Severn Autumn Steam September 21-23

Went to the SVR on Saturday morning and stayed through until Sunday evening sleeping on the trains overnight. I have to say this gala was excellent and just gave something different than the usual with the overnight running. Getting off 2857 at Arley at just after 6am, hearing it accelerate away and then waiting for 42968 was very atmospheric. Just wish I made more use of the good weather that was around on Saturday. I spent ages walking between Arley, Hampton Loade and beyond trying to find the photospot from Little Rock(?) but to no avail. That is my only complaint though and one that was my fault anyway!

Many thanks to all involved in running a superb gala, I shall be back next year for more! Will upload some photographs in due course.

 

Many thanks Martin, I stumbled into a field near the location off the footpath that heads passed the reservoir. I saw the field that photographs are usually taken from and couldn't see a way to enter so gave up as I thought I probably shouldn't linger! Will try next time I'm there.

 

My vid from the Saturday is up; well done to all involved.

[video=youtube;usFABU-cVBw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usFABU-cVBw[/video]

 

Another superb show on the SVR! Thank you to all who made the event happen and the huge success that it was there really is no other gala quite like it. I visited on Saturday so got to enjoy the best of the weather, but personally the highlight was the fantastic atmosphere watching No:43106 roll into Bewdley at 06:07 and watching the comings and goings at Arley in the fog, that really was special. I have to echo the comments of others regarding the 'U' class; it's a great engine that seemed to suit the SVR well. All in all the day was very good, apart from misreading the subtle difference between a double header and a top and tailed train and carefully planning the day around seeing the 'T9' and No:3650 at Bewdley, only to discover that it was topped and tailed...never mind. It was because of this that it was difficult to see the Coal Tank, another delightful engine, as it was only running between Bridgenorth and Hampton Loade. Wouldn't it be possible in the future to have smaller visitors like No:7799 run over the whole length of the line at some point, even if it was early in the morning or double headed with another loco on the inside? The Mid Hants managed to do this when they had the 'N2' for their Autumn Gala last year where it ran the full length of the line smokebox first in the morning then double headed back before running local trains later on. Is this something that could be tried with smaller visiting engines in the future?
But, like I said, a superb event. This year the trains seemed to be full, but not completely overcrowded and it was good to see some local trains running to Highley from Kidderminster, which no doubt helped ease the overcrowding experienced there in the past.
To the excellent photos and videos posted by others might I add my humble offerings:
A report on the event for Totally-transport.co.uk
Photos (37)
High Definition video (13minutes) with the best of the action, it was a tough call deciding what should make it into the video, hope you enjoy it
[video=youtube;9dmdfdz-Pws]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dmdfdz-Pws[/video]
Hope you enjoy these reminders of a fantastic event and if you weren't able to make it then you can see what you missed. Go and make a cup of tea and enjoy...
Feedback, as always is most welcome, via this thread, PM or the contact form on Totally-transport.co.uk.
Thanks to all involved for making it all come together, superb location, superb atmosphere, superb locos.

 

Afternoon all,

First ever visit to the SVR over the weekend and I have to say I was very impressed. Sir Keith Park in particular looks like a real cracker of a restoration job, and looked stunning with the teaks.

My efforts are below...

Photos - Severn Valley Railway Autumn Gala - September 2012 - Railway Galleries
Video - 2012 Severn Valley Railway Autumn Gala - YouTube

Many thanks.

 

Another brilliant SVR Gala weekend, well done to everybody connected with the railway for making it possible!

My video can be found @ Seven Valley Railway 'Autumn Steam Gala' visit Sunday 23/09/12 - YouTube

 

Home after 3 full days at what was a mixed gala in my opinion. Fantastic locos and the majority of the volunteers put on a good show and were good fun talking to at various points throughout the weekend. I liked the fact that comments made with regards to the lack of a shuttle to Highley were taken onboard from last year. Same with the increasing of the night sets to 5, it seemed to work and they didn't seem as chocka as previous years yet they were still busy.

However too much time was spent sat in section outside stations whilst shunt moves went on, or in loops waiting for other trains to arrive/pass. Saturday it wasn't so noticeable, but Friday it just felt like a busy C timetable with an additional shuttle. Sunday then seemed to go to pot at Kidder with a number of the shunts overunning and causing delay. Was shunting allocated enough time in the WTT, as it didn't appear to be at times?

The lack of variety to the loco diagrams was a constant moan amongst many of us travelling, with there being nothing to really differentiate between either of the 3 days. A lot of people were changing at Hampton Loade for example in order to avoid being stuck behind the same loco, and there was certainly a number of the old boys unhappy with this. I'm surprised there was a lack of DH too, the avoidance of the obvious T9/Bulleid combination being the stand out missing one. Also why couldn't the Hampton Loade shuttle go onto Highley ECS and swap with the Highley shuttle to provide some variation? It happened the once on Sunday and so the T9 got to climb Eardington and 7799 went to Kidder.

