If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

SVR Autumn Steam Gala on 23 -25 September 2011

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by D1039, Dec 15, 2010.

  1. lewis.maddox

    lewis.maddox Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2008
    Messages:
    890
    Likes Received:
    48
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Visitor Engagement Manager, Severn Valley Railway
    Location:
    Worcestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    My video has now been uploaded...enjoy:

    [Youtube]PsYlM4G0eiU[/Youtube]

    Thanks,
    Lewis
     
  2. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2010
    Messages:
    2,653
    Likes Received:
    1,050
    Location:
    Kidderminster/ York
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    In my 2 years of working at Kiddy, there has always been a notice in the booking office advising people where to sit both down and up. And almost porter and tti repeats this to passengers on the platform and the train. Quite often it's more a question of whether people have listen rather than whether they have been told.
     
  3. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2005
    Messages:
    4,043
    Likes Received:
    212
    Tom, if you do find a way to run the locals to Highley, you dont need 2857 on the front! ( or a Castle or Manor for that matter....) Suggest to your collegues in motive power that you would very much appreciate having the Small Prairie and at least one Pannier available!!
     
  4. std tank

    std tank Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2005
    Messages:
    3,808
    Likes Received:
    946
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Liverpool
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Thanks for that info.
     
  5. Ruston906

    Ruston906 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2011
    Messages:
    455
    Likes Received:
    99
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Worcestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    There are two other ways to control numbers at the event either put the prices up for the event to control numbers or bring in less attractions and keep the price the same.
    I think 3 visiting locos would be fine with one standout loco to bring people in this does also help keep costs down transport coal and other hire costs.
     
  6. WaltTFB

    WaltTFB New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2008
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    There are notices with that information by the booking office windows at Bridgnorth, and have always been in the 5 years I've volunteered as a booking office clerk there. The information is repeated in station announcements and to anyone who buys a ticket to one of the country stations when they're at the window.
     
  7. Neil_Scott

    Neil_Scott Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2008
    Messages:
    3,155
    Likes Received:
    302
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Railway servant
    Location:
    Worcester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Can you buy a ticket to a specific station during a gala? Isn't it only rovers that are sold?
     
  8. WaltTFB

    WaltTFB New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2008
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    It's only rover tickets at the Galas, yes.
     
  9. mattspencer

    mattspencer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2005
    Messages:
    1,774
    Likes Received:
    625
    Location:
    Rugby
  10. Neil_Scott

    Neil_Scott Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2008
    Messages:
    3,155
    Likes Received:
    302
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Railway servant
    Location:
    Worcester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    During the galas do you ask the passenger if they're getting off at a country station when you're selling a ticket?
     
  11. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2007
    Messages:
    2,505
    Likes Received:
    3,248
    Location:
    Powys
    I think the simple solution is find a way of extending the shuttles to Highley at all galas in the future as this would automatically double the frequency of trains serving it. Four coaches also fit the platform and remove the saftey issues. Major infrastructure changes at Highley would ruin the ambience of this lovely station and could not be justified for a few days a year. However, as a traveller it was quite easy to predict which trains were going to be crowded and thus I avoided 828 and Tornado until later in the day and got a seat easily on all runs behind the pair. Also there is a large field at Bridgnorth in which to park on gala days; starting journeys there seemed to provide much quieter trains. Personally I was delighted to see so many people at the gala after a tough couple of trading years for the SVR. Hats off to them for putting on an event so many wanted to see. Maybe a Thursday 'preview' day with the visitors running a tweaked standard 'B' timetable would prove attractive to those who don't want the crowds? As repeated any extension of the gala must not mean the end of night time services which is undoubtedly the SVR's USP!
     
  12. lil Bear

    lil Bear Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2006
    Messages:
    6,122
    Likes Received:
    1,655
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Railway Technician
    Location:
    8C / 5D / 27C / 71B
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Travelled all 3 days starting boarding at 10am on Friday and gettin off near 7pm Sunday. In total I managed 455 miles, missed out on 500 due to a number of reasons, main one being the 1320 on Saturday was released before the train from Bewdley had arrived. Wasn't impressed with this as there was no mention at Bewdley that it was being altered from the WTT. However instead of getting irate like some of the passengers, I merely headed to the King & Castle for a pint of Piddle (Castles are better than Kings btw).

    Highlights are 828's climb out of Highley early Saturday morning morning, very impressive piece of driving controlling the slips on the wet rail. Walking pace for most of the climb but sounded good. 4566 on Sunday was truly awesome, not had a full line trip behind her before but she certainly brought the curtain down in style. Oh and 6880rules losing his key at 1am as he was trying to go home brought us a lot of entertainment on the night train! Thanks to Tom, James and whoever else wants to feel special for inviting us down on Friday. Had a great laugh, and well done with your first efforts for this gala. I think most of the guys organising the operations were all under 25 (I'm sure you'll correct me) and its great to see the younger guys being given a chance. I look forward to what you can come up with next year.

