Severn Valley 2014 Spring Gala.

7828 (WSR) / 1638 (KESR) / 6435 (B&WR) now listed on website. Bit of a BR(W) Theme with a BR Black 4566, plus recently arrived 1450 and supporting autocoaches!

1501 / 2857 / 4936 / 7812 / 43106 / 34053 are in traffic so presume they will be in action some point over the weekend. Maybe 813 / 7714 if we're lucky?

 

SVR website has announced that the three guests will consist of 7828 'Odney Manor', BR (WR) Pannier No. 1638 & GWR Pannier No. 6435.

Edit: Whoops, just two minutes slow with my internet cutting out as I tried to post!

 

Looks like we have booked the locos. All we need to do now is book WARM spring weather!

 

813 is possible, 7714 is much less likely. Current expected re-entry for 2014 in order is: 813, 34027, 7714, maybe 7802. But who know's what will happen in the event...

 

Which member of the SVR fleet is suppose to be going to Bluebell next year for a long term loan?

 

Personally it seems a nice line up, very western
Just hope the weather plays ball this time.

 

I will second the request for warm weather

 

Anything a few degrees warmer then that weekend we had this year would be good!

 

SVR have announced that former GWR auto-tank No.1450 will be returning to Severn Valley Railway for the Spring Gala

http://www.svr.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?id=541

 

If you read closely, we have not confirmed 1450's attendance at the Spring Gala as such, but we have announced it as returning to the railway for 2014.

All locomotives and attractions for the Spring Gala will be confirmed in due course.

Thanks,
Lewis

 

Well that's interesting news! An auto train on the valley just looks right and i'm sure it will be a draw, at least for the enthusiast community, to visit us on some of our quieter days when timetable A is in operation (the table on which the auto is to predominantly be used).

 

I've been told she's leaving the Dean Forest in January, so I assume 1450 is likely to see use at the gala. Such a shame she is going here she won't see much use I'm sure.

 

Well the press release states "the locomotive and coaches will be used on selected Timetable A services, Steam Gala weekends and Footplate Experiences throughout the year."


Timetable A is used for February half term and throughout March, as well as for all of our midweek services outside of the school summer holidays. There is plenty of scope for her to see use, although admittedly probably not as much as she may see at the DFR.

Out of interest, is it known why she is leaving the DFR in the first instance?

 

Timetable A though I assume will run around 1450's services on those dates, can't see them using her for the full line steam runs and it says the one round trip diagram will always be DMU or diesel hauled. Hopefully she will get used, I am unsure why she is leaving the forest a great shame though for the DFR.

 

A pure guess, but as the DMU requires work (I heard the group had to be persuaded to do the current post-christmas service) and the rest of the diesels can't heat the sets (no diesel is steam heat fitted and no set is ETH fitted), it may well be for the February-April and November A services when heating may be needed.

 

I would expect the auto to take the DMU/diesel diagram to be honest. As you say, it has previously been run with either the dmu (in 3 or 5 car formation) or a diesel in the summer months with a shortened mk1 rake (normally 5 coaches). Without having seen the actual passenger figures for 2013, from what i've seen of the service on many days a 2/3 coach formation would suffice for demand. Having said that, the 5 car DMU was packed out on Saturday all day, so the auto wouldn't have been sufficient in this instance.

I'm sure she will see plenty of use on FE's though - something Lewis would be much better placed to comment on in due course - and so will earn her keep quite comfortably. Admittedly not all that much use for those looking to ride behind her.

 

Everything seemed very well filled on Saturday from what I saw. The first departure from Bridgnorth was the only instance where the set wasn't full to standing, although i expect the last departure from kiddy would have been quieter as usual. Hopefully the passenger numbers have remained similarly high for the remainder of festive running.