SVR General Discussion

The BBC news site has a couple of additional articles, which I don't think have yet been mentioned here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy7g5yrvz5o
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8xqnd1pkjyo

The articles mention that the landslip took away not only a mound of earth from the embankment but also part of a wing wall from the bridge. A Network Rail engineer is quoted as suggesting that the wing wall may have been damaged by the river in flood.

The SVR web-site now has details of train services for half-term. On running days, there are due to be 5 return services (3 steam + 2 diesel) from KD to HL, with additional DMU from KD to HY on some days, plus cab rides at BN.

https://svr.co.uk/event/february-half-term-2024-2/2025-02-15/

It has been reported that 75069 has moved to KD to operate the steam turns. Any others moving? Given the lack of watering facilities at HL, I assume that they will need to use locos that carry enough water for the round trip KD to HL and back. Would 7714 be able to do that?

How many steam-heat diesels does the SVR have to operate trains during cold weather periods?

 

40106 and 46045 are steam heat fitted.

 

Just moved 75069 down for now. Gala meeting on Thursday evening to discuss what we can possibly do. I suspect one or two more engines will come round at some point as 75 won’t carry on by itself.

7714 would be right on its limit KR-HL-KR with water.

2 steam heat diesels, but always the option of top and tail with the steam loco if a non heat diesel is needed for whatever reason.

 

There's a water column at the South End of Bewdley Station - is KR - HL - BY more comfortable enough for 7714 or is it still a bit too close to touch and go?

 

Bridgnorth and Kidderminster much preferred, as they have RO plants fitted meaning the treated water works better for our boilers.

Bewdley is a last resort/gala only job in the ideal world. But yes KR-HL-BY is still a push

 

Thanks for clarifying. So using 7714 is unideal on 2 counts then!

 

If you are smart it is possible to get 99% of the benefits of reverse osmosis using one filling point that is ro and one that's not.
At the Kent & East Sussex we have a very similar set up to the SVRs at Rolvenden and the tender locos mostly take all their water there. However the tank locos because of range issues also take water at Northiam. It's not easy to put a ro plant in at Northiam because there is no mains sewage or drainage to take the reject water. However it's since been the case that if you measure the boiler water it would be difficult to justify the costs of a second plant there anyway. Obviously we expect to be taking water at Robertsbridge in 3 years now which will change all the calculations anyway.

 

True. And perhaps were our fleet to be made up of a larger pool of small locos 7714 may be more of a choice. But with 4930/75069/13268/7802 all of which will do KR-HL-KR comfortably on RO water there is little need to be balancing out the smaller ones

 

And 7812 which will return to Kidderminster after its Gwili visit in March making it available for SVR service until it moves south westwards to the WSR in late April. As a late change 7812 will now be covering footplate rides (prebooked) at Bridgnorth on 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 20th Feb instead of 1450 which needs further repairs. 7802 still needs loaded test running which is currently being rearranged & will now need to be from Kidderminster.

 

That doesn't make sense to my simple mind. 7812 moves from the Gwili to Kidderminster then on to Bridgnorth for footplate trips whilst 7802 at Bridgnorth and capable of footplate trips moves to Kidderminster for load testing. Should that reference to 7812 be 7802?

 

It makes plenty of sense

7812 will do Footplate rides for now, (1450 needs a bit fo work I think), until it heads off to the Gwilli in Mid March. 7812 would return to Kidderminster, and then head off to the WSR.

7802 can’t really be run in at Bridgnorth. There’s simply not enough miles available to get under its belt. So it will need to move, and as far as I’m aware the EMF are keen to do something with both 02/12 before 12 leaves for 3 years at the WSR. Theres also the added bonus that 02 could then work alongside 75069 whilst the line is severed.

 

Apologies. It does now I’ve reread what you said and not what I think you said, which was it would do footplate rides after it returned from the Gwili.

 

Severn Valley Steam 2024 DVD now available in all station shops for anyone interested in purchasing. Also available at steamvalleyproductions.com




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I may well have this wrong, but I just went to the SVR donation link intending to donate £25, and received a message that £25 donations had sold out

 

Bizarre... I found the online donations system confusing - the way the site mixed up donations with ticket buying. But my donation wasn't rejected.
I'd ring or email them, you will get a considered reply. As I did to my question to them about why they didn't provide for gift aid.

 

The reason I hesitated about donating a week or two ago was that I thought a gift aided donation would be better, and in fact it had been mentioned in this thread, but the link didn't seem to offer it. Strange that the company rather than a charity is behind this appeal, meaning no gift aid, but I guess there must be a good reason for it.

Edited to add:

Guess they've just released some more £25 donations

No longer sold out and donation now made

 

Thanks for answering my queries. Given the water limitation with 7714, I guess that it is likely to stay at BN for the time being - unless possibly wanted for "local trains" during the Spring Gala.

If 7802 & 7812 join 75069 at the south end of the line, and with "Bahamas" visiting, you have a theme for the Spring Gala (at least for the nerds among us), namely "Taper-boiler 4-6-0s". We wait to see whether 4930 will also be joining its friends "down south".

Even with the line severed north of HL, the useable SVR will still be 12 miles long, which is longer than most heritage railways. I think we can look forward to a Spring Gala with plenty of activity and attractions, making good use of the available engines and carriage sets.

 

We did have a gala meeting tonight. Some form of gala will occur, and logistics are being worked out as to what that may be.

 

IIRC the SVR once ran a diesel Gala that worked as far as Highley where there was a run round loop in the siding which worked quite well - given the Engine House as an added attraction on site. Could that not provide a terminal point with a Highley - Hampton Loade shuttle rather than working throughout to Hampton Loade ?