SVR General Discussion

Whilst I'm unaware of the commercials it wouldn't be an unreasonable assumption that a 14xx has a lower steaming fee than a Manor.

 

True.
On the other hand, if 7802 was used the Class 20 which dragged 1450 around would have been superfluous I daresay, thus reducing the overall expenditure to within the margins of Manor vs 14xx hire fee. Maybe there isn't a hire fee for 1450, just a standing charge irrespective of usage?
Plus a steam crew would have been needed for 1450 even if it was only there nominally to provide heat.
I'm sure there were other factors but, on the face of it, using a smaller steam loco just to provide heat when a larger one could have done the whole job seems an odd decision.

 

I can state with a great degree of certainty it wouldn’t have been more economical to steam 7802 vice the consist that did run.

Those saying it was needed clearly don’t understand that it may be mild at 12pm midday, but in the monring at this time the coaches still have a chill on them. I was on 7714 yesterday and we heated the stock all the way to Bridgnorth to take the chill off.

 

Nobody is questioning the need for steam heat only the apparent economics of steaming a loco just for that function, plus type 1 as traction, vs steaming a larger loco as the traction.
You'll be intimate with the financials though, so we take your word the dual loco mode was most economical.

 

1450 and 813 booked to double head on S1 for the Easter holidays. With the exception of Saturday 28th, they will be on the GW set.

 

I'm thinking of making a trip to the SVR next week, starting from Kidderminster. As it has been a few years since my last visit - what is the parking like there? (Aiming for either the 10:15 or more likely 10:55 train?)

Also - what are the food options these days?

Thanks

Tom

 

Parking does busy up. Probably aim for 9.30 to be certain.
Food wise, the Kidderminster refreshment room has had a refresh and reportedly the food is good, nothing too fancy. The Kidderminster Railway Museum is still going strong for toasties, hot soup and cakes.
If you're coming mid week, Bridgnorth buffet is unlikely to be doing hot food, just pies and pasties. Bewdley buffet is dependent on volunteer availability and Rob hasn't posted about it beyond this weekend.
Engine house cafe should be open. I haven't eaten there for a little while so can't comment on the food.
As always there's plenty of options off the railway if you have time.

 

It's been a couple of years since I have been but the cakes in the Kidderminster museum were very good.

 

Thanks. 9:30 might be bit early, we have to drop my daughter off in Worcester about then, so it will likely be somewhat after 10 when we arrive. If the car park is full, are there other reliable nearby options?

Thanks

Tom

 

The mainline car park is between the two stations. It usually has a bit of space in it even on a weekday. With it being Easter there may be less commuters but maybe more leisure use? Hard one to judge.
There's one behind the vets on station hill. Not sure of the price, the mainline car park is similar to the SVR one.

 

The last time I used the BR car park as an overflow car park it was the same price as the SVR car park

 

Dad’s on in Cambridge seeing number 2 son atm possibly won’t be any gen from him until Wednesday.

 

Visited the SVR on Wednesday for the first time in many years. Four trains were out: the black pannier 7714 on a rake of 7 Mark 1s; a class 45 on the Gresley set; 813 / 1450 on a GWR set (with one LMS carriage in the rake) all running full line; and a DMU running part of the line. We caught the 10:55 from Kidderminster with the pannier / Mark 1s which ran fine until Hampton Loade, after which there was a very long delay (ca. 35 mins) - apparently due to a line side fire on Eardington Bank. Thus we got to Bridgnorth very late and a quick perusal of the timetable showed we needed to go straight back or else have to get a diesel somewhat later. Thus went back to Highley on the GWR set; had a look round the engine house, then essentially the reverse - back to Bridgnorth still on the GWR set where we had a cup of nuclear strength coffee, and finally back to Kidderminster. The buffet at Bridgnorth is new since my last visit and was much improved on my previous memory of food there.

By the end of the day, the trains were back on time. There seemed to be some switching of sets but I am not sure whether or not that was planned - certainly when we saw it later in the day, the pannier had switched to the LNER set. There hadn't been any communication at Hampton Loade as of the causes of the delay until we got out and enquired, but the staff in The Engine House were careful in letting people know that trains had returned to time, which was a good touch.

The Dukedog was in place in The Engine House at Highley, though not especially accessible - I suspect there is still some arrangement to be done, at least of labelling?

The scale of embankment work following the recent collapse was impressive to see. There was a good display in The Engine House covering the history of the line, which was a reminder that the recent issue was only the latest such slip in the preservation era.

Overall an enjoyable trip; timings meant we missed out on Kiddermisnter Railway Museum, so will need to come back a some point! It was good to be able to travel on vintage carriages just as a matter of course. One small improvement I'd like Ito see (but maybe this is just an enthusiast thing) would have been to see the timetable also label the loco / carriage diagrams - they mentioned which were steam and which diesel, but was less obvious which set was which. It would also be nice if the timetable listed arrival and departure times from stations, rather than just one. But that is probably just an enthusiast gripe.



Tom

 

Was firing 1450 on Wednesday afternoon so glad you enjoyed your day. The run back was a good old trip.

Reference the set swap at with the Pannier it is booked every day. The S3 set is diesel out/steam back, and S2 is steam out/diesel back. That is so that when the dining cars are attached to S3 they get steam haulage one way at least. And also so the S2 loco doesn’t have to layover for 3 hours at Bridgnorth like it’s set does.

Reference Dukedog - Not yet in its final position. There will be a bigger shunt in November to sort that, assuming we have the Turntable back in action.

 

Wednesday was a day off from volunteering so I was naturally had a walk along the river (well actually Kidderminster to Hampton Loade) and was wondering where the diesel was when I spotted the news about the lineside fire. Still, nothing since (touch wood).