Severn Valley Railway Autumn Steam Gala 14th-17th September 2023

IMO - It was better when you could just arrive by NR train or car, walk on the platform, get on a train and go, knowing what the WTT plan was.

It's not a massive issue collecting a wristband etc but a shame the WTT couldn't be pdf'd out a few days before hand, save on printing costs too. Either that or just including the coach stock with the loco allocations on the website.

 

Thanks, that would save trouble on the day, and I wouldn't mind paying extra for the P&P.
Unless we still have to pick up a wristband and the WTT, which would defeat the object of it.

 

I think I’ve seen somewhere that they post the wristbands for those starting from intermediate stations. Best to contact them and ask

 

Those the instructions I've seen for recent galas. Not seen this year's BO/TTI instructions yet, though I doubt there will be much changed from the SSG.

 

Signal is not required, scanning works extremely well in the world outside the heritage railway backwater.

 

And has been used at GCR - worked a treat


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Would be a little bit pointless selling the WTT if people could access the loco/coach info online for free!

The idea of selling it is to generate secondary spend. When I say every penny is vital currently it mean every one.

 

It’s another thing that I haven’t got a strong feeling on either way, but I can see reasons why it is as it is.

It depends what you want from it. The brochure’s value comes from having both the WTT and the other information, such as the locomotives’ histories, which is attractive to a wider public than those that primarily want the WTT. It attracts sponsorship and advertising, makes a profit and goes towards making the event profitable.

If you start to unbundle it by distributing the WTT on its own by other means, I would speculate that you’d undermine the model and the brochure might not be viable. Even were the stand alone WTT to generate a similar profit, you’d lose something of value to that wider group.

 

That raises other issues - I'd be pretty hacked off if that protection stopped me printing it, for example - yet shared printed copies would be a primary reason for applying that protection.

 

On this subject, I notice that loco allocations have been included in the free timetables on the SVR website this year. That used not to be the case for ASGs - you had to buy the full WTT to get them. I don't know whether any announcement has been made about the reason for this change, but it's interesting.

 

I'm fairly sure it's been the case since covid.

 

Ah OK, then I stand corrected! I'd forgotten it was like that last year. Anyway, I like it that way. I know there was an interminable discussion/debate/argument every ASG before then about whether the SVR's approach was good or bad, but this seems to take the heat out of it. The more casual enthusiast will be most interested in which engine is hauling which service and will expect that info as most other lines provide it. The more hardcore visitors will want the detailed stuff and will be willing to shell out for the WTT to get it. You can't please everyone, but I think it's a fair compromise.

 

By doing as you suggest, the Railway has to monitor social media and police it, with very little sanction available. You can remove the identifier. It can be shared in private groups. If caught, next time you just get a mate to do it.

By not offering it, they don’t have the problem (or at least have less of one).

 

In answer to my question the SVR have told me today that e-tickets will be emailed to me. So why are posters on here saying they aren’t?

 

Does that not have to be exchanged for a wrist band?

 

In my case, because when I asked I was told I'd have to show the email confirmation at a booking office.
I should add that I wasn't ringing specifically to ask that question but to book the tickets because the website didn't work. After the tickets and the WTT were bought I said something like " you'll send them to me?" and got the above answer.