SVR General Discussion

https://svr.co.uk/wp-content/upload...026_Branchline-Weekend-Timetable-Saturday.pdf

https://svr.co.uk/wp-content/upload...-2026_Branchline-Weekend-Timetable-Sunday.pdf

 

Lovely first visit of the year to the SVR today. The Branchline gala clearly very popular, some of the trains this afternoon standing room only, helped by some nice spring like weather.
The view out of the back of the DMU showed much tweaking of the track work has taken place over the winter, but a strange 10mph speed restriction was in place by Bewdley tunnel, anybody know what that is in place for?
Platform extension at Kidderminster very impressive.

 

An extra last train was put on.
Track fault by the BS down distant, PWay have done some work on it and the length affected has shortened. Hopefully it will be cleared up on the next few weeks.

 

The timetable did seem poorly planned with only an auto off Bridgnorth after 1505 and the only train into KR after 1615.

 

As the person who wrote the timetable I can tell you it was exactly within the brief given to me. The Manor had to be back for Boogie Lights services, and the other trains were all themed to the Branchline event. I totally reject that it was “poorly planned”, it was planned to the brief, and it got the maximum mileage out of each train. There was no further paths to fill which didn’t impact Boogie Lights.

I have already looked at improvements for next year but people will have to chose between the Branchline feel, or longer trains, etc.

 

We did comment on that juxtaposition - how do you run 'Branchline Trains' with extra capacity..
One way maybe maximising use of saloon carriages and all standard class. The GWR set had a lot of compartments in it and there was at least one 2+1 layout coach in the local set.
At no times did the trains feel uncomfortably full though. Poorer weather tomorrow might mean the trains are less well filled.
As a new event nobody knew how well it would be attended, but clearly it hit the spot at the right time of year today - many comments about there 'not being much else on at this time of year'.

 

Well that’s exactly it. How do you write a Branchlines timetable, and not have short trains. If they are more than 4 coaches you can’t stop at Eardington, if they are more than 5 you can’t go inside at Highley and run easily, etc.

Carriages wise you work with what you have. The GWR set is formed as it will be all season, and we can’t justify the fuel, manpower, wear and tear, etc to swap that for one event. The Boogie Lights express requires all the open MK1 coaches so any MK1 sets have to be compartments or FOs. What we used was the highest capacity available.

 

You can disagree but as a customer of the SVR that was my thoughts on viewing the timetable and I cannot be the only one. An extra service had to be put on to cope with demand? I am surprised that was not anticipated.

 

Based on numbers for similar events that could not have been anticipated no. Infact based on numbers for previous similar events it was more likely to have needed 1 less train! We had an overly exceptional day yesterday, but having seen the popularity of the event we can now look to do more next year. Any business doesn’t go all out on a whim on new things, it explores them gently.

You’ll be pleased to know I sat till 3am doing a re-written version for next year with additional workings.

 

How many railways would have the flexibility & resource to put on an extra service at short notice?

 

For an event in February? It's really hard to gauge demand for such an event - on the one hand, there is a constituency who might think "there's been no steam all winter, I'll go"; on the other had had the weather been poor, it might have killed it stone dead and then you'd be wondering why you were hauling empty carriages round on a gloomy afternoon in a rain storm. It's also one week after half term, so many families might have been reluctant to go out having just had whatever outings they arranged the previous week. Being so busy that you needed more capacity is a nice problem to have, but not one that could necessarily be predicted.

There's far more to writing a gala plan than just "how many trains can we fit in?" You have to think about loco availability and carriage availability, given that many items of rolling stock may have had periods of winter maintenance. A loco may have been stopped for an annual steam test, timed to occur while it is quiet. Then you have crew hours to think about - putting on an extra service may have required a duty to be split, requiring more volunteers. It's a non-trivial business.

Tom

 

It would seem both events yesterday (SVR & GCR) were very popular. How much was weather driven nobody will ever know, both would have been something I would be more likely to attend than their big galas as I would not expect them to be "full".
I was surprised to see the level of cars in the car park here yesterday when I went down for a ride behind Manston and the numbers of people on the train.
However as you say Tom it was February, a wet day (like most this month) may have seen barely filled trains. Plus a two day event will always push those on public transport to the Saturday as engineering works, later starting trains prohibit many from attending on the Sunday.

 

I think Tom, in the post above has summed it up perfectly.

