STEEL, STEAM & STARS II - Llangollen Rly - 18 to 26 April 09

At last iv`e finished and posted pictures from 2nd weekend.

View at http://paulmartin.fotopic.net/c1692745.html


Thanks to ALL who worked so hard to make STEEL, STEAM & STARS II happen. From Will and Quentin right through to the musicians and barstaff at the beer festival.

Thanks

Regards
Boatcove

 

I think 6100 over the river bridge is just brilliant Paul.

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

 

Ha Ha, we blew the singer away dude !!!!
(Alice - Alice . . . . :smt035 \/ :lol: )

 

New pictures have been added from the final Weekend.
http://lewis-maddox.fotopic.net

 

Sorry it's taken forever to get these up and ready! I've been doing so much revision, didn't have time for these. Anyway if anyone wants to view my pictures from the first weekend then they're available at: http://photos-by-greg.fotopic.net/

Also if anyone wants to use any of the photos, then just let me know.

But a final thank you to everyone who participated throughout the preperation and the gala itself, hats off to you all.

Greg.

 

I went on the second saturday and I can honestly say that this was the best gala that I have ever been to. It was my first sighting of "Morayshire", "Royal Scot", "9017" and "5526". 9017 looked stunning in BR black and 6100 produced some sterling performances. I could not believe how busy it was at 8.30 in the morning. It was a shame that 44806 was not diagramed for the day I went. :smt022 Full credit must go to the Llangollen Railway & Betton Grange Society for producing a spectacular gala. Roll on SSS3.

 

Does anyone know when the DvD will be ready?

 

I understand that it is in final editing and voiceover production type stuff this week. I would expect it ought to be ready to roll within a week or two (I assume - don't quote me)

Mr Perfection ought to have a better idea than me.

 

Last time we had it available from he end of May Bank Holiday. I would presume that will be the same again, though there is more footage this time and there will be a bonus disc, so I am not too sure.

 

Where can I order a copy?

 

HERE

As linked from the Betton Grange society website

 

My friends Andy and Dave Patten at Railtalk magazine have just put out a special supplement to their monthly magazine dedicated to SSS2.

Take a look at :-

http://www.railtalk.net/magazine/steel2.pdf

Rich

 

I have just received my copy of the gala DVD and it looks really good what with it being three dics and almost 5 hours of gala action.

 

I think I have recovered......so it is time to write somthing

I shall start with a....."thank you"...each and every one of you who supported Steel Steam & Stars II

Without your support this event and the kind words that you have written, we would ask ourselves was it worth it ?

As reported in Heritage Railway 120k was near enough what it cost to put on I think those costs were met by Friday leaving the last weekend to boost 6860s bank account.

I will not deny that it has put an imense strain on the 6880 group I know Myself, Quentin, Jon Kerr, and quite a few others who were on the run up eating, living, and breathing SSSII almost to the point where we envied the people who came in did their bit had a great time and went home.

By the looks on most of the visitors faces we had got most of it right....we think..! and thankfully no one saw the battle in the background to fix all the problems.

The highlights for me were seeing Llangollen shed full of Locos on the friday with Dave Owen muttering "I am trying to run a business here" with the constant stream of tucks arriving over two days it did become a bit chaotic.

The photocharter on the wednesday with 9017 and 5526 was a charter not to be missed a perfect mist and sun combination with so little time before the train was needed back on the srevice trains we only did one locoation but the results were spectacular.

The friday night out with myself and flying fiver on 6100. I do apologise for extracting the booked fireman for the turn but as he already been on 6100 the previous Sunday I did not feel that bad about it Sorry mr Kirwood there is a small fact that the idea of inviting 6100 to the show was mine.

There were many firsts at SSSII I did think of listing them all but there were that many, the pairing of Morayshire and Mayflower, first nine day gala at Llangollen (you cant count thomas), first time a black 90 and 55, first time a Royal Scot, B1 a Shire, first time three 4-4-0s have been in steam and run the entire days service trains not just any 4-4-0s but three unique survivors.
As for 6100 on a freight train .....?

The midweek was a suprise to us all with monday being quiet we felt .O.K. we can live this, as long we bring in X amount we will be fine
Then on the tuesday it Scottish day with Bagpiped music and it was back to standing room only for the rest of the week

The railtour re-enactmants were very popular an Idea I think created by Quentin. let down initally by no Churchward Mogul or Devon Bell Obsevation car in order to recreate the orgional "Daffodil" with 3440, we addapted and the Beavertail certainley proved popular with no shortage of obscure motive power to pull the trains again another first at SSSII.

