West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala 2013

Indeed! They don't make the loco roster available as they want photters to get the info for free, then they pose one of the visiting locos on non-revenue earning Dunster shunts on possibly one of the busiest days of the gala.

 

Thanks for the S160 diagrams. That's made up my mind. The only day I could realistically do was the 23rd, but with one of the two locos I wanted a trip behind not running, I'm not going to bother now.

 

Completely agree. Why on earth is the star of the show not running on the Saturday of a gala! :frusty:

There are going to be some very annoyed people visiting the WSR that day.

 

Agreed a very poor decision by the WSR, I'm guessing that the home fleet 4160, 9351 etc will be running that day when you can see them running any week of the year!

 

Yes, 9351, 3850, 6960, 7828, 4160 and 88 all work at least one full line round trip that day.

As for the visitors....

6046 posing at Dunster
5542 on auto between Minehead and Dunster
93 does 4 trips between BL and Norton Fitzwarren
777 does one and a half full line returns (including a non-stop run)

 

88 is down for a booked round trip this Sunday, will this now be 4160/3850 instead as it says 88 is hoped to run on the 2nd weekend? Also I take it not all trains are forwards at this event?

 

I imagine the info about 88 is now not correct so I may as well remove that from my roster page, thanks. I have no further information about what will replace it.

The WSR have said some engines may not be chimney-first during the first morning of the Gala (16 Mar) due to the Triangle being used by a visiting HOBC. Thereafter I thought the plan was to have all chimney-first (with just one late evening exception, forget which).

Steve

 

Any info on what is working the red service on Wednesday 20th?

 

Thanks for the diagrams 45305, that's extremely helpful as I now know that its running this weekend. As for the 23rd, that is very odd but as I'll be at Statfold it doesn't matter!

 

There are times when I really have to question the intellect of the WSR gala committee.
They persist with the dull hourly timetable, and then leave the star attraction stabled at Dunster on the busiest day of event.

When the attendance figures come in lower than forecast, they will no doubt blame the weather and the tough economic climate.:rant:

 

Absolutely - there was a time when I would not have dreamed of missing a WSR gala. In fact I attended 22 in a row! But lately they have lost their appeal for one reason or another and it's simply not worth making a 300 mile round trip this time. I'm off to the Severn Valley instead - much more interesting looking gala there. Eac to their own though......

 

True! they've lost their get up & go I'm afraid, I hope the gala committee are on this forum & read these pages, but somehow I dought it.

 

Totally agree

I am a great WSRly Gala attendee but we wont be going to this one. Star attraction not working on the only day we can go! Off to SVR instead

Don

 

The 16th doesn't look too bad, at least in the afternoon because the triangle is out of action in the morning; occupied by a ballast train; 17th looks fine with plenty of rewards if you can be there all day, but public transport from Cornwall is not very practical on Sundays. Must talk nicely to a car owning friend! The S160, the King Arthur and the Railmotor plus a good range of home power justify a trip, although I have to agree that more information could have been made available sooner. Still, let's make the most of it, weather permitting!

John

 

And you probably wont be the only one!

 

Yes, I think this is probably true ... SEPT has knackered the gala yet again. I'll be there for the last three days, but this isn't the way for the WSR to counter the quite deliberate competition from the SVR.

Regards

 

Loco direction of travel:
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co...ay Spring Steam Gala 2013 Loco directions.pdf

And good news - no 88 has returned to WSR.

And even better news - all day brekkie for £5 at Turntable Cafe during Gala. WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Latest News

Steve

 

What happened to direction of travel for Sunday 17th?

John

 

It sounds as if we're missing a chap called Don Bishop. <BJ>

 

And Richard Jones, the galas have been going down hill ever since!