SVR Spring Steam Gala - 18th-21st April 2025

I had a thoroughly enjoyable day at the railway yesterday. Many thanks to all the staff and volunteers for organising and running such a brilliant gala.

Considering the line has been severed at the north of the line, I have to give credit to the railway for delivering such a top quality event.

I have just sent a donation to the SVR Resilience Fund. <BJ>

 

An enjoyable three days of action and for me the star was Galatea.

 

A few images from Saturday & Sunday:
















Richard

 

I travelled yesterday. Arriving at the main line car park at Kidderminster just after 9 I was struck by just how quiet
everywhere was. Had a great day with superb weather but where were the enthusiasts. Seats easily available in front coaches
just a few minutes before departure. I would say the trains were half empty. A great shame as it was an excellent line up.
2 Jubilees, 2 Manors a Grange plus the Standard. What more do you want.
That said there was no jostling for photos and the lack of passengers made an enjoyable day even more so. Just a shame
for the SVR who put on a great show. A poor reward for all the effort put into it. My thanks to all at the Valley.

 

Well, Bewdley side of the Tunnel (the line is running east-west at that point). And no, there had already been a fire there so the current burnt patch is a combined one.

 

Very quiet start today, but much busier this afternoon - sun seemed to bring everyone out. Still no issue finding a seat, mix of enthusiasts and families. Trains have run like clockwork, great show as always. Hope the figures have added up for a successful event.

 

My wife and also had a most enjoyable day yesterday.
We got to Bewdley about 8.30 by which time the car park was already pretty full though we got in near the bottom of the drive.
The station was quiet but everything got much busier as the day went on, and went from cold & windy to sunny and hot. Thankfully, from what I could see, the mixture of gricers and families got on well enough. We only travelled as far as Arley: I would miss too much if we went further! Arley was very busy with many families enjoying the afternoon sunshine and the lovely garden/play area - as our children used to. I managed to get the photos I wanted: mainly of the freights, similar locos passing each other, and the Grange. Always a favourite class since a family holiday trip from the midlands to Weymouth in the mid 1950s behind 6879 "Overton Grange". Many thanks to all involved in creating such an enjoyable event under such difficult circumstances.

 

Here's my footage of the gala on Friday and Sunday split into two parts. Part 1 featuring the LMS Jubilees and Part 2 featuring Betton Grange and the Two Manors. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

For those who had missed the news, 6880 is planned to be used on the steam for the rest of the Easter Holidays (no public service 25th April).

 

I attended the gala yesterday, so very lucky with the weather, although it was pretty cold and grey for a while early on. While noting the relative lack of people around, from a selfish point of view it was enjoyable. Busy enough (at least during the heart of the day) to feel like an event, but without the level of crowding some galas experience. As someone's already said on this thread, this difference was especially noticeable on the platform at Highley, which for once at a gala actually felt comfortable. I also saw on a walk up to Country Park Halt that there were lots of people out and about in the country park itself, and quite a few parents with kids watching from the halt platform.

My unofficial catering award for the day goes to Arley kiosk's citrus cake - I don't know how I stopped myself from sampling more than one! I'm no kind of insider, but the atmosphere among the staff seemed very good, even before the sun came out. If accurate, long may that happier spirit prevail! I hardly had any time at Kidderminster so didn't find the Locomotion No. 1 plates promoted in the brochure (I wasn't all that bothered about those so didn't try again) but I spent plenty of time at Arley which was glorious. Not as peaceful as sometimes in the early evening thanks to the music from the pub down the hill, but in the warm sunshine that actually added to the party mood.

Someone who went to the "Bridgnorth mini-gala" on Saturday said that was enjoyable as well and it definitely felt like a real effort was being made there, though they did say it wasn't very busy. Of course I hope the full line is back in operation by the autumn gala, but if not then I'd be pretty happy with a repeat of the timetable used this weekend. Until the unavoidable long delay caused by the fire, nothing slipped by more than a few minutes. The long stands at Bewdley didn't bother me much at all - for one thing, they meant the opportunity to take a 5 minute break to stretch legs or just look around!

All in all, considering the challenges the railway has faced recently, I was impressed and made a point of spending a little more at the railway than I usually would. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this gala so enjoyable.

 

Yes it's not often you can get off your train, cross to the other side, buy at book from one of the second hand shops, grab a pint from the Bewdley Brewery and then get back on your train! Excellent ale by the way.

 

Can thoroughly recommend a run behind this fine machine. To quote the driver who was handing over to a new driver at Bewdley this afternoon (after a particularly volcanic departure from Northwood Crossing), 'it goes like stink..'!!

 

A few from a very enjoyable day, the sun did show itself eventually! The double headed manors were a great, noisy finale!

 

What a superb Gala! Well done the SVR for going ahead with it, despite the severed northern section. All the locos seemed to be performing really well. Absolute highlight for me was 6880 Betton Grange this afternoon. It wasn't really opened up on the climb to Foley Park tunnel, I guess this was due to the obvious fire risk. The surprise for me was the rapid acceleration from Northwood Halt towards Bewdley. The bark from the chimney was absolutely tremendous. Apparently a loco driver had said it was the best loco he'd ever driven. No doubt about it, Betton Grange is an outstanding locomotive and a tremendous achievement.

 

Perhaps the highlight of the weekend, 60 years after the original, 7802 and 7812 head the Festiniog Railway Special, not across Wales but at Northwood Lane. An amazing preservation achievement that the two locos are still active after 6 decades.

 

Yes, I think we were on the same run. 4th run behind this loco on 3rd different railway for me and that was the first time I have heard it really opened up. Good on a valley crew for doing so!
The noise and acceleration was astonishing - it's a beast of a loco.

 

Can absolutely thoroughly say I enjoyed firing 7802 on that run. A copy of this would be much appreciated if possible please.

 

A few from a very dull, damp and grey Saturday of riding the trains and trying to get a few photos, highlight for myself were the Jubilees.

 

Some footage from Sunday and Monday, culminating with the Manor double header. Thoroughly enjoyable couple of days both on the trains and lineside, sadly didn't get chance to visit Bridgnorth station but glad to hear the event was a success for the railway!