SVR Autumn Steam Gala

That hasn't been a problem for me in years.

 

No faffing around on day one !

 

Marsh Steam Video!

 

Right crew, right time. hopefully more of the same to come.

 

TCF outside Kidderminster, everything at a stand waiting pilotman sounds like.

 

I believe the circuit cleared after passage of the Jinty train and 73082 departed under normal working 25L

 

73082 away 17L from Bewdley, very good operations occurring. Well done all.

 

A few images from yesterday. I agree the jinty sounded awesome - loved the auto coach/1450 as well...

 

I'm sat right behind the engine on this run - very nice thank you!

 

What actually caused the delays later in the day? They started off 25 late due to the TCF, but were more or less back on time by 10.00, but things started going downhill from about 13.00 and my last train arrived in Kiddy 45 late.

 

Thanks for the positive comments people and apologies for the delays.

This is a new timetable we’ve tried which removed almost all the double crosses from Bewdley as we had complaints about 20-30 minute layovers there. So it’s not perfect and some of the shunting has added to delays. But it’s all a learning curve and we can ammened to suit.

The track circuit failure didn’t help. It looked like we had clawed it back but in reality we hadn’t. It was still a knock on effect. See how it goes overnight and tomorrow.

 

Few photos taken after dark at Kidderminster tonight plus a phone cam video of 73082 Camelot

https://railway-photography.smugmug...-Autumn-Steam-gala-Friday-19th-September-2025

Neil

 

A few shots of today's trains at the gala...

 

A few thoughts on the gala so far

Great to see P&O tacking some gradients, taking them in its stride, but working more than on home soil

Good loadings without being standing room only, evening services seem more lightly loaded than usual

Lineside vegetation, whilst not yet at big railway standards, is growing and really needs a big cut back to restore views

The timetable is once again too ambitious, are all the shuttles/layovers of these really required (as its these that are causing the timetable slippages, now at about an hour)

Whilst I understand the gala is to show off the railway in all it's aspects would it be better to drop the goods train and perhaps have a goods train weekend at another date, might also help with the tt slippages

Overall, as usual, a very enjoyable few days

 

Interrupting the fishing on Thursday.

 

The 06.57 for Kidderminster left Bridgnorth at 07.20, so still adrift this morning.

 

Still 20-25 minutes late now. Sat at Bewdley behind the Hall.