Mid-Norfolk Railway Steam Gala - 19th - 21st July.

Malc - it has nothing to do with being pro-diesel railway. The SVR don't give out loco allocations for the ASG, you have to pay a fiver for that info. The NYMR sold loco allocations to people at a pound a day for their gala in the spring. You get it free at the MNR, with a nice info booklet, as long as you buy a ticket. If you want to take photos and not ride, fine, but you have to pay a few pounds to find out what is running when. We believe this is fair.

 

I don't think anyone's criticised the fact you have to pay for information (and i'm certainly not!) but it is a shame it can't be made available prior to the event, even at price.

 

But then someone could easily post it on a forum defeating the object. It's a tough call. I'm not sure I get why people are saying that it is stopping them from coming. Surely after all of the expense of bringing in the Duchess, B1 and M7 they will use them as much as possible throughout the day so even if you miss the morning, I doubt you've missed your chance to ride. Perhaps the MNR could confirm first and last trips for each loco STA

 

If you factor in "subject to all the usual" all the best plans can go out of the window anyway. There are so many things that could easily make the allocations change. A printed allocation could very quickly become a waste of time! Lets hope not, and good luck for a successful weekend.

 

Having been to steam galas on other railways where a required loco only works goods trains, or is only acting as station pilot, or does not work on every day of the gala, or only does one trip early in the morning, or late in the afternoon, or from the wrong end of the line, it's always good to know in advance what you can expect so that you can arrange your visit accordingly. If I were to visit the MNR gala, it would have to be on Sunday and I would be setting out from London, but returning to Stockport - it can be done thanks to an 06.55 from Kings Cross to Cambridge which has a connection to Wymondham, but it would be expensive (and add in the desire to avoid a Class 158, with, almost certainly, non-working air con, all the way home) and the lack of advance information about loco workings to confirm whether it's worth the effort has proved the deciding factor, Having said that, if the loco workings became available that may have swung the argument totally the other way (for me the availability of a working timetable in advance is far more likely to get my attencance than any amount of glossy advertsing).

 

Every loco works every day. Every loco works a round trip on its own in the morning and afternoon, apart from the 94, which shares some trains and top and tails one or two with the M7 to allow for the northern extension.

The B1 was does the late train Friday, The Duchess does it Saturday.

As of 2.30 this afternoon we almost didnt have a Duchess, and the B1s moves were also in doubt, by thanks to alot of work by the PRCLT and WCR, James Shuttleworth in particaular, we are now all systems go!!

Hope to see you all this weekend.

 

Not sure this really works on the MNR though... It makes sense for the Valley, as anyone wanting to make the most of a day taking photos can justify a fiver to be in the right place at the right time, with lots of rakes out, many trains not running full line, etc. With the MNR, it's easy to move about without having to sacrifice a photo of any run, so what's to stop someone setting camp in a field / driving up and down all day, taking photos of every train, and ditching those they're not interested in? Anyone with that in mind is unlikely to pay to find out what they're going to be taking photos of if they'll be there regardless. It does seem to be cutting off the nose to spite the face!

 

Quoting Robert:

"With the MNR, it's easy to move about without having to sacrifice a photo of any run, so what's to stop someone setting camp in a field / driving up and down all day, taking photos of every train, and ditching those they're not interested in? Anyone with that in mind is unlikely to pay to find out what they're going to be taking photos of if they'll be there regardless."

And there you have the problem in a nutshell - a whole days entertainment provided and not one penny paid to the charitable organisation providing it. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer that is going to satisfy everyone.

 

Can some kind soul tell me when and how Mayflower will arrive at the MNR please ?

 

Will arrive later today with 46233 (and a 47?) by rail. Should be in Peterborough about now.

James at SVN

 

And therefore, one would have thought, all the more reason to get as many bums on seats as possible!

 

As posted on an ECML Gen group.
"37516 dragging 61306 'Mayflower' plus support coach through Marholm at 15:58 on 5Z69 Washwood Heath to Peterborough Eastfield move - lovely smell "

 

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53234/2013/07/18/advanced

37516 dragged 61306 down from Washwood Heath, and 47580 dragged 46233 down from Butterley, from what I can gather from the gen groups. Seems they're being dragged down together from Peterborough.

 

Can anybody advise which way the steam locos are facing please?

 

M7 and Pannier facing South towards Wymondham. B1 and Duchess facing North towards Dereham.

 

I had a great day on my first visit to the line yesterday. With some helpful advice from friendly local photographers managed to find some good locations and it was good to see the trains were busy. Clearly the line needs some extra rolling stock and more passing points to become a bigger player but this was a great effort. Hot work stood in a field as the temp climbed above 30C but must have been even more so for the crews so thanks for your efforts, the engines looked unbelievably sparkly clean A small selection of efforts, more to be done next week:


York Loco Images 290613-5033.jpg by York Loco-images, on Flickr


York Loco Images 290613-5081.jpg by York Loco-images, on Flickr


York Loco Images 290613-5023.jpg by York Loco-images, on Flickr


York Loco Images 290613-5120.jpg by York Loco-images, on Flickr