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Severn Autumn Steam September 21-23

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by mike1522, Mar 6, 2012.

  1. jtx

    jtx Well-Known Member

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    I did both, went into work in the morning and drove a computer, came home, changed and went to Bewdley and drove 3650 in the afternoon. I love being on the Railway when it's raining.

    Most abiding memory: piloting 42968 back to Bewdley at 1912. Coming out of Kidderminster, we could see the T9 on 3 blood and custards in the carriage yard and passed 5164 and a G. W. set in the loop, a great run to Bewdley, then standing on the Tenbury spur as 42968 accelerated past us into the dusk with its exhaust illuminated red as Dave Evans got stuck in with the shovel. Wonderful stuff!
     
  2. bantam61668

    bantam61668 New Member

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    I visited yesterday evening, the evening ticket was excellent value and I enjoyed steam at night. THe trains seemed to be well loaded, certainly busier than I was expecting having not visited in the evening before.

    My one complaint would be why bother publishing a timetable if you are not going to use it. The 19:58 departure left Arley at 19:53 whilst I was stood on the bridge still photographing it! Lets just say I was not amused (although I did refrain from ranting at the station staff), especially as I had to wait until 21:22 for a train back to Kidderminster. I realise that I was cutting it a little fine, but trains should not be leaving stations 5 minutes earlier than advertised.

    I d
     
  3. jasonhull2000

    jasonhull2000 Member

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    Is that by your watch and not the stations or guard? I wasn't on that service so i cant say if it did leave early or it left on time, but I do work on mainline stations and have had people come up to me missing trains saying why its left early but in fact their watch is showing the wrong time.
     
  4. bantam61668

    bantam61668 New Member

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    If it is then my watch, phone and camera are all 5 min slow whilst every other train all night was 5 min late.
    I would understand if it were a minute or so but 5 min is quite while, I was just taking my last exposure about to board, allowing myself 2-3 minutes for a late watch etc. when in departed.

    Maybe the station masters watch is 5 min fast......
    (either way my girlfriend was not so pleased when I showed up 1 1/2 hours later than promised)
     
  5. cg

    cg Well-Known Member

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  6. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    Anybody know if 4566 will replace 1501 for sure tomorrow?
     
  7. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

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    There's a mistake on the working timetable here, it was shows it as 19.48 rather than 19.58, so the question is whether this might account for it if the guard hadn't been told (despite an additional TN being sent out Thursday night).
     
  8. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    My first ever visit to an SVR gala today. I guess everyone was happy except those who will now have to fix 1501. Notwithstanding, I certainly came back grateful for a good day, and thank you to all concerned. The T9 is a really lovely engine. I've only ever seen it as a static exhibit before. It was the real star of the show for me.
     
  9. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

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    T9 was the star for me too - I'd never seen it in steam before either and it was a great treat to see it in action and have a trip behind it. Every credit is also due to everyone involved in the restoration of 34053 - fantastic job!

    Does anyone know what's wrong with 1501? It clearly wasn't well as it wheezed through Arley on the goods with steam apparently escaping from one cylinder.
     
  10. Julian Jones

    Julian Jones New Member

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    Just noticed - Coal Tank piloting 42968 on 2032 ex BH (not on diagram).
     
  11. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    I noticed this in the crew diagram at the back of the WTT. Is it being turned? I've just planned to see it facing Bridgnorth as well!!
     
  12. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    Reported on SVR-Online as a steam brake fault which led to it's failure at Bewdley MPD this afternoon.

    News thanks to Adrian. <BJ>
     
  13. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    I visited the SVR today and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Wonderful locos, stock and weather. Simply a joy to be there.
    Special thanks to the crews of 34053 'SKP' for the wonderful display of exhaust as the loco exited Bewdley tunnel on the
    10:00 ex Kiddy. The 14:40 ex Kiddy was also a fine sight in the beautiful sunlight.

    I must add that I was pleased with the WTT and didn't mind in the slightest contributing an extra fiver to the railway.

    Thanks to all involved. <BJ>
     
  14. Learner

    Learner New Member

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    Excellent day at the SVR today, with trains rammed the whole time I was there. In particular the 10am off Kiddy behind SKP was full and standing at least 15 minutes before departure time, and after Bewdley it was hardly possible to move! In fact I barely got a seat all day which has left me rather tired. Thankfully I'm fit enough to cope with it, but I did feel sorry for those less able who may have struggled with the volumes of people. I really do feel that the share issue shortly to be launched should deal with passenger capacity at Highley, because on gala days it can get quite uncomfortable.

