Motive Power

This is one option which works - hauled stock with a diesel loco in summer and a DMU, built in heating , in the heating season. Sorry Tom thats just what you are doing. Wonder where you got the idea.

Dave

 

Just an observation: on 2nd January last week, the Severn Valley was running 5643, 43106 and a DMMU. 5643 was making one of its final appearances on the line before being prepared for its next port of call at Sheffield Park. It ws hauling the LNER teak set, which may not result in the best of pictures for photographers, but is nonetheless a most attractive set of carrages in which to travel. Given this option or enjoying haulage behind 43106 in a Mark 1 set, I was expecting the DMMU to be little better than an ECS working. Wrong! It was a 4- or 5-car formation and all but one of the carriages were well-loaded. Personally I wouldn't waste my time or money to travel in a DMMU on a heritage line, but there are obviously some people who think differently. Horses for courses again.

 

But John...whilst from an enthusiasts point of view you and I want steam haulage, do bear in mind that for the general public riding in a first-generation DMU is still a 1950's/early 60's experience, and does have that feeling of being "different" to modern rail travel. Plus the fact that the view can be somewhat better than from say compartment/corridor hauled coaching stock.
It will be interesting to see how much use the SVR make at quieter times of 0-4-2T 1450 and its two autocoaches, now seemingly based on the line. Takes us back one further "railcar" generation!

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DMMUs are handy for viewing the various steam locos as you cross them. I don't think they be as well loaded without those steamers.

 

The DMU service was added to Timetable A to break up what would otherwise be a 2 hour plus gap between trains in the afternoon with resulting severe congestion and overcrowding at Highley with consequential passenger unhappiness. Given last week's weather it's hardly surprising that people travelled on the DMU rather than wait an hour or so at Highley after the family visit to the Engine House.

I've travelled on the SVR on 4 or 5 Saturday afternoons this Autumn (in good weather), and observed the DMU. It was usually carrying about 3 or 4 dozen passengers - normally in the front and rear vehicles. The steam train I travelled on always filled to near capacity at Highley on the return journey to Kidderminster.

 

The running costs for the DMU are likely to be lower than for a normal SVR coaching rake and a class 4 or 5 steam loco, so a lighter loading is not necessarily too penal financially.
As has been mentioned trying to alleviate the build up of passengers at Highley, the smallest operational station on the SVR, needs some original thinking, and if the DMU has been able to assist, then that will have been worthwhile.

For next year, one wonders if the SVR might try and write a timetable, even if not at peak times when there is probably no spare path, that has 1450 and its two autocoaches working Kidderminster-Highley. convenient for 1450 to take water before returning to Kidderminster, and again relieving the congestion build-up at Highley.

In fact I would do that, autocoach Kidder to Highley, lunch at the Engine House, and then autocoach back to Kidder. Very civilised indeed!

 

Purely for information - the SVR 2014 timetable has been published. The Highley shuttles run in table A and have a note they will be diesel hauled or a DMMU. Timetables can be amended, and the Gala timetable will be a special, but nothing on the "standard" timetable for 1450.

 

Thanks Dave. Thats a pity to some extent, but it does depend on the arrangements made with the owner as to how often and when 1450 and the autocoaches actually run. The owner will no doubt have his own views and preferences. Perhaps never intended as "regular service" vehicles.

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