Severn Valley Railway Diesel Gala 2nd-4th October 2014

Ok, I know there's been a few comments about SVR re this year's gala, but lack of news or timetable might be because there's only 4 working diesels on the line atm....
Anyway, Class 26 D5343 from the GWSR will be visting (subject to availability as the usual caveat) joining 55019 and 50026 as the currently announced visitors. A outline timetable has appeared on the SVR website but with no allocations as of yet (again the lack of certainty of what will be available probably doesn't help here).

 

I heard there's a possibility of the Clayton, D1015 and a 37 coming as well. What is the diesel situation, then? I thought there was D8059, D8188, D821, 50026, 50031, 50035, D1062 & 55019.

 

D8059, D1062, 50026 and 55019 are operational, the rest aren't. D821 is I believe receiving attention at the WSR, D8188 was last I heard at Washwood Heath with a power issue, and as for the 50s, the 50 fund page gives a little bit of info: http://www.fiftyfund.org.uk/news.htm .

 

The DPS has confirmed on their website that D9009 will be visiting as well, while reports on facebook suggest 33109 and 37109 (both based on the ELR) are also visiting. Nothing as yet on the SVR website...

 

I logged onto the Fifty's web site through the link in above post, never visited it before, and must say it's an example of how not to do a website and requires urgent attention and rectification. The news and most other pages cannot be read easily with the blue background and print becoming almost invisible, although better on yellow background.
Surprised this wasn't picked up at launch when tested on the various types of web browsers, IE, Chrome, Opera, Firefox, Safari, all Mac versions as well as windows PCs.
I would think you must have someone computer literate, if you did pay for it, get them to fix it, but if really struggling, get in contact.

 

It appears D5343 is unavailable.

 

Yes I've heard that too, the rumor of two type 3's who's last 3 digits are 109 is true though, kinda make sense. If Deltic 9's coming from there it may as well take a convoy and knowing how 37109's owners a member of the DTG... Shame about the 26 though that was the loco that persuaded me to ask Mrs 6968 if she fancied a nice romantic weekend away...!

 

40106 has been announced as visiting giving the current lineup as:
V: 55019, D9009, 37109, 40106, D1015, 50026; H: D1062, D8059, D3201, 12099 and the DMU

 

Just had the gen about the bucket! (the 40) Hell and fire! Looks like a 3 day rover is to be purchased!

 

It was there in 2009 and I didn't get a really good ride behind it so 3 days this year for me. I intend to be thoroughly sick of whistlers by Saturday night!!

 

In addition to the previous lineup, 50015 Valiant has been announced.

 

Leaflet:
http://www.svr.co.uk/pdf/specialevents/DieselGalaGateLeaflet.pdf
And actually WTT (it's in the public domain):
http://www.svrlive.com/Documents/SVR Diesel Gala WTT 2014 - Final.pdf

 

Seems such a shame to make all the effort to organise a gala and then not use both days of the weekend.

 

Better than previous years where the saturday would have a steam service as well. Personally I think it would be good to have it fully at the weekend but oh well...

 

I believe that, unlike some other railways, the SVR is very very reluctant to have a full weekend of diesel only running.

 

It suits me because I never go out on a Sunday so it's the only gala I've ever done the entirety of but it must be frustrating for others.

 

In fairness to SVR they always operate steam traction on Sundays BUT at least they allow 3 days for the diesel enthusiasts so I feel we should appreciate their willingness to do so. The recent concerns at other sites regarding the "profitability" of such events only strengthens the need to support events as they are organised rather than trying to "dictate" to organisers how and when they should do so - if not the events might not be organised at all !

 

In terms of profitability they would certainly make more from me as I am working on Thursday and Friday but free at the weekends. I would have thought the age profile for a diesel gala was more orientated towards the younger and therefore likely to be working enthusiast than for a steam gala.

 

To be fair to the SVR they've had stick for years about running a steam service so hats off for finally biting the bullet the past few years and going diesel only. As stated above we should be thankful that some people are prepared to organize and allow their loco's to be used at these events. Far better to have a gala on a Thursday than no gala at all.

 

Even the diesel enthusiasts are not so young these days. I would imagine that the majority of the visiters
to the valley this weekend were avid fans of the class 40s and Deltics in the 1970s and 1980s . <BJ>