    It is however a little mean to condemn the SVR for putting on a great show and therefore being successful with the number of people attending. To see crammed trains on local services behind the T9 and the Coal Tank is a fantastic achievement. The staff and volunteers, as ever, were wonderful and helpful. All the engines were brilliantly turned out (shame that 1501 failed - was planning to go for a run behind it later in the day but I guess I should have a few years in which to do that!).

    There really isn't another railway in the country who put on an event as well as the SVR. By my rough calculation they had around 38 coaches out today, plus 12 locomotives in action (and also a couple of diesel shunters). Four coaching sets on 'all line' trains, two on 'south end' locals and one on 'north end' services, a 15 wagon GWR goods train (in extraordinary condition) - where do the superlatives end at the SVR? I just wish a few more of their stations could cope with 8 carriage trains!
     
  15. mickpop

    mickpop Resident of Nat Pres

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    Totally agree -well worth the 6am start and drive through fog early morning. SVR also seem in control of the weather as the Saturday of the gala always seems to be sunny!
    A little thing but one greatly appreciated was the station staff at Bewdley chasing people off the footbridge making changing trains hastily less of a scrummage. Next time extend this to Highley and Bridgenorth. I was also pleased to see the notices requesting the high viz adorned tracksiders being asked to stay clear of public locations where we plebs were trying to get our mastershot!

    I do wonder if the timetable allowed sufficient time for the locals to set back into the loop at Highley and whether this caused slight delay? The crowding at Highley ,and to be honest at other stations, makes boarding and exiting trains a long-winded process before any shunting can take place. I missed a couple of changes of direction at Bewdley because the trains left before I could cross to the other side, in spite of the footbridge being clearer. However still the highlight of my railway calendar.
     
  16. Pymothy

    Pymothy New Member

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    The Coal tank was back on the train for the return trip - 22:50 off Kidderminster, still piloting 42968. It certainly went as far as Arley as it was still on the front when I left the train at Bewdley! I'm guessing it ran the round trip back to Bridgnorth.
     
  17. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    A quick plug for the Share Issue - see http://railways.national-preservati...ch-%A34-000-000-share-issue-5.html#post505889

    Patrick
     
  18. campainr

    campainr Well-Known Member

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    Have just come back into the real world after spending 36 hours at the Severn Valley. Didn't sleep a wink (why sleep through it all?) and travelled all night and into the rising dawn behind 31806 on the 05:46 out of Bridgnorth - strange enough how at that time I always seemed to have the front windows to myself..............

    Thanks of course to everyone at the SVR for making the event possible (hard to believe its still going as I type!) - it really is magic to have two steam trains passing a deserted Arley in fog at 3:15am.

    I don't often upload photos, but here are a few shots of what its like to ride to the dawn and beyond on the SVR..... (click on photos to enlarge them)

    DSCF2223.JPG DSCF2252.JPG DSCF2263.JPG DSCF2303.JPG DSCF2181.JPG DSCF2250.JPG DSCF2258.JPG DSCF2284.JPG DSCF2313.JPG
     
  19. donbenn2000

    donbenn2000 New Member

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    43106.jpg Yes a wonderful day after a very early start and 150 mile drive, but set up nicely by the excellent speedily served breakfast at Kiddy. A much more robust timetable this year meant that where late running occured, which it did, recovery was good as realistic time was allowed at the 'difficult' stations like Highley plus some good handling of the engines helped. 42968 fairly stormed up Eardington bank to arrive at Bridgnorth 3 minutes early after being 6 late off Kiddy, making the connection to the Coal tank local easy. If there has to be a criticism then I would say the shunting movements could have been faster at Highley and yes these delayed some trains which had to be stopped outside (8 minutes on the 1114 ex Hampton Loade eg).

    Enginewise 34053 was simply awesome and obviously in great condition, 3650 struggled with 5 coaches on the 1208 ex Highley but star of the show for me was 30120, this high stepping greyhound, which simply flew along with 5 bogies on the 1648 ex Highley. As the driver said she would be good on the main line.

    We got seats on every train bar one by careful planning and no tight connections though some trains were very full.

    It was two happy gricers who drove home in the darkness yesterday evening. Many thanks to all the staff and volunteers for such a good event. We must go back on a normal day when its quieter so we can just take in the scene and appreciate that superb GWR atmosphere. My first visit was in 1970 by train to Wolverhampton and bus from there. 43106 was the engine then and the line just went from Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade. How things have changed!

    Don
     
  20. mattspencer

    mattspencer Well-Known Member

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    Another excellent gala from the SVR. Spend Friday day and night riding then taking advantage of the nice weather for some photos and videos on Saturday

    [​IMG][​IMG]

    SVR Autumn Steam Gala 2012
    [youtube]djvTFbMS1jQ[/youtube]
     

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