SVR General Discussion

I hereby waive all copyright in my suggestions upthread if SVR wish to use them.

More seriously, the context here is a situation where information is in the public domain, and the railway are scrambling to contain discussion. My curiosity was piqued at the outset by "incident involving Hagley Hall", and the official silence has just created a vacuum that other voices have filled. SVR have lost control of that discussion, and all the adverse consequences that you're concerned about are happening anyway.

Where other heritage incidents get public, most of the discussion is not revelling in misfortune, but a natural reaction of "what on earth happened". As todays news is tomorrow's chip papers, limiting that by owning the incident and closing the vacuum is how to achieve that outcome.

As for the pictures, I half agree with giving the person who shared them a rollicking. But either of them, especially the one from inside the shed, would also act as a really clear tell of what happened, and provide the lead in for a reasoned "investigation underway, for the sake of all involved please don't speculate" type message.

 

Or you quoting an incorrect article the other day eh!

 

Having seen a few of the pics and comments appearing online, I'm glad to hear there were no injuries.

Pretty much *anything* can be fixed given enough time and money, but it must be pretty heartbreaking for the SVR and especially those involved in 4930's protracted and expensive restoration to see the damage.

Hopefully there will be some lessons learned to come out from any investigation that can be shared across the wider railway preservation world that might prevent similar occurrences.

I wish the SVR the best of luck in sorting it all out.

Chris

 

On Bash Mash

As details begin to emerge, early reports paint a picture of a significant accident involving 4930 Hagley Hall at the Severn Valley Railway, resulting in extensive damage.

The reported damage includes bent tender frames, the tender tank being damaged, a collapsed brick arch inside the firebox, numerous broken boiler stays causing the boiler to empty itself over the following couple of hours, along with damage to a buffer stop, workbench and crane support.

The locomotive was said to have travelled light engine towards Bridgnorth. Sources say the wheels on the tender locked causing the locomotive to skid into a shed.

We sincerely hope everyone involved walked away unharmed

 

[Well, I got that wrong]

 

All I can say is that they were one hell of a set of stop blocks if they managed to inflict that amount of damage.

 

Sad to say, and its not right, but this is why companies end up employing specialists to manage PR when bad things happen....

As for it being a 'heritage' problem with people revelling in others misfortune, I would suggest its more just a basic human being problem, see also rubber necking on motorways.

Here's hoping it all calms down shortly and the SVR can get on with addressing the issues/outcomes and moving forward.

 

That’s assuming the report on the bash Mash is correct regarding the damage

 

WTF is "Bash Mash" ? Please excuse my ignorance.
Ray.

 

It’s a Facebook group / site that I guess you could best describe as having a somewhat irreverent take on heritage railways - but which is (by my observation at least) quite widely read by many heritage railway volunteers.

Tom

 

Hence "if".

 

Mainly read for a laugh, it’s really not to be taken seriously. About as reliable as the Daily Mail

 

Indeed, I don’t think I’d take it as the journal of record - though I guess the photo they have published is real.

Tom

 

IIRC the Bash Mash started as a Railway Joke/Meme page I think but became a bit to focused on some in jokes and didnt have much original stuff and has added some more serious stuff

 

Someone has challenged them, and they claim that they've been sent additional photos which aren't currently on Social Media which support the claims of the extent of the damage.

For the purposes of clarity, that hasn't been verified as far as I know.

 

I have seen photos from inside of the shed which does indeed show a badly damaged tender, i won't share them on here as i don't feel it is my place to.

I am amazed that the crew weren't injured, i can only image for the level of damage sustained to thick metal components then they will have been thrown around the cab.