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Severn Valley Railway 2019 Spring Gala

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by michaelh, Nov 4, 2018.

  1. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

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    An update on the 1450 situation posted today says it's hoped that the repairs will be completed in time so double auto-trains should be on the cards.
     
  2. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

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  3. lil Bear

    lil Bear Part of the furniture

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    Unreal.

    2018 event has 6x visitors with 2x home based locos in action and last round trip off KR at 1635.
    Apart from the Bellerophon shuttles, there is no other interest down the line operationally.
    An Adult ticket is priced at £29 for this.

    2017 had 3x visitors with 7x home based locos in action and the last round trip available being at 1900 off KR.
    There was shuttles, brake van rides at Highley, plus a demo Goods at certain points during the day.
    All for the Adult price of £26.50 per day.

    2019... 3x Visitors plus 7x home locos with the last round trip off KR at 1530.
    Adult ticket price £32. How to fleece long term supporters and then some - Reduce service levels but increase price!
     
  4. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

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  5. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Isn't there another visiting loco (or 2) to be arranged? It is just an outline TT so far, so shall we just hold fire for a moment?
     
  6. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    I must admit though on the whole, SVR galas are not as adventurous as they used to be, 2002-2010 being the best years for both the spring and autumn galas timetable wise. Not a complaint but an observation and it wasn’t so many years ago the spring gala trains continued into the late evening on the Friday and Saturday.
     
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  7. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    A few years ago the same sort of thing was said of the diesel gala, look what happened there!
     
  8. jon5051

    jon5051 Member

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    1530 ex Kidder is a bit of a misnomer as you could get the 1605 (albeit a local) and return on the last train from BN.

    Personally I agree that the timetable could be more adventurous but for a whole days entertainment I would not view £32 as "fleecing". £10 over a normal ticket for the intensity of the service plus the visiting engines etc doesn't seem too bad to me.
     
  9. lil Bear

    lil Bear Part of the furniture

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    Why? Number of locos wont change the physical timings. A gala timetable should be an enhancement of your everyday TT, showing off your line to its best, doing things slightly differently etc etc

    Past galas have done this, 2017 was a decent event. 2018 was just get as many locos and run them, but this year just doesn't reach those heights. Is all the extra shuttles worthy of the £10 enhancement on entry price? How much can each loco actually be used each day within what is a short day for a gala? Sorry but SVR used to proclaim its enthusiast galas as the "Premier" enthusiast event - and they always lived up to that statement. Sadly the Spring Galas no longer do this, and I'm not the only person with this view - I'm just one of the few prepared to voice it. I know it probably won't make an ounce of difference, but as a SVR Regular / Shareholder who visits multiple times per year it's a shame to see a railway I view so highly fail to meet the standards we've seen in the past.
     
  10. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    Only 7 full length trains each way. That's less than a normal day.

    Weird how the first train Sunday from KR to BH is earlier than Friday and Saturday.
     
  11. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    I'm afraid there is not much here to tempt me over from Wales. The timetable really is very low key. This Saturday offers a double header in 813 + 7714, a long term returnee in 75069, 2857, plus a first view of the new Bridgnorth facilities - all at normal fares.
    I don't think 75069 is even getting a run at the gala is it? Very odd as I am sure many would turn up for a ride behind it after 24 years.
    Given the Caley tank is down for Churnet Valley and East Lancs galas I am surprised the SVR haven't tried to book it - would look great on 3 or 4 LMS coaches, fit the branch line theme and would be rare enough for me to have a ride.
     
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  12. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Correction I see 75069 is now on the roster, very sensible decision. Will await with interest what the fourth visitor is. Would be good if there are some shunting demos with the goods or brake van rides.
     
  13. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I think I'm going to head off to the Bluebell that weekend.
     
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  14. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Is there a 4th visitor in the end? Not sure if the line up we see now is actually the finished article given a provisional TT has been issued (although I agree it seems to be missing the sparkle of previous years if this is the finished article).
     
  15. Kje7812

    Kje7812 Part of the furniture

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    IIRC there isn't a fourth visitor anymore. Someone asked on FB and the reply was that was the final line-up.
     
  16. lil Bear

    lil Bear Part of the furniture

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    Interesting to note a big discussion on the dreaded Book of Face, quite a few people cancelling hotels etc as they are not prepared to travel over and stay over for such a reduced "gala" TT. Apparently the timetable has been written from guidelines provided by those above, as they have reviewed feedback to what people want to see at a SVR gala. I think they need to revisit this, as the consensus I've seen is what's been offered is not what people want. The saving grace for them is the SVR Spring gala has become something of a social gathering, with numerous people getting together for a catch up etc. However the pubs of Bewdley are more than likely going to profit best from 2019's offering, rather than the SVR itself...
     
  17. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    one observation is that SVR gala timetabling has become more conservative . one way taking considerably longer than a normal service day . in part this seems to be an approach to avoid late running that rather makes passengers unhappy . Scroll back through gala threads and it does become a recurring theme . Secondly is allowing people to change at Kidderminster and Bewdley. crossing trains in KDR loop seems to be a perennial cause of unhappiness as does not allowing time to change at Bewdley

    this gala with lots of shorter workings I suspect has put time in to allow for run rounds and shunting moves that don't happen at intermediate stations normally .

    Like many the opportunity to enjoy trains running into the evening is one I enjoy . Not massively late but the atmosphere after dark is rather delightful
     
  18. lil Bear

    lil Bear Part of the furniture

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    Even just an evening beer ex would probably suffice. I don't think people are looking for the 24:7 running of the autumn gala, but just something later in the evening offering a night out - instead of heading off into the various pubs of Bridgnorth / Bewdley etc.
     
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  19. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Just announced 1054 coal tank visiting, I think this will be worth the trip.
     
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  20. alrohomer

    alrohomer Member Friend

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    Website says (today) that they don't think that 1450 will be fixed in time.
     

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