North Yorkshire Moors Spring Gala 25th - 27th April + 2nd - 5th May 2014.

I don't think that the NYMR has got the advertising of the late trains right, somehow. I'm sure that on other railways they would be a lot more popular. Perhaps its the remoteness, that means people have to drive once they finish their journey at Grosmont or (to a lesser extent) Pickering but it is disappointing that there are not more patrons on these trains.

 

A mixed bag of entertainment at the NYMR steam gala. I spent two days here but the weather particularly around Grosmont and Goathland was misty and murky for most of the time which led to some interesting shots but was mainly just a pain!
The NYMR did not have much luck with its guests: 62005 never left the shed, Jinty 47406 failed on Saturday with a cracked blast pipe and Bittern slid to a halt at Friday teatime with the heavy diner needing a bunk up the hill by the B1 which introduced a hours delay that was never recovered in the evening.

The timetable felt quite sparse, in fact on the Saturday it was just a gold timetable plus a Pickering based freight when the shuttle train was cancelled. Despite certain peoples best efforts it just did not have a very "gala" feel and as for the continuing issue of lack of any communication from the control office to the public when things go wrong, it seems to be a lesson the NYMR don't want to learn. I sat for an hour on the train at Grosmont whilst Bittern had slid to a halt but no one on the platform had a clue what was going on and not a single message was relayed from the firmly closed control room door. Exactly the same on Saturday morning, two known failed locos and changes made to the timetable but not a whisper to the public at Grosmont. Top and tailed trains instead of double headers, why? I'd also love to understand why the shuttle was cancelled when a top and tailed black 5 train could have lost a black 5 with no impact and the shuttle could have run as planned? Overall compared to recent galas at the KWVR, SVR and Llangollen it was a disappointing experience, I know some individuals try really hard to make the galas special but I do wonder if the railway management really have their heart in running steam galas on the railway anymore or see them as an inconvenience.

I would also add the loadings were not good, especially on the Friday evening, perhaps people had given up with the unexplained delays but they missed out on some great night audio and and excellent pie and peas supper courtesy of the Dame Vera Lynn fund.

I try to be positive when describing any visit to a preserved railway but I felt had to be honest in my feedback about my experiences at the weekend. Compared to other railways offerings the gala experience at the NYMR is slipping.

Also one last request there was a queue outside the buffet at Grosmot from 815, and it was a little bit galling to see one volunteer after another to be served whilst the doer stayed firmly shut to the public. I gave up after 35 minutes hanging around despite assurances it would be "opening shortly". Many people arrive early or stay over at gala weekends so another consideration when opening the buffet, particularity if you are already serving volunteers?

A few images from the weekend can be found at at https://flic.kr/s/aHsjXAHQ8G

InspiringImages -20140425-579.jpg by inspiring.images, on Flickr

InspiringImages -20140425-580.jpg by inspiring.images, on Flickr

InspiringImages -20140425-593.jpg by inspiring.images, on Flickr

InspiringImages -20140427-597.jpg by inspiring.images, on Flickr

InspiringImages -20140426-582.jpg by inspiring.images, on Flickr

InspiringImages -20140426-599.jpg by inspiring.images, on Flickr

 

Fantastic pictures in far from ideal circumstances.

 

Pity someone didn't make splendid work of filling the sandboxes which I understand was the cause of the problem.

 

I had heard the sandboxes were low but the rail conditions were about as bad as they could be with persistent drizzle leading to a very greasy rail top. The driver was as experienced as any on the mainline, he probably wished he had one of his Blacks 5's on it instead I rode on the return leg from Levisham and a fine job was done of handling the many slips but it was still a close call to get over the top of the bank, mind you we romped away after that Incidentally I think I shared the carriage with you David on that late running return pie and peas supper train, so that is two out of three of us, wonder who the other person was? The B1 certainly sounded fine and much more sure footed than the A4.

 

Indeed!

Adding to Macko's comments, I have to agree with his critique. I didn't say much about the delay due to 60019 not wanting to go up the bank, but even after 61264 had rescued us all was not right with 60019. And it sort of got worse, in part due to sensible regulation to try to keep the diner as close as possible to its schedule. The maximum delay I recorded was 44806 on the 1904 ex Grosmont, departing Levisham 98 minutes late.

