WSR Spring Steam Gala, 20-21 & 25-28 March 2010

A very enjoyable four days spent at the gala filming and riding the trains, despite the poor weather Thursday and Friday. Thanks to all involved at the WSR for a great event and special thanks to the ladies at Crowcombe Heathfield for the tea and delicious cakes.
The first part of my video record covering Thursday and Friday can be found here;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATh6DQ5M0Fw

 

Your video is 'private'

Regards

 

Re: GWR 175 - "The Standard Revolution" Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 20

Well you're entitled to your opinion but I think you went to a different gala from the rest of us! I, and it seems the majority on this board thought it was superb, one of the best they had done. A couple of points:

1) Since the turntable was installed there have always been complaints about tender-first running. I don't know the solution to the problem but until the triangle is commissioned at the other end of the line there will always be some tender-first running. I think the turntable has proved a good thing since as well as providing something for people to watch (and very popular it is too) it does give some variety to locomotive workings over the course of the gala. Most heritage railways either have no turntable or do not use it during a gala (e.g. Severn Valley).

2) When will people learn that galas are not organised principally for photographers? It is the travelling public who buy their tickets and ride the trains that make these things pay. Now I like to take photos too but I think the organisers did well to make it quite clear in the programme which way the engines would be facing and it is therefore possible to plan your day accordingly. For example I noticed a period of tender-first running on Saturday afternoon so went off to have a look at the Williton works at that time.

3) How can you possibly complain about the line-up of locos? It's not as if we weren't told in advance what was appearing! Now I agree that big locos like 6024 and 71000 are best experienced on the main line but it always helps to have one or two "big names" at a gala and as far as I know no 9Fs are not currently allowed on the main line so a gala is the best place to see them.

4) How can you say this railway is going off the rails? You should have seen it 30 years ago when I first visited! It looked dead on it's feet then. But since then it has gone from strength to strength and that is due to the hard work and dedication of many.

Congratulations to all at the WSR for a superb event. I have now attended 20 consecutive galas there and this was one of the best!

 

Re: GWR 175 - "The Standard Revolution" Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 20

Nobody thinks that galas are organised for photographers, but I like many other photographers/videographers I also pay for galas. I am a member of the WSRA, I have a lineside pass, a bought a two day rover (which I didn't use at all), and a DVD and a book and a Thomas engine for my grandson. I think I did my bit financially for the railway.

The point is however that the railway, any railway, cannot just appeal to the majority who want to ride and take the odd snapshot as a momento of the event. I accept that the photographic community are a pretty hard-nosed bunch, but the universal opinion in the breakfast room of the B&B I stayed in was that the WSR had cocked up the Saturday/Sunday timetable and my fellow breakfasters were non too pleased. Neither were the other photographers I met out and about.

As far as the line-up was concerned, I think that this again marks a considerable difference in attitude between the riders and the photters. The best gala I have visited this year was the SVR's. Nice prototypical locomotives in their natural habitat - superb!

No, for me the railway got it wrong. My video of the Brighton tank at the top of Washford bank shows it all. It was working hard, but the Duke was simply going over a pimple!

Regards

 

Ah, Rebecca Jane - don't be shy, you should have spoken up! I hope you enjoyed the Gala. Most folk on here seem to have done.

John.

 

Re: GWR 175 - "The Standard Revolution" Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 20

You took some great pictures, Paul. Not just because yours truly appears in one of them but because they're well composed and lit. Researching your location and going for close ups and distant views makes such a difference to the often-seen front three quarter shots.

John.

 

Re: GWR 175 - "The Standard Revolution" Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 20

I have uploaded two videos of the WSR’s Spring Steam Gala

Friday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0OQdSZwfzE

Saturday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUsvvNVp4Lc

Location include Minehead, Dunster, Ker Moor, Sampford Brett, Woolston Moor, Washford and Washford bank, Nornvis Bridge and Crowcombe Heathfield.

Regards

 

Re: GWR 175 - "The Standard Revolution" Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 27th. March 20

You're too kind John!
I shall be in touch soon to let you have a copy of the promised photo.

Regards,

Paul

 

Orion is entitled to his opinion but I don't agree with anything he wrote. Sorry but it is the big engines that make a gala, if they were to just use their own locos and just invite tankies and small tender engines you just as well not bother having a gala. A gala is about having some engines that don't work on the mainline like the 9F's and Ivatt 2MT 78019 since when has a 9F been mainline certificated ? and is never likely to be either without the galas or indeed any preserved railway we would never be able to see or experience a ride behind them.
I spent 3 days at the gala 2 days with rovers and yesterday photting, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it regardless of the weather and the sound from the big engines were lovely and noisy, without any of the big locos I probably would not have bothered going.
Orion knew from the website what locos would be attending if he does'nt like big engines on a preserved railway why bother to come then moan about wasting his money and did not have a good time.
As for saying the WSR is going backwards is laughable, what with the turntable and the triangle? at least they use the turntable, not like some who have one but hardly use it.

