SVR Autumn Steam Gala 19th-22nd September 2024

It would depend on the logistics but if i feasible to do in the evening (and less attractive due to hours of darkness) then the start can be with a full set with the split set or sets reformed as part of the morning routine. It's really not that difficult to imagine.

I'd personally prefer a longer term future of the railway hearing it working hard on a train full of passengers rather than a long train of fresh air hence the suggestion.

 

Well done everyone, looking forward to a run later behind it. And thanks once again for all the updates.

 

I do wonder if the lightly loaded evening services are down to the lack of overnight running? No incentive for people to stay on later. Didn't seem to have that issue with the diesel gala though - different audiences I guess.

 

And the marginal cost of running full length is?

 

The 2110 from Bridgnorth had over 200 people on. I cannot comment on the 2245 behind 13268. Southbound/ Up trains will always be busier at that time of night.

To the question of splitting sets. Most sets only have the 1 brakevan. I think only the Mk1/ LMS set has 2 brakes in the set. So its not just a case of splitting the sets up to make smaller ones.

 

The 17:50 + 19:45 run behind 75069 and 11456 was undoubtedly busy. Presumably because it was the only opportunity to get 11456 yesterday, it sounds even better today

 

I’ll try pick up on this a little later after firing, but the short answer is splitting sets and so on is not feasible for a number of reasons

 

Given the number of terms that start off in one industry / setting and then get translated to others as a general fact of how language develops (e.g. "Nailing your colours to the mast", "Long Shot" "Feeling Blue", "Pipe Down", "Toe the Line" and "Taken aback" which all come from Naval usage, I hardly think this is something to be concerned about. It's not being used in the formal operation of the railway, just in publicity to the general public. Given "Full Steam Ahead" is already in common usage away from steam-related contexts, I hardly see an issue with it being used to reference heritage railways

 

Splitting sets will require extra time and complexity in the timetable as you would have to kick passengers off the train while you split the set (possibly creating issues of where do you put those passengers while the shunt is taking place) and probably allow an extra 15 minutes in the timetable for the move to happen. Then you extra bodies to facilitate it with a shunter on the ground and extra loco crew, or you ask extra of the already hard working guard and crew of the loco that's just brought it in / is about to take it out. Then add the same again to reform the sets either at the end of the day or the start of the next to ensure you have the full line sets when required. I would imagine the extra complexity required probably outweighs the value of saving a small amount of coal, water and wear and tear by reducing the load by 100 tonnes.

Plus, what do you do if your last train from Bridgnorth is only 4 coaches long and yet there are enough people wanting to ride on it to fill an 8 coach set, plus all the potential passengers you might pick up on the way down the line? Especially if the other half of the set isn't at Brigdnorth? Run the train at unsafe levels? Or grab whatever coaches you can find to put back on the train (probably requiring you to kick any passengers who have boarded the train off while you do the shunting) and then have the problem of that potentially creating issues of how to reform the sets the next day? I would expect the complicated logistics and what ifs outweigh any positives you might get from it.

 

I've ended up not going to this one due to a relative having surgery that I needed to be close by for, but as a general rule the late evening running is a massive draw for me at SVR gala days of all types. It just adds a load more value to the fare with so much more running on offer (plus locos are louder in the dark, aren't they...??). On a Friday it means I can still drop the kids off at school before heading north and get 10-11 hours of running depending on the timetable.

 

So just to sort of respond on the splitting sets, etc…..

1) It doesn’t make a vast difference in running cost whether the train is 4 or 8 coaches, particularly when you’ve got a bigger loco on the front. They use pretty much the same amount of water and coal, plus it balances out when you think of the cost of the shunting either with steam or 08 shunter.

2) Storage is an issue of the bits split off. This gala in particular the railway is very full. Storing odd coaches/or 3/4 off a set isn’t easy. It can really only happen at KR or BH and it’s then as case of getting them away, etc.

3) The last train each way last night was pretty full. Certainly 6 coaches worth out of 8, likely more. Thats the justification really for keeping them as big sets.

4) Shunting split sets back together in the dark isn’t as easy as it sounds. The risks increase with visibility, working in dark areas, etc so you try keep that sort of thing to a minimum. Then in the morning you’re looking at an hour extra on the day, so a 5:30 start rather than 6:30 for the signal boxes, 2:10am rather than 3:10 for the lighting up men. It just doesn’t stack up.

5) Staff. We are volunteers and asking for the extra little bits of shunting it soon builds to a big task. We try keep things enjoyable, moving, and well balanced for all. Splitting sets would add to the risks of problems, staff stresses, etc.

As much as one train may look quiet, the next will likely be busier.

 

Certainly no issue with loadings today, very busy. Some brilliant running too, cracking gala.

 

Thanks, appreciate the time to pull together a detailed response. Was just an observation based on the evening - certainly didn't anticipate it to be straightforward but was curious if it had been considered. If it doesn't detrimentally add to running costs then would agree that it doesn't make a great deal of sense.

 

Yes, today seemed to go well and trains seemed well loaded as typical for a Saturday of the gala. Not sure if anyone else came across the gentleman with the word Lego tattooed on the back of his head but I hope he managed to get some decent shots in the end on his phone camera.

 

A few hours at the Valley this morning

 

Video from the Saturday, mainly focused on 11456 (a layover at Bewdley for a train to overtake it, meaning it was possible for a brisk walk from Northwood Lane to Rifle Range in good time). Footage also includes 44932, 45596 Bahamas and 4930 Hagley Hall on the goods departing Bewdley.

 

Very enjoyable day yesterday. Great selection of locos this year and overall the timetable seemed to work too, never more than 15 or 20mins adrift. Time seemed to be lost at Highley where there wasn't enough time to shunt the local into the centre road, but this was then recovered at Kidderminster. There were some lengthy layovers at Bewdley.
The up side was some lively running by the trains in an effort to claw back time, Hagley Hall's spine tingling run up to Bewdley tunnel will live long into the memory - Bahamas also put in some wonderful performances. That loco just oozes power and looks incredible - full marks to the team who turned it out each day.
44932 was very rare traction and was very popular.
The l&y tank I think was being nursed a little, but completed its turns well. Great effort to get it into service.
2999 - a firm favourite of mine, shame it will never run on the mainline as it has a great turn of speed & has to be held back on a heritage line. With those big driving wheels you can see it could cruise easily at 60 - 70mph.
The railway seems to be back in the groove now, this was a gala where they concentrated on doing what they do best - putting on the best steam show in the country. All the galas this year have been top drawer & very well attended, which makes the decision to run next year's spring gala at Easter even more odd, ah well!
Thanks again to all involved.

 

I want to meet him, sounds like my sort of guy!!