KWVR Events . . . your thoughts?

Hi Chaps
Currently the plan for 2011 is being put together at the KWVR.
Personally im one for asking many of you chaps what you think about things, what you would like to see and for us to do...as it;s your money that you spend at our Railway!

So...
the Feb gala is the usual time. Probably 11/12/13th Feb
the october Steam gala, and the beer fest would swap this time, this would mean that the gala didnt clash with the GCR, and the beer fest could be left in place for the steam gala . . . win win!

There is a possibility of a mixed traffic gala, and also a branchline weekend

The mixed traffic gala would be a gala type timetable, prob at first with our own locos with it being the first of the type tried

the brach gala would be a selection of 2/3/4 coach trains operated by say 47279/41241 and 80002 most likely, with small freights in between.

Your thoughts???? I MUST say that nothing is confirmed and this is only for ideas at this point.
Thanks
Kieran

 

Would like very much to see a steam gala on the last weekend of June.

Regards

 

i like things as they are, autumn steam gala is better than a summer one, looking forward to this october, so keep up the good work.

 

I was at the CVR last weekend where they had a 40's do. I was surprised just how good it was - these folk are as obsessed about their dressing up as we are about our engines etc. Anyway I got talking to a few of them at the pub, and asked what other venues they attend, and Haworth came up. They said that whilst Haworth was a "good do", the railway didn't really take part. Well from the loadings at the CVR I'd suggest that the KWVR ought to consider how it can get involved. I know there are always arguments about the WWII side of things, bu this can be educational for the younger audience, and no one seemed to mind at the CVR - though there were no pyrotechnics, just mock check points and camps etc.

Here's a link to a few snaps I took on the day ... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2063172&id=1164976116&l=9f14132dba

Otherwise, just keep up the good work!

 

Over all not having a main gala in high season has to make sense , so despite possible weather issues, timing for the gala sounds about spot on. however it maybe a idea to have mini gala in the form of expanding one of the vintage train running weekends and hopefully get "Furness Railway Number 20" to run along side 957 and maybe even a 3rd vintage train on goods (pushing my look now!) .

 

Agreed; much prefer an Autumn gala to a summer one.

Regarding the Winter gala: personally the draw for me this year was the N2 on the vintage vehicles, but I couldnt get the Friday off work. While I understand the issue around the lack of heating in the stock as long as it is well publisiced/advertised that it will be cold I'd really like to see it out on the line.

Branch line gala sounds great (I'm pretty sure it's been discussed and regected due to the operating rule book but alwas good to see a van on the back/front of a local train). I'm not sure mixed traffic would do it for me, but thats a personal opinion and I gather they do well else where; I'd prefer to see prototypical diesels (in suitable liveries) working double headed with a steam loco rather than steam and diesel running seperately, then its something different rather than just diesel substituting for some steam service.

Hope this help. Will let you know of any other thoughts and thanks for consulting us.

Ben

 

I would not attend a Branch Line Gala, whats the point? A gala on the KWVR is already a Branch Line Gala. On a special weekend why run short trains leading to overcrowding etc, seems a contradiction. I would welcome an Autumn Gala as well as the February one. In summer the weather conditions can make for muggy hazy days, not the best time to enjoy the Worth valley and from a photography point of view the exhaust effects aren't as good.

Your galas are great, banked freights, variety of locos, the non stop trains all these are good features. I liked the way when the Stanier Mogul came and Sir Lamiel the locos were used at other weekends besides the gala, I came over every weekend the Stanier Mogul was out to travel and with the S160. I think visiting locos are the main attraction even one good one like Pitchford Hall tempts me out. I think the vintage coaches could be used more and Nunlow is clearly capable of pulling a full payload. I would like to see better refreshment facilities at Haworth and at Keighley on gala weekends, and trade stands at Keighley and Oxenhope to fill in time between departures, and something done with lineside vegetation, the WSR, Spa Valley and Llangollen do superb work on this, the KWVR is becoming increasingly difficult to photograph away from the lineside.

Finally, often the operation at Keighley is superb, what you do with a run round loop and a siding is amazing!

 

Agreed with the above - the KWVR provides a perfect branch line atmosphere on normal running weekends, so I can't see a Branch Line gala working too well.