 

Hear Hear!

 

Dear Maureen,

I did not say that the WSR is going backwards, I simply pointed out that the railway timetablers had a tender-first arrival on all four days of the gala which was then turned on the turntable to be a tender-first departure! That this is completely daft should be readily apparent.

I didn't know which engines were to be on display at the gala until very recently, and neither did the railway. The theme was announced last October but its up-and-downs has been chronicled here. At the time it seemed to be good, if ambitious idea, but it turned out to be an impossible one too. In the circumstances it could have been a good deal worse.

I don't have a problem with one large engine appearing at a gala, although I would prefer it to be a prototypical type: KE1, Duke and two 9Fs appearing is just three too many. These large engines just forge up the banks as thought they don't exist with the light loadings that the WSR and the other railways can offer. Have you ever seen 'Gresley' on the NYMR's 1:49? The incline might just as well not be there with only seven on!

Of the four engines I would have prefered 92212 because I don't get to see it too often, and, as you say, no 9Fs are mainline certificated because the flangeless wheelset is unacceptable on the mainline nowadays. I'm sure that 9Fs did get to Minehead during BR days but it wouldn't have been possible to turn them on the small GWR turntable at the original Minehead shed. Tender-first back to Taunton!

One of the issues with the West Somerset area is the lack of good quality, but affordable, accommodation. The regulars know therefore that once you have found a good B&B or hotel it's as well to book for the next gala as you leave. This I have done for years now, and if the WSR doesn't completely off its perch I'll continue to do it and take the risk.

In spite of saying that, the risk ought to be small and if the WSR had done its homework properly would have been non-existant. Most of the railways, particularly the 'premier division' railways, put on good shows and the regulars know that. But ... this is the second WSR Spring Gala where there have been serious timetabling issues. Time for a 'drains-up'.

Regards

 

Strange, I released the video to an unsuspecting public prior to my posting on here and have had several views. Suggest another try, it may be YouTube up to their tricks.

 

Second instalment of my video trilogy featuring scenes from the sunny Saturday now uploaded to YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEW8dJxF10s

 

Top quality work , Austin, I really enjoyed watching, thanks.
If I may be pedantic? On Saturday's notes you have 6024 departing Washford, I'm sure you realise it is actually Watchet.
Also on Saturday your shot of 92212 climbing in to Washford means that we were standing next to each other as I have a photo on my fotopic site of 92212 taken from the same location.
Great work and thanks for sharing.

Best wishes,

Paul

 

I had a fantastic two days at the Gala, my first visit to the WSR. I was very lucky with the weather as I travelled on Friday and was off the train for photos and videos on Saturday which was a lovely day. Will take me quiet a while to go through my photos and videos, will post links when I have! It was slightly odd that locos came into Minehead backwards and turned to go out backwards but I am sure there was a good reason for it and it was a very intresting sight watching them get turned on the turntable (and a popular one with the public as well). It was all detailed in the timetable so I was able to plan my day and drive to other locations or enjoy a nice cup of tea and watch them go by! Someone earlier mentioned hotels, I stayed in a £29 (for two people per night) Premier Inn at Taunton Dean, did mean an intresting 50 min drive down some narrow and twisty lanes at 8am on Saturday to get to Blue Anchor but helped keep the cost of the weekend down. I shall be returning next year with luck, many thanks to all who helped run the gala.

 

Thanks very much Paul, shame 92212 shut off early at Washford, I arrived a little late and just squeezed into the line. I'll correct the error re 6024. Another senior moment, I blame the previous days rain !

 

You have completely missed the point ! With a little thought, you will surely realise that with turning facilities at only one end only, then every engine completing a round trip did an equal number of chimney first and tender first runs. The purpose of turning was to ensure that engines could be seen facing both ways during the course of the gala. If every engine arriving at Minehead tender first was not to be turned, then very soon every engine on the line would be facing Lydeard and would remain that way for the rest of the gala !

In my opinion your comments implying that large engines do not work hard and don't sound impressive is rather negated by the many excellent online videos posted by other contributors. Did you actually travel behind any of them I wonder ? Of course all the large engines (bar 34046) had double chimneys which rather softens the blast, but they still compared pretty well with 4160, 80104 and 78019.


Incidentally this was originally intended to be a "chimney first" gala, but with the Norton triangle not yet finished, it could not happen. This time next year may be ?

David

 

A few pics from fri and saturday...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebeccajane7777/sets/72157623605472839/

 

Hi Rebecca, I wish all steam enthusiasts / volunteer's were as nice looking as you! There would'nt be much work done!

 

Added some more pics from Saturday.

http://michael527.fotopic.net/c1830240.html

As my arm is broken, I had to use discretion and not clamber up the grassy bank at Blue Anchor to snap two 9fs facing each other. Did anyone get that shot?