I went yesterday and had a very enjoyable day. Caught the 0955 ex Kidderminster with 7802 and it seemed comfortably full. After lunch at Highley
I caught the 1317 local to Bridgnorth with 7714. It arrived full and standing with plenty wanting to get on. Luckily many also got off. The problem with this
4 coach set it was nearly all first class with lower seating capacity. Formed 16169, 21254, 3103 & 3083. Came back with the same set from Bridgnorth
and it was wedged.

This is not a criticism 2857. I thought the timetable was fine and fitted the branch line theme well. Be interesting to see what you come up with next year.
Assume 7714 will be out of ticket but 4150 will be available. An additional steam set would be nice with 813 maybe.

A few other comments. Catering. Looked in at the Engine House for lunch. The same old curry offering with plastic utensils. Tried it last year. Awful.
Looks like the same offering. Instead walked down to the Ship Inn and enjoyed a freshly cooked meal. Looked like they had plenty of railway customers
in there as well.

The platform extension at Kidderminster. Why?? What is the point. Long trains will still be off the platforms at intermediate stations where the
biggest problem is Highley. Contractors are being used and I shudder to think of the cost. Talking to volunteers they seem to think the same as well
but I was also told it was supposed pressure from the ORR again. The view seemed to be that money should be spent on the PW. Aside from the new slack
near Bewdley tunnel there is still a lengthy 10 mph restriction along Kinver straight. Then there is the Bridgnorth yard situation. A couple of years ago
there was an appeal where we were told the work was urgent. All gone very quiet on that now and I was told big heavy diesels not allowed in the yard
now due to weight etc. How will 71000 fare in there.

When I was volunteering way back in 1969 the mantra was every penny had to go into the PW as without that you have no railway. That lesson should
not be forgotten.

 

Oh a lot to discuss here, so let’s have a go……

4 coach MK1 set - We were very limited with stock. All the MK1 opens were in use on the Boogie Lighte Express. This set won’t change much next year, as Boogie will happen again.

The timetable which I wrote last night for next year is very similar. I’ve bulked the Saturday out with an extra train. 7714 won’t feature. 4150 and 813 will. I hope to use the Class 14 too.

Catering - Not my area of expertise but I understand the whole offering will be looked at accross the railway in due course.

Platform extension at Kidder is very logical. Following the GCR incident the ORR advised railways to look at these things. It means all our trains will be accommodated even when they stop at the RR mark. The SVR may in due course look at other possibilities for extensions, but of course these things take time, etc. The new kidder extension also lends itself to visiting railtours when we get them, etc.

P.Way - Speed restriction at Kinver is 15mph.

71000 won’t go on BH MPD. We have coal at KDR.

 

A lot on fair constraints, but my sympathies wane at “opens required for Boogie Lights Expression”. That is a choice by the railway to prioritise one group of passengers over another, and pursue multiple events simultaneously. It may be the reason why, and its good that it’s been shared, but it is not a good justification for providing a sub-optimal service at the branch line event.

 

Or to look at it a different way.
Why annoy the public who may not come again, whereas you can annoy a few enthusiasts who in the main will keep coming back.
No different really as to why some keep supporting grossly underperforming sporting teams.

 

100% this.

Everyone is important, but sometimes some markets need more encouragement than others.

 

I will say btw, both types of positive and negative feedback are welcomed, but sometimes negative feedback is often ignorant of the circumstances which doesn’t help.

However, we are fully on with creating a better capacity event next year, and a ironing out the tight spots. I actually think next year will be a better event, although being biased this year has been rather good itself!

 

This really is a chicken and egg conversation.
People want more from railways. They put on more and still get complained about. No one could've predicted the amount of trade for this weekend & lets face it, its a nothing type weekend between Feb half term and Easter holidays. So why not try something.

It has the potential over a few years to develop into a good start of season type event. Much like our Spring gala used to be, many moons ago.
You run the risk of either having usual February weather like this weekend. Snow and or warm sunshine. I take note from our internal service updates that the Auto train this afternoon is full and standing. Whilst it is only a single coach today. That is based on historical figures of Sundays being the quietest day. Im sure Harry will see this and next year it probably runs in sandwich mode all weekend. If someone would like to loan us 2 more Autos, That would ease the load on them.

As Harry mentions above. Next year sees 813 and 4150 available but no 7714 so we are really only 1 loco better off. We have the carriages available but not the locos at the moment.

I know it wont happen but with a "Branchline" themed weekend. A short formation goods wouldn't go a miss.