Personally, as long as the diesel galas remain in a decent format to the 1999-2009 galas, i'm happy

 

I'll go with that too - short trains lead to overcrowding... and less noise! If it's a case of "your thoughts" in general, smaller visiting locomotives - much as I am a fan of Cromwell and 5197 (and believe me, in both cases I am!), the kwvr just isn't the place... Would much rather see something of a class 3/4 power rating working hard, and looking the part too!

And would definitely echo the above regarding the diesel galas.

 

Sorry to disagree. I can see what you mean with a 'smaller' locomotive can work harder as of this weekend, however, when Cromwell did visit it drew great crowds. Also, although the bigger classes of engine cannot 'work hard', on a gala occasion they are on show and draw the crowds. However, both larger and smaller classes have their places I agree.

 

Went to the Railway children event on Sunday which was well attended despite the freezin weather. The little re enactments was a great idea other than the fact that only a dozen people had a chance to see/ hear them at any one time. A wonderful oppertunity to see a little un working hard with 957 plus 4 very crowded very heavy old bogies, a lot of steam coming from places it shouldnt i think. Sorry to hear that 957 failed on Monday... if thats the case i hope its nothing too serious, i suspect that it was more a case of facing facts that the old girl wasn'e upto the job and the 4 coach formation was already overcrowded - reduction not an option. Although not strictly a KWV Loco would have thought that Nunlow would have been the better Replacement' Green Dragon - was already in steam for the brake van rides with 8002 taking over that, at Least nunlow looks the period and is green.. Still, had a good day as always, The Tea and tea loaf at Oakworth was worth the trip out on its own.
On the subject of Galas it is good to see visiting Locos of all shapes and sizes, and colours, be nice if they could bring the odd unusual carriage or two with them...eg l&Y 1300 plus Embsays L&Y directors saloon, Morayshire and a couple of teaks from NYM...

 

the issue with nunlow is the engine has a limited capacity and is allso limited to a set speed

 

There usually is a good reason, i wondered if it was because she's only known to a few crews and has peculiarities .As for limits surely shes a stronger engine than 957 ? certainly is on paper and has only recently been overhauled, and as such would have been able to achieve her speed limit, whereas 957 was struggling to get to hers on this ocaision...

 

Oh I don't deny for a moment that larger locos draw crowds in, but seeing as the thread was entitled "your thoughts", I thought I'd add mine - that, nice as Cromwell/5197/etc are, kwvr really isn't the right setting... Well if you don't ask you don't get

 

the idea of the branch weekend would be to do some more prototypical trains.
2 coach trains, 4 coach trains . . . overcrowding? a 4 coach suburban train can hold near 300 passengers?
XP "bar" trains and goods would be the idea too.

 

KWVR 5197 not the right setting! Are we ignoring the fact that kwvr has its own s160 in restoration. If you look at what will be running in a five years time you will see a change in the line up to bigger engines, Ok the 4F should be ready next year and Hopefully Taff will be back in five years or so.

 

what about 3 VCR compartments and an old gents saloon 200 ? ... the problem is that events generate (hopefully) numbers. with only two trains on, the little one is going to get stuffed. The ordinary bread and butter punters wont want to wait around for the next one...
By possibly putting trains into Howarth loop and having a Starter from Keighley 3 as one comes into Keighley 4 you could get three
shorter trains on the line at once...a bit of a departure from your standard practice...

 

Putting trains into Haworth Loop is not that easy - the signal box is inoperable and therefore you would have to have a train lock in, the yard forman would have to run all the way down the loop to the token machine, and then a train could be released from the loop at Damems.

We once explored doing it with a freight (no passengers to worry about!) but it becomes unworkable and if the timetable went out you'd just loose too much time.

The "problem" with VCT stock is it costs ALOT! . . And based on costs youve obviously got to make enough to cover the costs, and also the Old Gents Saloon is away for a lot of this year.

 

I can see your point. Although, I would imagine IF 5197 and the KWVR S160 were in service at the same time would this not provide a unique oppertunity to ride behing both either doubleheading or one on one service, on on another? Any thoughts...

 

Yes sorry, this wasnt a request, just a comment on the Railway children train the other day and the fact that the three old compartment coaches did seem to be quite full.

The whole block system/ signalling operation would have to be rethought for the upper section of the line to run the extra train is as i expected... but until such time as numbers get that high /trains become too long there isnt a need for extra trains is there...