Gala webpage https://svr.co.uk/event/spring-steam-gala-2023/

 

Still don't see why they want a 3rd visitor.
Pendennis and Warrior are more than enough, besides, will be nice watching 4555 and 7714 double-head a full line service.

 

Hoping it will not be too long before a timetable (with loco allocations) is published as I need to think about booking accommodation and this will depend on the start / end times each day and what ends various loco's are starting from. Looking forward to seeing 4555 on the line, hopefully hauling the Toplights and maybe a nice GW goods too.

 

Last I heard was they were still awaiting confirmation on a third visitor. Hopefully more movement this week.

 

And there's one other guest to be announced.

 

Sold out but posted for reference

https://www.timelineevents.org/prod...mbination-of-pendennis-castle-and-gwr-coaches

 

I'm sure this will be welcome news. The last paragraph not so much...