WSR S&D Spring Steam Gala, 5-6 and 10-13 March 2016

Thanks for the reply's

 

Don't know yet but the early bid sheet planning for the gala has a note about GWR engine moves in the days just before the gala. Actual gala loco roster won't be out for some time. There are some photo charter opportunities just before the gala as well apparently. Perhaps Steve will know more about these.
I will be doing my usual pre-gala "holiday" in BL trying to help get things ready. (Or getting in the way if you'd rather.)

 

I presume at least 1 GWR engine will be kept in steam at Williton to act as 'thunderbird' during the gala.

 

Don't know yet as mentioned. Logistically it would not be what I would do given the lack of facilities for loco prep and the cost of have an engine standing "hot" all day long. I'd probably ask DEPG to have a loco on standby but I'm not involved with all that clever logistical stuff. I just polish them and put the coal in the 'ole.

 

They did do it for years though haha although not recently. Sometimes the loco ran LE from either MD or BL at the start of the day.

It would be nice to see 6960 running (I understand 4936 is at the PDSR over the gala) as somebody said Modified Halls were tested or similar on the route? It would take the line up to 9 locos excluding Kilmersdon, which would allow better diagramming variety, but we shall see.

 

As I said diagramming is up to the clever people, but even they take account in the modern day and age of crew availability and crew rostering so that they stay on the right side of HSE rules. Not every volunteer likes booking on at 3.00am apparently, I don't know why.

 

Would be lovely to see the 4f and black5 running in a full out weathered and dirty condition

Any news on coaching stock? is a maroon set being hired in? Shame the QBs aren't still in their red livery

 

Mike, if you meant this particular "Steve", well, I have the latest SEPT minutes (I'm just a backroom SEPT boy!) but can't release any details unless authorised.

Steve

 

Oops! I expect I will get smacked legs now

 

The 4F will not be repainted following overhaul - apparently there is not enough time - so it will appear in 'workworn' condition. There is no talk of a maroon set of stock being hired in. That used to be done when there was not considered enough Mk1s in service. Nowadays there are enough to form 4 sets of 6/7 (8 if the QB all-day breakfast service is provided). Don't forget that so far 2 coaches have been painted blood & custard, and that 1 or 2 more could be out by then as well. It probably costs as much to hire a set of coaches for the duration as at least 1 loco, as well as the cost of getting them to and fro.

 

Cheers Mike.

 

No outside cylinder GW locos ever operated over the S&D - they would not fit. Only inside cylinder GW locos were allowed, mostly Pannier tanks and 22XX types although a 56XX did put in an appearance on trial and again on a Western Region officers special. Halls and Granges did appear in Bath off the Midland but so too did Scots, Patriots and Britanias - none were allowed south on the S&D though.

As someone who remembers the dying days of the S&D I can recall the bitterness felt against all things Western at that time. The headboard carried on the GWS special on Sat 5th March was thought to be in very bad taste and a bit of an insult. The two sides of Radstock were reluctant to speak to each other for a while. If a GW loco does appear in the gala it would not be in the spirit of an S&D memorial. But it is not my gala so who am I to say it should not happen. I am just recalling how it was back then.

Peter James

 

Peter, Some valid points, the GW & S&D ‘sides’ (read enthusiasts) at Minehead today have a much better working relationship than back then by the sound of it and its fair to say that the GW fans/crews on the WSR are all looking forward to working on the great range of engines we have for the gala and of course they have lots of experience of working on 'other' engines anyway. However when I was there yesterday one person in the loco team did say that the GWR engines could have sacks over the chimneys and domes, name & number plates removed and all towed dead together over the line by a S&D loco as if they were taking a short cut to Barry, but maybe he was an S&D man !!

Like my comment about sheeting the GW engines over for the duration this is most likely NOT going to happen !!!

Yesterday we were putting the boiler cladding on 53808 and the tender was well underway so it’s progressing well, I’ll try and get photo when I’m there next week.

 

Yes Peter I agree and I was there as well

Don

 

This gala looks like a fantastic event. I was only a nipper when the S&D closed, but I did go to the WSR's S&D 30th anniversary event 20 years ago (doesn't time fly?) and although those people who did remember the S&D said it wasn't anything like "the real thing", it was still a marvellous weekend. I'd really love to get along this March, but I can't see it being any more than a day trip due to other commitments, which from darkest East Sussex means an extremely long day.

 

Quite a long way for us as well but we will will go maybe on more than one day, one for photos and one for mileage. The S&D 2-8-0s make it for me plus of course the Bulleid pacifics . What's not to like for those who remember the S&D from 1962?

 

It was a fantastic gala in 1986 but I also remember the disappointing weather throughout the event (including the charters).
Hopefully the weather will be better this year but come rain or shine, I'll be there.
Well done to the WSR team for the fantastic collection of locos for this years event. <BJ>

 

Finally convinced Dad that we definitely need to go, so very much looking forward to it! And thank you for extending the young person ticket to 17 year olds, there's at least one person who appreciates it!

Is anything planned to arrive by rail or is everything coming by road? At least if anything goes wrong I suppose there's plenty of backup locos!

 

I don't think any of the visitors are mainline-passed so all will be coming by road.

 

If you are both thinking of staying locally, you would be well advised to get some accommodation arranged PDQ as it tends to book up quickly.

Robin