Such is the structure of the railway with its crossing points, that no matter the delay, the timetable has to carry on more or less as published - just late. For me enjoying an evening of 5-star steam action: 60019, 45407, 44806 and 61264, with a plate (well box actually) of pie, peas and mash and a few pints of real ale, my bash plan just rolled forward somewhat late. In fact enjoying steam past midnight into Saturday morning somehow added to the experience. No so many night trains next weekend and no pie/beer, but I've already decided to head north to do the diner (at the cheap end!).

But, not everyone is a dedicated basher and even those that are, they may not know the NYMR very well. When things go wrong (alas they often do here ...) the information passed down is abysmal. I presume a Fat Controller somewhere knows what is happening, but that is strictly confidential. The railway really does need to get its customer service at the sharp end sorted out. I'm sure the grippers are dedicated volunteers, but they tend to be the only interaction between passenger and NYMR and I often cringe at their complete lack of knowledge of how the NYMR operates and solutions to problems and I'm slightly surprised they don't seek out the facts when there is delay. Perhaps they too cannot find anyone who knows!

Having said all that, with the black hole of no mobile phone signals over much of the line, I'm not sure what my customer service plan would be, but then I'm a passenger not a manager on the railway.

David

 

I must agree with your comments, which are perfectly fair. The lack of information to passengers at the railway is always a problem. A constant source of irritation is the inflexibility with opening times at Grosmont buffet. It wouldn't be so bad if you could get off the delayed train for a hot drink and something to eat. I believe the buffet was open early serving staff this weekend but wasn't open for early passengers. Certainly the railway could do a far better job of keeping the station staff informed of problems. It just makes it even more irritating when they don't know either. Enthusiasts can often work out the problems, ordinary passengers can't.

 

It wasn't. The sanders were full and working. The locomotive slipped to a stand with the sanders on with a very heavy train on wet rail, and the driver called for assistance because the risk of damaging a visiting engine while attempting to restart unassisted was not worth taking.

 

Sorry if I was wrong but folk who were there told me otherwise... Luckily help was close at hand.
If it was slipping near the shed it wouldn't stand any chance round Green End curves.

 

Timetables with Loco Allocations for 2/3/4/5 May now available:

http://www.nymr.co.uk/special-events/spring-steam-gala/

 

Do look at the new info carefully - there are changes. I predicted diesels would see use with three of the 4-6-0s used last w/e now in Scotland and the Jinty not being used.

But I was going especially for the evening trains tomorrow and out of Grosmont it is now:

1810 -37264!
1920 - 60019
2030 - not running

That's a bit different to what I expected!

David

 

Timetables and loco allocations

http://www.nymr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/2nd-May.pdf

http://www.nymr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/3rd-May.pdf

http://www.nymr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/4th-May.pdf

http://www.nymr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/5th-May.pdf

 

We are very sorry not to be offering as extensive a line up as usual. So if you buy any NYMR Rover ticket for travel on any day/s this bank holiday weekend (02-05 May) keep your ticket to obtain a £3.00 discount off the price of a Day Rover ticket for the Autumn Steam Gala. We are planning to introduce a Great Western flavour for this event with up to three GWR locos likely to join our regulars.

Above from NYMR website.

Jinty leaves tomorrow apparently

 

That's fair enough. I'm planning to be there Sunday and Monday, are all the locos facing south?

 

As of last weekend, certainly 75029 was facing north. I think that is now the only one. 61264/61034 is now facing south.

Steven

 

61264 SUPER-ENGINE!

For second Friday running the B1 had to be scrambled to cover for 60019 which doesn't seem to like the diner. Tonight the A4 was being prepared to work the 19:20 ex Grosmont, but it never left shed and some defect must have been discovered. 61264 was rapidly prepared and ran around 30 minutes late.

What a difference a week makes with weather too. After the dire weather last Friday, today was sunny and the return diner in the dark was another magic journey - stars, the crescent of the moon over Newton Dale, the glow of the fire and 61264 blasting away on the 8-coach diner with the smoke trail hanging in the very cold air. And just two of us enjoying the noise in the front coach ...!

The first train out of Grosmont tomorrow looks to be a mixed.

David

 

29, 75029 faced Whitby last Sunday

61264, 44806, 4464 faced Pickering

 

Ah! Phot-ex with 61034. Very lucky choice of days to pick - superb sun and sharp frost. Could the lighting be better?

 

29 just off shed for second train of day ex Grosmont (or first advertised train) and is facing Whitby.

 

A few snaps with the old camera from yesterday -

https://www.flickr.com/photos/goldsteam/sets/72157644496152761/