SVR Post Christmas

I didn't go on the SVR post Christmas this year as it was so busy last year, especially on the first steam departure from Kidder, to make it un-enjoyable.

To answer your question, in the morning there needs to be two steam Kidder departures as close to each other as possible and put the DMU on the first Bridgnorth departure as the Southbound trains are always quieter in the mornings. The days are short remember so people want to make the most of their day and if they want a steam train either have to get the 10:30 or wait until the 12:30 which doesn't leave much time to do a lot else and get back to Kidder in daylight. There's no need for the trains to be so busy when the line has the capacity and stock to run more.

 

For reference, the 26th and 27th weren't as busy as yesterday and presumably today were. There were spaces and by spaces I mean empty tables, not just only two people taking up a table of four. And tomorrow is probably not going to be that busy if the forecast is to believed and heeded.

 

That would make the first steam departure from Bridgnorth at 1220 on the current timetable. I don't think that would be right.

Patrick

 

There's a few issues with that. One being that running two steam off Bewdley and none off Bridgnorth would be inconvenient on the operating side in terms of facilities at the two sites and in terms of crew rostering. Some Bridgo crews would be a little miffed to discover they have no turns on a timetable A.

If the second departure off kiddy is run as steam with a loco from BH you encounter further unnecessary light engine paths as Pete touched upon. To run one LE Southbound and an ECS northbound and then vice versa in the evening is frankly additional expense which is very difficult to justify.

 

Although looking at it on Balance, it might be worth adding that the 10.20 ex-bridgnorth is normally quieter and those with motor cars may be well advised to start at that end. The loadings are being looked at but it wouldn't be possible to run anything much closer behind the 10.30 ex-kidder. Rest assured, our management do look at these forums and they will take your comments into account.

 

olly5764; I did say "wedged in a vestibule" from KDR to BH, not the whole round trip! The return trip, 12-20 ex-BH, was comfortable, although still well loaded, but had a window seat up front and thoroughly enjoyed listening to "Bradley Manor".
An interesting and sensible discussion above about alternatives, or rather "tweaking", of the A & B timetables to try and have more capacity out of KDR in a morning.
It would perhaps be interesting to sit down and try and work out some alternative diagrams, but I suspect there are two problems: first objection will be if it requires additional resources, and second, the timetablers will have been there and done it already, and not come up with a better solution. They are also presumably aware of the weekday passenger loadings on the 10-30 through the main season.
In summary, at busy times we need to find a way of getting families with kids to and from Highley, for the Engine House, in reasonable comfort. Agreed ? I'm not sure that is always achieved, at least from Kidderminster.

 

Thought you could do 10, so long as the other set is not longer than 8? Not ideal, but still possible and cheaper than lighting up another loco and using another set...

 

Perhaps looking to use the full set L (9x Lms) on the kiddy diagram over the festive period would be a reasonable measure in future. Provides extra capacity without the added length or weight of 9 mk1's, plus the set is already formed for use in the santa operation.

 

It would be of interest to compare today's loading with those of yesterday. Heavy rain here most of the day so probably a different day on the Valley today all together.

 

Doesn't add any extra capacity as the LMS coaches are smaller than the others, also the wheel chair facilities on that set are poor.

 

Well just back from an excellent day travelling behind 2857 all day big thanks to the crew for the noise what a fantastic bit of kit it is. The run up erdington on the last train back to bridgnorth will stay with me for a long time.

I started at bridgnorth on the first train of the day plenty of room on that train but the first off kiddy that we passed looked busy but not rammed. Plenty of families about don't think the weather put that many people off going for a day out.

Superb railway

 

Down, the loadings at KR looked similar to Sunday's (27th).

 

The official numbers indicate that Set L and C in santa formation are about equal. Set M has the better wheelchair acommodation and the LMS style drain values are more of a pain to use than the BR ones.

 

Must admit I wasn't sure of the exact capacities of the sets. Thanks both.

 

I travelled on the cushions of the 12.30 ex Kidder on the 29th. I had watched the DMU depart and it was comfortably full. This kind of negates the idea that if it was a steam working it would encourage passengers from the 10.30. Moving pasengers from the 10.30 would simply IMHO overload the 11.45.

The 12.30 on which we travelled was well loaded with pasengers searching for seats at Bewdley.Thus it can be seen that all three departures ex Kidder were well loaded with the 10.30 being the heaviest loading.

9 / 10 coaches may be a solution at the expence of longer statuion stops at Arley and Hampton Loade. Part of the problem is passengers having to walk through the non platform coaches. Part is to do with token exchange. With the short trains, we will assume a down train, the bobby colects the token from the first train in and having got 147 from the guard can give train out of section and immediately offer the up train. As the up train comes in the bobby and fireman exchange tokens and the up can depart when ready. The down has to wait while the bobby gives train out of section, has offeredd the train and then walked to the loco to deliver the token.

If running a long train the following has to happen. The down is 10 car and the rear is still in section and the guard has advised clear but blocking. Whilst the bobby can colect the token he cant give train out of section. The up train arives and the token is given up but no token can be given as the down is still in section. The bobby has towalk back to his box replace the token and give train out of section for the up and offer the down. The bobby has still to walk to the down loco to deliver the token. As the down moves off it clears the section and the bobby can at last give train out of section, replace the token, and offer the train forward. There is still another chunk of delay as the bobby walks from his box to the loco. A two minute booked stop can easily extend to 10 with late running accumulating all day

 

Indeed, although there is talk (Which will hopefully come to reality) of using a loco hauled set on number 2, which will hopefully not only give extra options rather than all crowding onto one train, but also, there is a school of thought that suggests putting on more capacity attracts more trade so lets hope so. I would also like to add a note of thanks to everyone that came, very full trains or not, hopefully the figures will reflect a very successful season, and will do exactly what I suggested earlyon and give the management a reason to have a re-think for all the right reasons.