SVR General Discussion

I bought tickets for my father and me for Sunday, and while the fire risk was always there, it does feel disappointing. Neither of us has ever ridden behind the A3 so to hear its got a diesel potentially doing all the actual work is a bit rubbish.

Also feel disappointed there hasn't been an 'official' announcement on it either.

There has been nothing on Facebook/e-mail as far as I know that says steam will be diesel assisted, and the website only makes a passing mention with a couple of sentences on the main page and at the bottom of the events page for Swinging Sixties.

I hope those who turn up and see the diesel helping out aren't too frustrated over the next few days.

As great as it is for the SVR to get the A3, and we are thrilled the line is back together, we are considering just not bothering now if all we can hear is a class 20.

You feel bad 'moaning' and fire risks are of course a big problem, especially this year. So I feel bad for being so negative about it, especially as it is a big weekend for the line now the landslip is dealt with.

But to us on the outside, we can't help but be disappointed, especially as all the other services on the weekend have diesel assistance too.

I sympathise with the SVR absolutely, but you can do that and also feel frustrated at the same time.

 

If Scotsman is to have diesel assistance then booked passengers should be informed and given the option of a refund

The should also be ample publicity about this in advance via website & socials

There simply is no excuse on this day & age

 

Both locos going well at Bank Farm, the 20 was very loud coming out of Arley. Great weather for it, or not !

 

Have to get photoshopping that 20 for a teak

 

I suspect 90% of passengers will just be happy to have their picture taken in front of Flying Scotsman and wont be that bothered about hearing it or not.
I have sympathy for those that are disappointed but can see the logic in @Sidmouth 's reasoning behind the decision.

 

Does look lovely. Was Scotty doing a reasonable amount or just for pure display?

 

I suspect 90% of passengers will just be happy to have their picture taken in front of Flying Scotsman and wont be that bothered about hearing it or not.
I have sympathy for those that are disappointed but can see the logic in @Sidmouth 's reasoning behind the decision.

 

How do you protect the train whilst our fireman is walking back?

Lots of "shoulds" in there. How many have to not happen before it all goes wrong?

Clearly there's a risk/reward pay-off (have people been injured by detonators? And I get there will be massive admin hassle from storing explosive), but the procedures you outline don't seem to fail safe for me.
I'd imagine it would take a catastrophic error by a signalman or major failure of signalling kit for the circumstances to arise, but all H&S rules are written in blood, and both signalman failure and equipment failure have happened.

 

A whisper of steam climbing a very parched Eardington bank and plenty of Summer greens at Daniels Mill. Great to see the SVR fully reopened, a mammoth effort by the railway to achieve this.


Welcome back the northern SVR! by Phoenix Images, on Flickr


Flying Scotsman at Daniels MIll by Phoenix Images, on Flickr

 

So you expect a Heritage Line to do something mainline tour companies do not do? The SVR can hardly be responsible for the weather and you expect them just to turn away or that money and perhaps make a loss?
Having said that why a Class 20 was chosen, which from the experience of the one based here currently must be one of the loudest diesel types around seems strange. It also appeared that those at one end suffered it both ways from what I could see when I looked t the Kiddy webcam.

 

Correct. If you were in the Bridgnorth end of the train the 20 remained on the rear coming back.

A 20 chosen because it can haul the train by itself but is still a lightweight loco. That and the face we’ve got very little in hand, as most of it is at Derby. Class 14, 20x3, and a 52. Well 20 it always was with those options.

When I queried it with our management, I got a “sort of” response that the red 20 was picked to blend in more. Not sure it would ever blend in!

I had suggested that the 20 be on the KR end all weekend, with Scotsman+Teaks+Obbo+20. Im still waiting on a response to my numerous questions, but am unofficially told that wasn’t possible as the people in the Obbo had paid anpremium to be behind Scotsman.

I also suggested that as mainline loco with ashpan screens, etc and being a powerful Class 8 loco (Or 9 I can’t remember) Scotsman would likely be okay on our line. But I also see that the photos of Eardington show it is sat ready to go up so it’s not easy.

It is really difficult to ever get right, and I air on the side of it doesn’t look very good at all for something that will be a chunk of the lines history. I at least felt the first train this morning should have been Scotsman+Teaks+Obbo+20 largely for the fact we are a heritage railway, and those “Re-opening train” press shots aren’t exactly heritage, etc.

From a gala perspective we always treat a visiting engine as it might be on its last visit here, and try to be as accurate and heritage as possible. I just hope 60103 gets another crack on the teaks, without the box on.

 

Very much the opposite view of mine, equally as valid mind. I thought the 20 from all the shots I’ve seen was very intrusive and loud.

 

I agree to an extent. If it was T&T train like the WSR did and the led all the way back from BH then it could draw to the blocks, which actually platforms all of the train and is safer all round. So there’s arguments either way.

What’s done is done now. But I do think this will not go down as an entirely shining light. We all know it’s hard to judge from the outside, as much as it is to have opinions heard from the outside too.

What is good is the railway is back open, and just needs some proper good rain now!

 

I believe all services except 60103 are now diesel this weekend due to very high fire risk.

 

I must say when I saw the photo this morning of 60103 on teaks I did think the Red LU blended in. Maybe it was the light and angle of the photography, but it did blend in for that photo at least (taken trackside).

There's a photo by Bob Green of 60103 coming into Bridgnorth taken from near the box, with the footbridge framing the scene, 20 isn't visible. I think that is one of those historic photos.

Personally, I would not be happy to have paid a premium for an observation view and then on the day have a driver looking at me through their cab window!

 

The photos above on this thread of 60103 up Eardington bank, the surrounds look incredible dry (and dead! ).

 

SVR will use all reasonable endeavours to operate the timetable but cannot guarantee that services will be hauled by a particular type of traction or class of locomotive.

 

I expect them to act like a business ( which they are ). That us to say, if you advertise a specific product, get people to pay a premium for said product, not deliver the product advertised (through whatever circumstances), then there should be the option of a refund for customers (or maybe the option to transfer tickets to the autumn gala). FS attracts many non enthusiasts, these people may be happy to travel, to grab a picture by the loco and will probably believe they have been on FS, but for enthusiasts they know they have been hauled by a class 20.

As it stands my ticket for Scotsman on Sunday will now not be used, no secondary spend on the railway, and a bad taste will make me think twice about visiting the railway again this year.