West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala 2013

or 30777!!!

 

I update that page from the official loco roster sheet received from Andy Forster (WSR CME); he adds in his email "Note - [the spreadsheet] does not list the use of visiting locos during the gala, that will be on the gala ops notices etc". So panic ye not. Get the Ops Notices or the (delayed?) programme

Steve

 

Fair comment, but the steam railmotor (93) was listed, including its use for a charter!

John

 

True, and I haven't been entirely consistent for which I apologise but I felt the use of 93 was already published and of course the charter is on a non-Gala day. I'd love to put the full loco list online but I suspect I'd get a rebuke and a possible (and justified) cessation of information from that quarter.

I have now added a note about visiting locos during the Gala.

I believe the loco roster on the official site carries similar (limited) information.

Steve

 

Can we take it as read that a replacement for 'Braunton' has not been found?

Regards

 

The WSR Plc has just issued an update. Doesn't answer your question though :-(

Spring Steam Gala Update 11th March 2013 « West Somerset Railway

Steve

 

Thanks, Steve - I appreciate that you're being as helpful as you can be.

 

P.S. What is a bit frustrating, or maybe it's me being thick, but it seems to me from the WSR gala website that unless you're buying a travel ticket in advance you can only buy the programme (with loco allocations etc) on the day. I appreciate the need to discourage freeloaders, and am quite happy to buy a programme, but I can't buy a travel ticket unless I know which day I'm going. And that depends firstly on domestic commitments and secondly on knowing which locos will be out as not all guest locos are always working every day. It would be nice to just book the whole gala, but that wouldn't go down too well with my better half and even less so when the credit card statement came in with all those hotels/B&B as well as the gala price!

Not getting at anybody, and I certainly don't want to compromise those who are helping as much as they can, but perhaps the company could allow info to be released as to at least which locos are working on which days. I know there is a risk of freeloading if too much info is given, but I may be permitted to comment that the South Devon, Keighley and Worth Valley and East Lancs have all given out full timetables on the net, allocations and all; for all of which I got a ticket to ride and had a great day! I don't want to stir, so tell me to shut up if I have overstepped the mark.

John

 

I don't think the Company read these pages, John, so I recommend you copy/paste your comments and send an email to them.

Steve

 

As long as it doesn't risk getting anyone into trouble!

John

 

I don't think there's any risk. You have merely raised a query about WSR policy on these matters. So you're only asking the very same people who set the policy. All they can do is to give a fair response. And if they want your money then I'm sure they'll be able to explain.

Steve

 

mine has just arrived.
mark

 

Just heard from the WSR Company: "SDJR 7F no 88 is due to return to the WSR from Crewe on Thu 14 Mar & should feature during the 2nd weekend of the Spring Steam Gala."

Steve

 

I got a very prompt reply from the company - you can buy a programme in advance without booking a ticket, so you can see what is happening when, and then choose your day.

John

 

Cool - hopefully mine will be wating when I get home too

 

I may or may not visit to travel depending on what the S160 is doing so could someone tell me where it is starting from this weekend and how many trips it is doing please? Even better, could someone tell me its diagrams?

I really don't understand this obsession with not releasing rosters for free prior to the event, diesel enthusiasts don't put up with it so why do steam enthusiasts?!

 

Sat 16th
Ex BL - 09.00, 14.45 Ex MD - 11.45, 17.45
Sun 17th
Ex BL - 09.00, 14.45 Ex MD - 11.45, 17.45
Thur 21st
Ex BL - 09.50, 15.45 Ex MD - 12.45
Fri 22nd
Ex BL - 12.45, 18.15 Ex MD - 09.50, 15.45
Sat 23rd
No Booked Passenger Turns
Sun 24th
Ex BL - 12.45 Ex MD - 09.45, 15.45

 

I suspect that you won't get this info without buying a programme (can be ordered on line or by phone) - just a matter of policy, which varies between railways. The South Devon and Keighley and Worth Valley gave out full details on the net, but the WSR don't. I can appreciate that they don't want to make life easy for the people who drive around taking photos and not contributing to expenses, but this doesn't seem to bother others. However, that's a business decision that they are entitled to make!

 

Never been proved wrong so quickly!

 

That is very poor. The main day of the gala and one of the main locomotives isn't booked to haul a passenger service. Poor indeed. Glad I am not going this day and feel sorry for those who can only make the 23rd.