Severn Valley Railway winter steam gala January 2024

The Severn Valley Railway are to host a winter steam gala over the 6th and 7th January 2024. Locomotives in use will include 2253 'Omaha', 2968, 7812 'Erlestoke Manor', 43106 and 21C127 'Taw Valley'.
Tickets on sale next week.

 

Locos will include subject to usual caveats
- 2253 "Omaha"
- 2968
- 43106 (very likely last weekend prior to overhaul)
- 21C127 "Taw Valley"
- 7812 "Erlestoke Manor"

https://svr.co.uk/event/winter-steam-gala-2024/

 

Surely it better to have a seperate thread for the Winter Gala?

 

not sure what’s happened here - the solution to two duplicate Winter gala threads (which there were) shouldn’t really be to close them both and merge with the Autumn Steam Gala thread…

it’s a separate (and new) SVR gala!

 

Anyway, I think it's a good idea to put on a show with the locos the railway will be having anyway for Christmas. Sadly I probably won't able to attend as I'll be back to work after Christmas and can't really justify the extra holiday.

 

Wonderful plan considering there aren’t many winter steam events.

 

Timetable with loco allocations https://svr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SVR-Winter-Steam-Gala-Public-Timetable.pdf

7714 joins the line up for both days with 75069 on Sunday afternoon.

 

For the Photters and Spotters among those on here most things will face South as per their direction for Santa Services.

43106 will turn north for its very last run on the Sunday I am told and there is potential to turn 7812 on the Saturday morning to be north facing too.

2968 does currently face North although it has another test run booked soon and I would think it would turn south during that to match the rest of the Santa Ops stuff

 

Amazing to have that info (provisionally at least) with the event a month and a half away! I downloaded the timetable yesterday and thought I won't plan my moves yet as it'll be weeks before we'll know which way the locos are facing, but actually I can crack on!

(Will be travelling but my goal is always a decent smokebox first shot of everything and a decent uphill run in the front coach with everything I'm partial to in a line-up, which in this case is S160 and Manor as top priorities)

 

Any further updates I’ll put them on here as well. 75069 may face North too but that’s TBA. We are trying to have most things facing whichever way we want them for the Spring Gala, so whichever a loco runs post Christmas is more than likely it’s Spring direction too.

 

Harry. 1730 on Sunday might be a tad full. Most of the railway MPD staff should be out and about for the pigs last run home.

 

More than happy to chuck a few quid into the pot for the next overhaul…

 

As I am unavailable to help out at the GCR Winter Gala, seems like a perfect time to visit the SVR for the first time in donkey’s years. Don’t think I’ve ever seen either 41306 or 2968 in steam before so looking forward to seeing them, as I have familial connections potentially working on them from their allocation history.

Mostly posting to voice my appreciation of the SVR offering member rates for other railway staff on their reciprocal travel scheme - the last couple of galas I’ve been to elsewhere haven’t offered a discount on event days. Not that I checked before purchasing full rate as I didn’t expect it, but money well spent no doubt.

 

Updates on SVR website for this weekends gala

• S160 2253 Omaha – last appearance before it leaves the SVR, the locomotive was built in America in 1943 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works and was shipped to Britain as part of the war effort. UPDATE 3/1/24: We hope to have Omaha in service this weekend, but remedial work is needed and we will know on Friday 5 Jan whether the loco will be running.

• GWR 7714 – working local services. In its working life, Pannier tanks could be found at work all over the former GWR system and although designed primarily for shunting duties, they were regularly used on local freight and passenger workings. UPDATE 3/1/24: We hope to have 7714 in service this weekend, but remedial work is needed and we will know on Friday 5 Jan whether the loco will be running.

 

I wonder how many people are secretly hoping 2253 doesn't make it!

 

I expect quite a few.

 

Harry, are you able to confirm that 7812 will be facing north?

Thanks Richard

 

7812 is expected to take a trip on the magic roundabout on Saturday AM to face North.

All other locos face south and won’t be turned.

Currently 2253 and 7714 require testing on Friday 5th to establish their fitness to run. There are a number of alternate plans waiting to be issued should one/both fail

 

Not me! As I can’t get up to the GCR to volunteer for our gala and have a look over it on shed, hoping to have a gander at its footplate and grate at the weekend. Been looking forward to seeing it running as well, more interesting than a common western or br standard of which there’s plenty enough around!

So my fingers will be crossed! (And also for this rain to finally pack it in)

 

2253 doesnt seem to be the most reliable of locos, I wonder if they ever considered one the Churnet Valley S160s?