Severn Autumn Steam September 21-23

Spent a day riding and a day linesiding...by far one of my favourite galas of the year!


31806 by Teenage Steam Photography, on Flickr


3650 by Teenage Steam Photography, on Flickr


30120 by Teenage Steam Photography, on Flickr


1501 by Teenage Steam Photography, on Flickr

For the rest: Flickr: Teenage Steam Photography's Photostream

Thanks,
Lewis

 

My Dad and I made the trip up from Kent and attended all three days and we were both very impressed with the scale of the operation, 4 full line trains, 2 local trains a goods train, 11 locos in use and all the volunteers rostered to keep the whole event running smoothly. Well done to the organisers and all the people on the ground. Please take a look at my photos and video of action from all three days.

Severn Valley Railway Autumn Steam Gala - a set on Flickr

Severn Valley Railway Autumn Steam Gala 2012 - YouTube

 

Duplicate post

 

Night shots at Bewdley now posted to my website!

PHOTOGRAPHS OF UK HERITAGE STEAM AND MAINLINE RAILWAYS | SVR AUTUMN STEAM GALA NIGHT SHOTS 21.09.2012

Regards........Rick

 

Another great Autumn Gala by the SVR. Spent all 3 days again which started at 9.00 Friday morning at Kidderminster and finished at about 6.30 on the Sunday evening. The night trains were once again very atmospheric. The social banter between SVR volunteers and other people from other railways was excellent.

Have to say though there was by far too much hanging around outside of stations, and waiting in loops. And also the early closing time on the buffet on the trains.

All in all, it was great gala, and have now become a T9 and U-Boat fan. Such fantastic locos.

Roll on March for the Spring Gala.

 

Finally got round to completing my phots for this years event and uploading them: SVR Autumn Steam Gala 2012 - a set on Flickr

By and large a very successfull event and glad to see the organisers had taken on board some issues from last years event and made steps to resolve them, a team who regonises problems and tackles them is a very good one in my opinion, I can see why people liked the U so much, a very capable and handsome class 4, shame the Bullieds get so much of the Southern limelight when they have some gems like this.

Can I make a request for 2013 however, can we have loco's with steam heat at both ends on the night sets ?, much as I love 7812, boy was it noticable when she was tender first, BRRR!

 

Nice selection of phots there David. i especially (unsurprisingly) like the shot of 2857 at Bewdley. Not sure what you mean about 7812 though as it has steam heat for tender first running as well as smokebox first, shown clearly in this photo here... Erlestoke Manor (not my shot). As I understand it the steam heat problem was due to a bag popping on one of the overnight sets Friday PM.

 

I've finally managed to sort out my photos from last Saturday. I've just uploaded them to my website.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF UK HERITAGE STEAM AND MAINLINE RAILWAYS | SVR AUTUMN STEAM GALA SAT 22.09.2012

Hope you enjoy the results!
Regards......................Rick

 

Yes, it made a bit of a bang when it went! I was in the northern-most Mk 1 on that set, the one on which the bag failed. The other 5 coaches had heat in one direction, our coach didn't. I went and stood by a window at one point to try and warm up!

 

I've just uploaded a video to YouTube, showing T9 30120 on Sat. 22nd. It's in geographical order: three shots between Bewdley and Foley Park Tunnel. That means it's in reverse chronological order. It also means that the best shot is saved for last. The loco catching a lift on the back of the train in the last shot is GWR Pannier Tank 3650.

 

I'm not sure there was any heat in our coach going north. It was bloody freezing!

 

Ah fair enough then, I put it down to 7812 not having steam heat on the front end, I got on that set when it first came into traffic friday night behind 5164 at Bridgnorth and was lovely and toasty then, still warm when 7812 came on at Kiddy, but gradually lost heat throughout the night until by dawn I could see my breath infront of my face, I could have sworn it did come back a bit at one point in the night, but then again I wasn't what could be official described as concious at that point!.

 

As far as I'm aware, all SVR resident locos have steam on at both ends.

 

It was just as cold on the set behind the "Pig" Friday night. Heat came on at one point but not for long. I too was on the train when the bag popped and thought you were in for a fun night. Only to get the same treatment on the other set!! Disappointing!

Generally an excellent weekend. It was my first visit to a SVR gala and it certainly won't be my last. I thought all the Moguls were fantastic; U Boat, Stanier Mogul and the Pig. Lots of noise and looked the business. SKP looked good too but it didn't need to break into a sweat.

All the staff were pleasant and it was nice to meet fellow volunteers from other railways and chat over a pint on the Friday night.

The Engine House is great too and a fantastic place to waste time watching/photographing trains pass by. With the intensive service there was a train every 20 minutes or so. Brilliant!

Unfortunately two things soured the weekend for me; an irrate photographer who called me all things under the sun whilst trying to photograph SKP. And the view of a Guard urinating against the stock at Kiddy on Friday afternoon. Not a good image for a premiere railway.

Other than that, thanks SVR for a great weekend.

Matt

 

WHAT? Seriously?

 

Well I've finally managed to get the photos I took on the Saturday onto the flickr site. Not my best by a long shot due to several things. Lack of time, lack of local knowledge and for ever coming up against a tender leading train or someones elbows.

As I stated before, this was going to be my first time at the SVR and I can now say it won't be my last.

From experience, I knew 31806 was a great loco but I was surprised at just how well it performed on 7 very heavily loaded coaches. The T9 was the main draw for me and again it didn't disappoint. Riding on it sent me back to the mid 80's when I last travelled behind it over the Alps.

Although I didn't get a chance to travel behind SKP I must say that it looks superb. Well done SLL on another quality job.

All the staff I encountered were very helpful and friendly and I would like to say once again thanks to the signalman at Highley for taking the time to show me the box and chat. As is often said, it's a small world and to find out that he was a locking fitter at one of the old boxes on the WoE line certainly re-affirmed that.

My only gripes were:

1) Because I couldn't confirm 100% that I would be able to make it, I didn't pre order the WTT. When my father purchased the tickets, I requested that he purchase one as I'd heard so much about it. When he presented me with a "timetable" that without any additional information on it to that which I had already downloaded from the SVR website, I was very disappointed. And to hear that he paid £5 for it was in my eyes shocking. Were they actually available from the ticket offices on the day? If yes then have I not got the right one? If not, then why were we offered one?

2) (and this is no criticism of the SVR in fact it is to their credit that it happened at all) Travelling on a train that is more crowded than the 0705 from Winchester to Waterloo for pleasure just isn't. Especially when there is an OAP and 5 year old in tow! Crossing the bridge at Bridgnorth and Highley was also very difficult and took over 5 minutes. The staff at Bewdley did a wonderful job of making sure the bridge there was clear and that was well appreciated.

With everything taken into consideration though, It was a good day and I will definitely be back. Probably on a normal running day though so I can take in the lovely atmosphere in comfort. There is after all, enough there to interest me without guest engines.

Thanks one and all involved.

 

I think you've got the wrong timetable there. The WTT which is sold for £5 is a very detailed document with loco rosters, carriage set rosters, shunt movement details etc... Quite different from the basic timetable you can download from the web-site. They are generally available to buy at the ticket offices although they do tend to run out sometimes. The Engine House at Highley has been known to stock them as well.

 

Thanks for that feedback. Pity I wasn't there at the time as may have asked the question. Oh well, you win some you lose some.