    Constructive criticism, the Arley shuttles really need to be extended to Highley. However looking at it you would probably need an extra local set which would cross at Arley(?) with the locals you had in use and you don't have any extra coaches do you? (Obv the LMS set was reduced but next yr this wont be the case). You've mentioned the probs with locos being allowed in the sidings though, so this might not be something Tom etc can fix alone with the power of a timetable...

    I think Highley itself needs looking at, as it has now become bigger than what it was built for. I think tactfully extending the platform would help, but will be expensive though hopefully SVR management are listening to our concerns. As has been mentioned things were not helped by having Tornado during an enthusiasts event. She is a big enough crowd puller on her own, though I appreciate this was the only time she could visit this year. However in return I would say Tornado does not have to visit every year does it?

    As for suggestions to make it 2 weekends, well I would say no. Reason being is that I can't see the night trains staying if this was done, and that is one of the biggest draws of the SVR ASG. If you were to lose theses, from me personally my 3day rover would become 1, my beer purchases would reduce to 0 as I'd have to drive home and there would be no breakfasts, meals etc bought as I could get something when I got home. If you wanted to make the most of the visiting engines, maybe run your most intensive normal services (Timetable D?) with visiting locos only, on the weekends before and/or after the gala and advertise it as such.

    My only other disappointments were not being able to see 7812 and 43106 have at least 1 full line trip. I realise they are home locos, but there was a lot of people upset over the Manor especially speaking to people as I travelled. Maybe look at ensuring every loco gets at least 1 full line trip at some point during the 3 days?

    Also the tickets, a few friends refused to ravel up to the SVR as they wanted to ride Friday evening till Saturday afternoon but didn't want to buy 2 tickets to do so. Could it be looked into that when you buy a 1 day ticket it gets time stamped and last for 24hours or something? Realise it could get complicated as you near the end of the event but it is only a suggestion.

    Right well think I've had my say. Thanks again to Tom, James, Chris, Ron and all the rest of you for an enjoyable event. Shall see you again next year, and hopefully I will make 500 then too lol. Oh and James, remember we need to buy next months SR Mag ;)
     
  13. WaltTFB

    WaltTFB New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2008
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    No, we don't.

    You win.
     
  14. Rick.E

    Rick.E Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2009
    Messages:
    479
    Likes Received:
    84
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    RETIRED
    Location:
    WARWICKSHIRE
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  15. mattspencer

    mattspencer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2005
    Messages:
    1,774
    Likes Received:
    625
    Location:
    Rugby
    [youtube]y0tThD69SdY[/youtube]

    My video from the Sunday now I've sorted the sounds.

    Nice photo of the 28 on the freight. I did think it was a bit early for a freight but looked enough light at Eardington.
     
  16. GrahamUK33

    GrahamUK33 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2011
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Reading through this thread there are some really good ideas, but these all have a cost associated with them. Such as adding Thursday for people to take photos/videos without the crowd, how do you police who can go and who can’t, what are the financials for running a Thursday.

    Would it come down to what are the cost for running on a Thursday compared to evening/night time. Then there is the weather to consider, what if it rains, this will impact on the amount of people who will visit.

    I hate to be negative about this, but sometimes the financials just don’t add up.
     
  17. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    Apropos the numbers of visiting locos, the five in 2011 matches the number in 2010 (5690, 3717, 3205, 34070 and 5542). I don't for a moment suggest that the identities or attractiveness of the engines are not very relevant, but just that having that many visitors is not unknown

    Patrick
     
  18. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2006
    Messages:
    1,491
    Likes Received:
    735
    Location:
    Hampton Court, Surrey
    Actually as I remember it last year was almost as crowded as this year (City of Truro's trains were packed to the rafters like 828's this year) which makes me think that the extra crowd this year was down to "Tornado-mania". It will be interesting to see what the Mid-Hants gala is like. They have the advantage of having Tornado for two weekends so hopefully some of the non-enthusiast community will turn up the weekend before the gala.
     
  19. Ruston906

    Ruston906 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2011
    Messages:
    455
    Likes Received:
    99
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Worcestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I attended last year and the trains for 3717 and 34070 were standing most of the day on the sat but there was plenty of space on the trains with the home fleet i think there was a better balance in 2010 slighty less people but i imagine a lower cost to put on.
    You could also suggest that bringing in varies smaller none famour GWR locs does not seem to put bums on seats or standing maybe the gala organiser would get more value briging in a smaller amount of visitors of none gwr types. C class T9 beattie well tank for next year.
     
  20. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    Yes it will be interesting to compare 2011 with 2010, and whether it's an increase in numbers on all days

    Patrick
     

Share This Page