Though even then this caused issues as you tried to run a 2coach train full line behind 43106, which was already half full with gricers so it was like peas in a pod as there was a number of Joe Public wanting to get back to Bnorth and it wasn't helping that the TT was running late. Then 20mins after our booked dep time it was decided to attach 42968 to the rear, and so off we went to the loop to have her attached there. Why it was decided to use 2 coaches full line I'll never know, esp as in the WTT I bought it even states that they need to be returned to Kidder on the Monday... And why was it only decided to attach 42968 seemingly after our booked dep time? Even the crew of 43106 only found out after they'd attached to us.

Overcrowding was a problem on Saturday, so I was surprised to see the 2 maroons left in the siding until the evening, the 6 maroons could really have done with them to ease the congestion. Understand they were needed for the night stuff but you were happy to shunt during other parts of the gala so why not the start/end of Saturday to increase capacity for the busiest part of the gala Saturday Day? The use of them at night didn't seem to prevent you from using C stock either.

My final grumble is with regards to the onboard bar on the evening services, or more the lack of. There was a group of us wanting a few beers in the evening, we weren't wanting to get hammered and start swinging from the luggage racks, but just have a couple of pints whilst we talked railways through the night enjoying a train ride. With the buffet being shut Tesco sold a few extra crates as people put a kity together and went off there, but if there had been a bar onboard we would have been more than willing to put the money into the SVR coffers instead.

I know some people will see this as me having a moan etc, but trust me its not meant to be. I've been going SVR galas since I was born pretty much, and done the allnighters since 2008. The SVR is one of my favourite rlys but this year's gala just didn't have the same buzz around the rly amongst those of us travelling as in previous years. The lack of imagination to the diagramming, and the sitting around in loops etc were the main issues and I hope these minor criticisms aren't simply ignored.

I did still have a good time, Friday night up at the Railwaymans Arms sat outside the loco yard was just full of atmosphere and just can't be replicated by any other railway. 3650 was an added bonus and was loco of the gala for me. The performances of 7812 were impressive too, with Terry's climb of Highley on Sunday certainly deafening most of us onboard. There was just something missing from previous ASGs, and if 2013 was to be the same as 2012 then I would certainly think of only attending 1 day instead of the full 3, and going off comments from others who spent all 3 days travelling I am not alone.

 

Some nice photos from everyone. Great stuff!
I managed a few on Soggy Friday in between showers!

PHOTOGRAPHS OF UK HERITAGE STEAM AND MAINLINE RAILWAYS | SVR AUTUMN GALA FRIDAY 21.09.2012

More photos to come from Fri night and Sat. Will post again when sorted!

All the best...........Rick

 

I'd like to second that, thumbs up to whoever listened to the constructive criticism from last year and acted upon it, so much more civilised and comfortable to have an uncrowded compo overnight than a chocka open.

 

Another vote of thanks for strengthening the overnight rakes - maybe they could even be load 6 next year, and save on shunting? ;-) I seemed to manage to avoid most of this waiting for shunting mentioned above, though obviously noticed the resultant delays. Loco wise, 2857 and 31806 put in strong performances on Eardington, and 7812 sounded unusually meaty around Highley on Sunday! Only real criticism being the Stasiesque ticket check on the overnights - being woken with a bardic in the face at 0130 to show a ticket is an interesting way to treat passengers...

 

PHOTOGRAPHS OF UK HERITAGE STEAM AND MAINLINE RAILWAYS | SVR AUTUMN GALA FRIDAY 21.09.2012

Rick, fantastic shots as usual.. Sir Keith Park and the other SR locos looked stunning in your pics.
I was drawn to one of your shots though..DSC9490... double headed over tyhe Victoria Bridge. It was always my understanding that two locos were not allowed over the bridge on one train.. have I missed something?? Has Bridge been passed for double heading or is it down to axle loads??

 

It's down to axle loads. Usual process is the Timetabler sends DH requests to the Civil Engineer who oks them or rejects them beforehand. The U and the T9 is probably right on the very limits of acceptable.

 

I did also note that there was a more severe speed restriction over Victoria bridge, 5mph rather than 15mph. Was this temporary for the gala or more permanent?

 

The Vicky bridge TSR is due to the deterioration of the wooden boards which act as retainers for the ballast. It will remain in place until they are renewed/strengthened as necessary.

 

Thats interesting Andy, I thought when Victoria Bridge was last sorted, much of the "underneath" bits were replaced with metal mesh or similar material, to avoid that very problem?

 

When I say the boards, I don't mean those that previously provided the surface of the deck of the bridge, but those that border the ballast channel. They retain the track and ballast within them, with walkways either side. Next time you take a ride down the valley, have a look out of the window as you go over the bridge and you'll see that many boards are bowed. Some of these boards have already been strengthened as test cases

 

Many thanks for the info.

 

Some cracking videos and images taken over the weekend, thanks for posting. Was a really impressive gala so thank you SVR.

Im glad i turfed myself out of bed at 5am for 31806 near Bewdley Tunnel on Saturday morning. The crews looked like they were certainly having fun.

All sizes | 31806 - Foley Park | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Cheers
Oli

 

Thanks for the Victoria Bridge info Andy. I was indeed thinking of the previous wooden sleepers that formed the deck under the actual track. They were, I am sure, repaced by a metal bed that wont easily rot away, and allows water to drain through. Those side retaining boards should be capable of being replaced without disrupting the actual P-Way. ( yet another job on the list for the closed season!!)

Thanks.