SVR General Discussion

I would argue that having just a single platform at Highley would be rather restrictive.

 

but then you’re encouraging everyone to get off at Highley, with it’s one platform. It can get desperately busy as it is. Even without the complexity of then having people hanging around trying to go north I’d argue you need to keep Highley as a through station at pretty much all costs.

 

More than £75,000 raised now, with over 1400 donors. Absolutely fantastic to see!

 

This month's Branch Lines, including updates on the Mor Brook landslip, HRA awards, the HydroShunter project and more...

https://www.svrlive.com/blfeb25

 

I don't wish to knock the HydroShunter project at all, but the public celebration seems a little premature if the loco currently has only its lead-acid batteries, with the hydrogen part yet to be installed.

 

If that’s any sort of suggestion the diesel gala should terminate too at Highley ,I would suggest the majority of passengers at that event would find more of interest in a paint drying museum than the Engine House !
Running the AB stock to Highley a couple of years agos highlighted all the shortcomings mentioned of lots of passengers trying to get off ,get on and a single short platform …

 

Hampton Loade has 2 platforms that are Bi-Directional, plus a small turn back siding that can take a 2 car local or DMU, would suggest that is far more flexible.

 

Can’t run a passenger train from the siding though. It’s a goods only line. Hampton does also come with some restrictions of its own due to signalling.

Would very much suggest people holding fire on guessing logistics. Spring gala TT should be produced over the next couple of weeks so you will all know soon enough.

 

That's quite a disparaging comment re the passengers who attend a diesel gala.

 

Not at all ,the vast majority have little /no interest in static steam locos ,which is what the Engine House largely contains .

 

Please cite your sources for this statement

 

Just go in the engine house during a diesel gala and compare the numbers in there looking at the exhibits compared to during a steam gala. It’s not a criticism of the engine house just a fact that most diesel enthusiasts don’t visit the railway to view static steam engines.

 

I would also prefer to give a donation with gift aid, rather than through the SVR Company's "Resilience Fund".

The SVR Charitable Trust's web site indicates that its objectives include restoration of infrastructure ( as well as locomotives, carriages, etc). So if the repair of the Mor Brook landslide and bridge damage is regarded as "restoration" and not simply as routine maintenance and repair, it may be possible for the SVRCT to make a grant and ask for gift-aided donations to fund it. But we will have to wait and see whether anything like that comes to pass.

 

You might be waiting a while - the SVR have said repeatedly, and clearly, that donations should be made through the resilience fund. So if you want to donate money then that is where it is to go.

it’s not like the Charitable Trust and the PLC have fallen out and are pulling in different directions. The word from all quarters is please donate to the Resilience Fund.

 

I believe it was stated that this fund is quickly and easily accessible to help pay for things like surveys up front, hence why folk are being directed to donate here.

 

I agree this is the clear message. But it gives me a conundrum. Given my tax status, a gross £100 can contribute £39 to the SVR, or £99 to somewhere else with GA. I know it's a nice problem to have, but it does feel frustrating that I can't work that donation as "hard" if I opt for the SVR.

Any yes, I have donated to the SVR for this.

 

Not strictly SVR related but I think you are misunderstanding how Gift Aid works for a charity. A charity can only ever claim 25% on whatever you donate - the rate of tax you pay is irrelevant to them. There is a benefit to you that you can extend the amount of income you pay tax at 25% by the amount you have donated, but the charity doesn't benefit just because you pay tax at 40%.

 

If you pay only standard rate tax, a gross £100 to the charity costs you a net £80. If you pay higher rate tax, a gross £100 to the charity costs you a net £60. So for the same net amount that someone decides to donate, the charity gets more if it comes from a high-rate taxpayer.
That said, I don't understand how @ChuffChuff's got to the figures in post #4716.

 

Not all. I’ve volunteered at diesel galas and have come across those who have zero interest in anything steam.

 

I do understand Gift Aid. I was just thinking about it the other way round - ie from my perspective - without making that clear in the post. Basically, the tax relief I get on making the donation (which you are correct - comes as an extended standard tax band) I consider "extra" to be donated. Without gift aid, this goes to the tax man, not to a organisation of my choosing.

@MellishR : Number are just tax band, winding out of tax free allowance (collectively creating an effective margin tax rate of 60%), and 1% NI. But the point holds for anyone paying above std band tax.