SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

The Santa's are a truly incredible achievement on the SVR every year, an intensive gala-like timetable for a genuine purpose, the moving of tens of thousands of people from Kidderminster to Arley and back in just seven days! (Three weekends and Christmas Eve). I have worked at Arley as Platform staff and the whole thing is thoroughly enjoyable with a wonderful atmosphere and ambience.

I think there has been some serious denigration of diesels in the past couple of pages that is categorically unfair. As Ruston906 points out, history did not end in 1968 and preserving stock from the 70s, 80s and 90s is as worthwhile a pasttime as preserving a Victorian 0-6-0 or 1930s streamliner. HOWEVER, currently no diesel locomotive on the SVR has a steam-heat boiler fitted, and as has been pointed out to restore ETH to one of the SVR's Mk1 sets would be economically unviable.

Moreover, and it should be noted at this point that I have a foot in both the steam and diesel camps, I would suggest that to run a diesel on the christmas services would be an unpopular move with the public (top and tailing not being used on the SVR christmas services). Like it or not, diesels remain the minority interest in preservation and amongst joe public most can't see the difference between a Warship and a 158, and they want steam. To operate a planned (as opposed to a thunderbird) diesel hauled service at christmas would be I think to court complaints - I know other railways do it, successfully too, but the visitors to the SVR desire steam, they get steam and our marketing reflects that.

Therefore, I do not think that using diesel would be a reasonable option on the Santa services, but that does not mean that we should dismiss diesel traction out of hand in a petulant manner.

 

Surely railways will always do things differently. The SVR do it their way and as long as they make lots of money and have lots of happy punters then it's fine. Equally if the KWVR, NYMR or whoever top and tail there trains with steam and diesel but still make lots of money and have happy punters then there is no issue

 

6024 is shown on UK Steam as leaving Kidderminster on Friday 21 October to travel to Bristol

Patrick

 

Yes, returning to Bristol BH (for a mainline run to Plymouth with 70013) after a very enjoyable visit stabled at Bewdley for the excellent Autumn Gala. Our thanks to all on the SVR for your help and for making us very welcome.

 

Topping and tailing is fine, and does not seem to detract from the overall enjoyment and ambience expected by the public. I think that a totally diesel Santa service would be an utter disaster, except perhaps on a line which has never had a steam service, and even then I have my doubts. The steam leaking from the carriages, the chuff of the engine, the warm fire on a cold day etc. All highly evocative, and all stuff that a diesel can't do.

On a general point I don't think any railway has yet truly cracked how to make diesels appeal to the majority. DMMU's are ok - you see where you're going - but it's tough making a profit from anything else. They simply don't carry mass appeal.

 

As I said in my post there is nothing at all wrong with topping and tailing steam/diesel, it's just that the SVR never has and has enough repeat visitors every year for it to possibly be queried. Certainly a purely diesel hauled train (even steam heated) would cause a stink - it is noticeable that tensions are high amongst certain of the visitors (usually fathers of young families) who expect a generally more professional slick service than they might when visiting on a normal operating day.

 

NYMR generally only top'n'tail their Grosmont Santa trains for the simple reason that they go to a point in the Middle of Newtondale with no run round facilities. The Pickering Santas are usually a single steam loco which runs round at Levisham for the return. Heavy snow might make it necessary to top'n'tail, though.

 

From an enthusiasts point of view the SVR Santas are just amazing with a constant stream of trains to and from Arley. Wasn't able to do last year because of the weather, but I'll definitely try again this year. The only down side is that Kidderminster is just pure refined bedlam!

Regards

 

1501 - Pannier Tank, GWR-design... Her boiler tubes were fitted 12 October (SVR Twitter).
5164 - Prairie Tank, Ex GWR… She has been out of use for valve and axlebox repairs from 10 September. At 14 October new valves and pistons were fitted, cross heads and motion bushes are metalled awaiting machining and leading axle boxes are next for the white metalling bench (SVR Twitter).
7802 - Collett 'Bradley Manor', Ex GWR… The boiler was lifted 14 October (SVR Twitter).
34027 - Bulleid West Country, 'Taw Valley', Ex SR... The tender from 34027 remains in the paint shop having been cleaned, prepared and received new coats of paint, lining and lion and dartboard. Varnish is being applied to complete the job. The loco chassis is having the overhauled brake rigging refitted, along with the refurbished air pump fitted between the frames (SVRA website). At 19 October she has green paint on her cab sides (SVR Twitter).
42968 - Stanier Mogul, Ex LMS... She worked "The Mighty Mogul" special the weekend of 15/16 October for Stanier Mogul Fund members (SVRA website).


Patrick

 

More on the 7802 boiler lift http://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk/EMF_news/7802-boiler-lift.html

Patrick

 

I know it's sort-of off topic, but does anyone have any idea when the guestlist for visiting engines will be announced before the Spring Steam Gala next year?
Henners

 

"Shortly", per the SVR website, is all I know!

I've set up a gala thread for this event

Cheers

Patrick

 

SVR website:

A firm favourite at our Autumn Steam Gala, Caledonian Railway 0-6-0 locomotive No. 828 will be operating this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday.

No. 828 will be working 'double headed' with GWR 'prairie tank' locomotive No. 4566 on the following departures:

From Bridgnorth:

10.55am & 2.55pm

From Kidderminster:

1.00pm & 4.50pm

Normal fares apply.

Patrick

 

Amended times

From Bridgnorth:

On Saturday 29th Oct: 10.55am & 2.55pm
On Sunday 30th Oct: 2.15pm

From Kidderminster:

On Saturday 29th Oct: 1.00pm & 4.50pm
On Sunday 30th Oct: 12.15pm

Patrick

 

SVR Engineering:

WR 0-6-0PT 1501
Work is now well advanced on the GW Std 10 boiler of WR Pannier 1501. All the small tubes are fitted and expanded, with only beading of the firebox end and a small quantity in the Smokebox to be undertaken. The boiler will then have some further work carried out on the boiler faces, before it is blanked off and prepared for an insurance hydraulic test.

GWR 0-6-0ST 813
Locomotive No 813 has seen completion of the platework replacement around the lower outer firebox sections. These welds have been NDT examined and work will now proceed on marking out and drilling all stay and rivet holes in the new platework. Once this is completed the new platework will be riveted as per the original sides.

Patrick

 

Loco 7802 (less boiler & tender) delivered to Tyseley Locomotive Works today for overhaul with estimated completion & return late spring 2012.

The boiler remains at Bridgnorth for stripping of tubes & inspection to detemine the necessary repairs.

Off site overhaul of the various boiler fittings for this loco is underway.

 

43106 had problems with her brick arch at Bewdley on 29 October and was brought up to Bridgnorth for repair. D8188 handled her diagram.

I was told 46443 has gone under cover at Kidderminster but not had that confirmed

Patrick

 

43106 and D8188 top and tailed the 11:40 yesterday. I was on the train. Departure was a few minutes late. CR828 was running very well, along with 4566, which was on the train I got back to Kidderminster at 16:14. I had been to Bridgnorth to see the frames of 82045.

 

43106 was on the back of the 1140 doing nothing but cooling down as far as I could see. I visited for 828, 4566, 43106 and 2857. I was disapointed not to get 43106, which clearly knows when I am in the area and behaves accordingly, 828 looked and sounded superb but the single class 20 on load 8 was really something else - quite fantastic!

 

4150 - Prairie Tank, Ex GWR... Work continues building the new bunker as these photos show, taken 15 October. © 2010-2011 The 4150 Fund http://www.4150.org.uk/news/4150_nov11.html

Patrick