Kent & East Sussex Railway Gala 5-6-7-May

That information will be on the WTT which will shortly be available as per posts 18 and 19 above.

 

it will work the 09:30 TN - BM & Return on the Saturday

 

Loco's NOT in traffic over the weekend will be :- 32678. However, not every loco will be out each day

 

As not everything will be in traffic on all three days, it would be most useful if the K&ESR could at least indicate which locos will be in passenger service each day without the need to buy a working timetable.

I need Marcia and 30065 for haulage and can only attend on Monday. If I know that both are out on passenger trains / brake van rides on the Monday then I shall bring a car full of people (each of whom will buy a rover and travel on the trains, none of us are photters) on the six hour, 300 mile round trip to Tenterden. If they're not out then I won't. I'm not inclined to buy a working timetable just to find that said engines aren't working and that I won't attend.

Regards

JP

 

It is not unreasonable to expect people to pay a modest amount for a working timetable, showing loco rosters, but this WTT should be available far enough in advance for people to make their plans. To get a sensible train fare you need to book well ahead, same goes for hotels.

 

The problem here is that the further in advance a WTT is made available, the more likely it is to be wrong due to unforeseen problems with locos etc.

I understand why railways want to charge for working timetables, and I will always pay for one when I arrive, even if I've already got the info I need, and if I know I"m definitely going to visit, I don't mind paying in advance. The problem comes when one is not sure whether to go to a gala - the availability of info in advance get make the difference - no gen, no go! For me a free WTT in advance on the railway's website is much more likely to persuade me to visit than any number of glossy adverts in the Steam Beano etc.

And I agree with Johnathan - even if the WTT isn't available the railway should at least tell us which locos are rosetted to work passenger trains each day. The public timetable for the NYMR gala and that now available belatedly for SSS3 are examples of how it should be done (except they should also make it clear if any locos are purely on freight or station pilot duties).

 

I believe that Marcia will be providing brake van rides on all three days and I would be amazed if 65 was not in use on the Monday, all subject to the normal caveats of course!

 

The same issue comes up repeatedly for diesel galas.
Some people simply will not attend unless they know that the particular locos that interest them are working and when they need to arrive for that loco's first working.
You do not want to drive 3 hours for something only to find out that was never supposed to work or it won't be working until the last train of the day.
Railways have to balance the desire for revenue from people like photographers with revenue from people want a particular loco and won't travel without some confidence about what that loco will be doing.
JP

 

Exactly, and those who want to ride behind a particular loco will usually buy a day rover - the loss of one such passenger is equal to several photographers not buying a WTT.

 

More info (but still no full loco roster details)

Saturday 5th May
 Class 33 D6570 + DMU working 09:30 Tenterden – Bodiam & Return
 Mini-cavalcade with Marcia, 1744, 4247 & 1638 at Tenterden at approx. 09:55
 Loco changes at Tenterden throughout the day
 4247 working 10:30, 12:45 & 17:15 Tenterden – Bodiam & Return
 4247 working express (NON STOP) train 18:15 Bodiam - Tenterden
 1744 working vintage train 12:00, 14:15 & 16:30 Tenterden – Bodiam & Return
 4247 working freight 15:22 Tenterden – Wittersham Road & Return

Sunday 6th May
 Trains terminating Northiam, with shuttle between Northiam & Bodiam
 Loco changes at Northiam & Bodiam (Turnover engines)
 Freight train to Northiam (departing Tenterden at 13:07, arriving Northiam 13:36, and departing for return 14:12)
 Visiting engines top & tailing on 13:30 Northiam – Bodiam & 14:00 Bodiam – Northiam
 1744 on Northiam - Bodiam shuttles in the morning, 4247 in the afternoon

Monday 7th May
 Class 03 with Birdcage 08:20 Tenterden – Rolvenden
 Mixed train 08:45 Rolvenden – Bodiam shunting all stations.
 Top & tailing throughout the day
 Loco changes at Tenterden throughout the day
 GW freight. 1638 banked by 4247 13:51 Rolvenden – Tenterden
 4247 on heavy freight 16:05 Rolvenden – Tenterden
 Frequent freights between Tenterden & Rolvenden in both directions.

 

Any news of when the WTT will be available to purchase online?

 

I just phoned them and was told it was available but its not, or at least I cant find it. I already have tickets and it would be nice to plan the day now

Don

 

The WTT was released in-house in the last hour. Suspect it will be online tomorrow.

 

You are in luck, both due to be in service on Monday!

 

Thanks very much. Will take a drive on Monday then.

 

I would encourage everyone to visit this gala - I've been to the last couple. They put on a great show.

If you like to hear some serious noise, the climb up the Tenterden bank is worth a trip in itself.

Hope we get some sunshine

 

the committee that organise the gala took the desicion to put the WTT on the web with no charge, we hope it should be up tomorrow...

 

.....I couldn't agree more. I used to live only 45 minutes away from the K&ESR, and often popped over for the gala. It's a great event. Now I'm over 150 miles away. Not a very pleasant drive in the sort of weather we have experienced recently. Still, the gala has usuallly been blessed with good weather, so I'm hoping for the best (for the sake of the KESR, as well as my own desire to pay a visit), in spite of the Met office forecast!

 

:help: I’ve never been to K&ESR where about is Tenterden bank and is it a good place to take photos?

 

The Gala timetable is available here as an XLS file for FREE download http://kesr-operating.org.uk/2012 WTT 109 110 111 GALA Final.xls

The N2 and 4247 are both due to arrive on the K&ESR at some point today. 4247 will be the most powerful loco ever to have worked on the K&ESR so don't miss it!