Severn Valley Railway,March 6, 7, 8, 2009 Festival of Steam

Care to elaborate on what must win the "contradictory sentence of the week" award?

 

Fantastic idea for the punters, but a bad idea for the railway as it doesn't bring in a vast number of people, doesn't make friends with the neighbours (so you have to offer incentives to stop them complaining like a free ride) and also costs a fair bit of cash.

I personally like it and would be more than willing to do it at the GCR, but I can't see it happening where we are for a long while yet, or ever, we run through built up areas; far more than the SVR does.

 

Your right I haven't!

Should I have? #-o

 

You really need to get out more. The SVR has always done superb galas. The one in 2007, when we only had 3 1/2 miles to play with, was one of the best I have ever taken part in. That its success was due in no small part to the generosity of Tyseley, the WSR and many others, made it all the sweeter, because it showed what this movement can do when it gets its act together. The Steam Railway/GCR galas, the SSS galas at Llanny, the triple A4s at NYMR, to name just a few, are sublime examples of the preservation movement at the top of its game. Showing off - damn right we are, all of us; and we have got a lot to show off. We are in showbiz; we are there to entertain the public, and we do. That's why they keep coming. To all the others not mentioned, no disparagement is intended, I just picked the first three that came to mind. All the best to all of you. Ignore the whingers, get out there and show them what you've got!

Regards,

jtx

 

There's hope for mankind yet! Very well said mate!

Yes, all Railways are in competition, but I hope and believe that it's friendly rivalry. The SVR might be the best, but if so it's at least partly because other lines came to its aid after the disastrous floods.

All lines have their individual personalities so 'best' is a highly subjective term. As long as it works for you, there are no issues. But having a favourite lines doesn't mean no others have merit. And if a pearticular gala doesn't appeal, don't go to it. I've yet to go to a Thomas weekend...

 

According to the latest Heritage Railway magazine, the full list of guest locomotives appearing at 'Festival of Steam' are as followed:

LMS Duchess 6233 Duchess of Sutherland
LNER A4 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley
BR 8P 71000 Duke of Gloucester
BR Britannia Oliver Cromwell
GWR Castle 5029 Nunney Castle (Provisional)

 

But so far only 60007 has been officially confirmed, the rest are just rumours until officially confirmed

 

71000 is also confirmed according to SVR News magazine.

 

Fantastic! Only ever seen this loco once when i was little down on the sea wall at Dawlish and didnt have a camera with me! ](*,)

This makes up fo it now! =D>

 

Amazingly i haven't actually seen any of those engines before. Seen enough pictures of them but in real life, never. It should be a good gala, like the last one, and with the new footbridge Highley should be less of a pain. That is if it's completed in time.

 

Well, I've chalked this up for my yet to be bought 2009 diary!

 

Oliver Cromwell is also comfirmed according to a very reliable source of mine! really looking forward to the gala! its certainly looking to be quite a weekend!!!! i will be there working (its on my new calender which i am yet to purchase)!lol!

hope to see you all there!

James

 

Colin. It was in the frames to check alignments etc. Nothing unplanned has happened .

 

Brian,
I only stated that the boiler has been in the frames but has been removed again, I know there were no problems and there are moves to get the boiler in the frames for good in early January.

 

=D> =D> =D> locomotives confirmed now on the svr website 6233, 60007, 70013 and 71000.

 

I would disagree. For instance, some years there is no northern shuttle. In fact, this year there were four up and down on the Friday, 5 (I think) on the Saturday and 3 on the Sunday. This means that this section still has about an hour layover between trains, which is similar to a normal timetable. On the other hand, the Arley - Kidder section barely sees nothing running! So I wouldnt say that an SVR gala beats others based on train movements, as this is not an indicator of the whole 16 miles. A line which you did not mention is the GWSR. During their Festival of Steam Summer galas, there are a huge amount of movements between Toddington and Winchcombe - I would say enough to rival the Bewdley to Kidder section. Not only this, but there is a demo GWR and a demo BR goods train, as well as locals/auto services. Most SVR movements during galas are locals and service trains. However, with no passing loop at Gotherington and one platform at Cheltenham RC, there is little service at this end of the line with most (nearly all) trains being service trains.

 

I would disagree. For instance, some years there is no northern shuttle. In fact, this year there were four up and down on the Friday, 5 (I think) on the Saturday and 3 on the Sunday. This means that this section still has about an hour layover between trains, which is similar to a normal timetable. On the other hand, the Arley - Kidder section barely sees nothing running! So I wouldnt say that an SVR gala beats others based on train movements, as this is not an indicator of the whole 16 miles. A line which you did not mention is the GWSR. During their Festival of Steam Summer galas, there are a huge amount of movements between Toddington and Winchcombe - I would say enough to rival the Bewdley to Kidder section. Not only this, but there is a demo GWR and a demo BR goods train, as well as locals/auto services. Most SVR movements during galas are locals and service trains. However, with no passing loop at Gotherington and one platform at Cheltenham RC, there is little service at this end of the line with most (nearly all) trains being service trains.[/quote:mdbyg2f1]Swanage has an awesome Gala timetable.

 

And it runs time as well..... =D> =D> =D>

Its all very well say this railway has the most intense timetable etc but if it doesnt run to time then its a waste of space.

 

I would disagree. For instance, some years there is no northern shuttle. In fact, this year there were four up and down on the Friday, 5 (I think) on the Saturday and 3 on the Sunday. This means that this section still has about an hour layover between trains, which is similar to a normal timetable. On the other hand, the Arley - Kidder section barely sees nothing running! So I wouldnt say that an SVR gala beats others based on train movements, as this is not an indicator of the whole 16 miles. A line which you did not mention is the GWSR. During their Festival of Steam Summer galas, there are a huge amount of movements between Toddington and Winchcombe - I would say enough to rival the Bewdley to Kidder section. Not only this, but there is a demo GWR and a demo BR goods train, as well as locals/auto services. Most SVR movements during galas are locals and service trains. However, with no passing loop at Gotherington and one platform at Cheltenham RC, there is little service at this end of the line with most (nearly all) trains being service trains.[/quote:3k4wq6j5]

You seem to have mis-quoted me above, as I never wrote that - maybe 1472 did....

The Bewdley - Kidder section deals with 6 trains per hour on galas - one of the benefits of tokenless block with acceptance lever double track at Bewdley and Kidderminster. On the basis that it takes at least 3 mins to turn round a token, 6 trains an hour on any other section (on the SVR or elsewhere) would be pushing it as 18 mins per hour would be needed to turn the token around, before any trains could be run.

 

Is 'Duchess of Sutherland' confirmed? I know they wanted it but there seemed a bit of uncertainty as to whether it was coming or not (that's the one I'm after since it's in the last year of its boiler certificate).