SVR Santas

[FONT=&quot]If anyone is planning to go and phot the SVR Santas, be warned that the smokeboxes are festooned with decorations and tinsel[/FONT]

 

As adorned by myself and many other volunteers that help run the service, its just a little christmas cheer

 

I thought that 6695 looked that part with her tinsel!

 

i quite agree Ann Clark, the loco's did look festive

 

smokeboxes are festooned

As a lineside fotter myself, one side of me might deplore such moves in exasperation (in perhaps much the same way as I might despise the proverbial "Mr Headboard Man" - and all all of his supporters that seem to plague us on this site nowadays). Nevertheless, as a parent myself - and a former SVR regular footplateman as well - I feel that I am in a position to see both sides of any reasoned argument.

I know it's a much hackneyed phrase, but without the punters (in this case, families who might have no wish to visit at any other time of the year), with income from such traffic being such a contributory factor in annual revenue, the trains would otherwise cease running. For most lines, that's an unescapable fact of life!

My kids will certainly never forget the trouble that volunteers (and remember they are merely volunteers ... even down to Santa himself, sat in his draughty GUV !) on our local ELR went to in welcoming its "seasonal" customers a few years back. Maybe my own two are slightly too old now to have any real desire to return themselves for such events, but they will be bringing their own children in due course in the years to come and that revenue is what pays the bills.

I am unclear as to whether the thread started by 'Michaelh' contained any personal sentiment or not, but what he did state is a fact and reflects a situation will be the case at just about any steam centre that one might care to visit between now and the 25th.

To all those whinging cameramen, and in particular those who never put their hands in their pockets to participate in a train ride themselves (they know who they are!), my message would be: If you don't like the adornments, just remember that trains will also be running in most places on a daily basis well into the New Year and, by which time, all the headboards and other paraphenalia will be safely packed back in their boxes! Okay, there won't be quite so frequent a service, but at least the parents of the kids on the "Santas" will have subsidised the service to the extent that you still will have something to take pictures of.

Weekends between now and Christmas, I guess I won't have time to consider any linesiding expeditions, even if I wanted to, but, weather-permitting, I will be there just about every day that I can once the festivities are over! Let's hope for a few of those frosty mornings that we had a few winters back!

:smt114 Merry Christmas to all!! :smt114

 

Does any body know which locos will be working the festive season trains on Saturday 12?

Many Thanks

 

Sorry mate, the roster won't be out till friday, I'd imagine the likely candidates will be 7812, 5164, 6695, 2968 and 6443, but that may change as 3106 may finally be back, and 5764, which went sick, may have been repaired, but the above is the most likely at the mo!

 

Can someone please post me a link to the timetable for Saturday, as I cannot seem to find it :S

 

Sorry Lewis, can't help you there, not even got my working time table yet, how ever, if you are looking at turning up to take photos, there is a train every 30 mins, bar a short break around lunch time, so if you just turn up, it won't be too long till you see something.
For those not already aware, the santa specials operate from Kidderminster to Arley only, with most Down (Arley bound) trains, being non-stop.