With each station having a reason to get off especially Glyn with the minature collection and Carrog with the WLLRs Irish Mail there was always somthing to see if you became bored with riding on trians.

We stll have preservations oddballs like the father and son doubleact who insisted we had got it all wrong when playing catch up with the time table and missed a train on one of the busy days, I watched them giving poor old Bob Haslam (one of the nicest chaps you could ever meet) a hard time at Carrog I stepped in and offered them thier money back and insist they leave the premesis but oh no they clealy wanted to stay so they shup up and left.

Then there were the conterfeit tickets on the last sunday I suppose its a kinda of honour to have forged tickets done

Yes I am still recovering, some of us are off to the NRM this weekend to have a final look through the GWR drawings let us hope we find some more 68 stuff the extension frames is all we are missing .

After that is back to 5199 which is off to the CVR and then 6880 again and drilling holes

As for Steel Steam & Stars III.....consider that SSSII was much like Status Quos last tour.......never ever again ..we are now retired no more Galas....run out of ideas etc

Who knows what will happen

Thank you and goodnight

From Will Q and ALL the 68 boys and girls in fact everyone who was involved in some way

Even Glyn and Flange Bandit

 

Well you all put on a great show,looks as though everyone had a superb time and SS111 will be bigger and better. You have yourself another traction engine for next time because we would like to be a part of the next one if you'll have us :smt003

 

SSSIII - The Trilogy !!! ................ Gosh, I am still recovering from the SSSII epic.

Really looking forward to watching our official SSSII DVD.

 

STEEL, STEAM & STARS (Further Update)

As Chairman of 6880 and the person responsible for expanding SSSII to the limit of our capabilities at Llangollen, I would like to clarify the position on future SSS events.

The decision to run another event is not something we have officially discussed at a Board meeting. Once the bills have been paid and the financial results analysed, we can look at the benefits to 6880 and consider its worth.

There are two aspects to running these Mega Events.

1. They can contribute to 6880's building program with a chunk of cash that would otherwise be hard to raise in a short time.

2. They can be an excuse for a really entertaining 'Steam Party' for enthusiasts, volunteers and tourists alike.

To justify running them the first point is paramount. As much as we like having a 'Party' we are primarily interested in building 6880.

My main concern for any future Mega Gala is expanding the volunteer team to run it. SSSII ran successfully as far as visitors go, but we as a team were in general at least half a dozen volunteers short each day. There were several places that needed an extra hand in order to maximise revenue. Short of installing turnstiles and fencing the entire Railway off, it was difficult to stop punters from pushing past the Ticket tables when queues built up!

The team we did have worked very hard and I thank every one of them.

Although 6880 Rules suggests that SSSII was the last, I think we fell that the SSS brand is worth continuing with. The format might change a little, it might not be for 3 years, who knows, but I think personally we will be back with another. Perhaps next time we can encourage a few more volunteers to come forward and make a commitment.

STEEL STEAM & STARS II OFFICIAL DVD

This is now available from Belhurst Productions at www.steam-railway-videos.co.uk or phone 07740 029447 to order.

Due to demand stock has temporarily sold out. A new batch will be available from w/c 1/6/09.

Over 50% of the proceeds goes towards 6880, so we thank you for purchasing this item. The DVD is excellent value when you consider there is 4hrs 47 mins of footage spread over 3 discs.

 

Mr Perfection said

If anyone has follwed the "Quo" people like flange bandit will remember when the "quo" said it was their last tour, no more, thats it, we have had enough etc.

It was kinda strange that it wasnt and within a year or two they were back out rockin all over the world again

So although some us feel no more never again.....like me, because I feel we now need a clear head to seriously start building 6880

Unfortuneatly galas are very demanding on our time and get in the way of the building process

When we think the time is right and we all feel ready for going through it all again then maybe just maybe you will be booking your tickets to Steel Steam & Stars III

So like the Quo no more Galas means no more galas.......until we say so

Meanwhile enjoy the DVD

 

Sound fair enough to me. If you get on with it now, mabee the next gala will have 6880 as star guest?!!