SVR Autumn Gala

D'you know, blandford, that never occurred to me for one moment. If one does, it'll give me and my mate someone else to take the **** out of, although, with the hours I'm working, I think I have more chance of seeing a real flying pig!

 

Preparation, preparation, preparation

Well, I think I'm sorted. My overalls and shirt are ironed, I've dusted the Welsh Highland dirt off and polished my boots and greasetop. I've cycled some fresh teabags into the little Tupperware box and loaded my billy into my driver's bag. I've cleaned, trimmed and polished my shunter's lamp and gauge - frame lamp and filled them both with rape oil. I've prepared my night-shift butty (smoked Italian ham, mature cheddar and piccalilli) and some biscuits. It's time for a bit of shut-eye before dinner with mrs jtx, shower, into gear, then out to play, sorry, work. See you later.

 

Just an honourable mention for the Gresley N2 4744, seen today handling the heavy Gresley teak set with ease.

Powerful piece of kit!

46118

 

1744 is a hell of a loco. I did a cleaner turn on the NNR with her last weekend and she was a pleasure to work with!

 

What loco will you be on Sunday? I'll give you a wave

 

Spent a fantastic day on the SVR, well done guys!!!

 

Just got back from 2 very plesant days at the Gala.
Well done everyone. Too many good things to mention, however I had a very "spirited" run behind Pannier 5764 on the 12-17 from Hampton Loade to Bridgenorth on Saturday. Worth the 2 day rover ticket money on it's own.

 

Can second the comments on 5764 - she was putting in some awesome performances - really sounding excellent, blasting up the bank.

It doesn't take a heavy load, to make a loco sound interesting! Top marks to the crews, for some cracking running; really enjoyed it.

 

Agreed, there was some great noise especially from 5764 and also 4566 replacing 43106 on the 7 coach set. Lovely weather in the afternoon with the clouds cleared after a dull morning. Very impressed with the gala and really liked the Kidderminster-Arley/Highley shuttles running as a two train service. Really nice to see all locos matched with appropriate coaches, the N2 looked superb on the teaks and Kinlet Hall looks splendid on the GWR shuttle stock. Enjoyed all 14 standard gauge locos in steam (Catch Me Who Can was also in steam behind Bridgnorth shed, I wonder how many people missed her?). The Engine House is a credit to the line, didn't spend long in there but it looked very good, really liked its hands on nature, easy to read information boards and the use of FX (both smoke machine and locomotive sounds), a great little thing in the museum that I presume is aimed at children and a great way to get them to interact (or scare them, the first jet of steam scared me!) something the NRM should consider doing. One thing that really stood out for me was that there was something at every station and a lot of these attractions (close to all) are not limited to galas. Pictures might be up this week, if I get a chance and get my internet set up a my new place quickly. Video should be on youtube over Christmas when I'm back from uni as I haven't got the right connections on my laptop to transfer.

 

Was at the gala from Friday evening to saturday afternoon, spending most of the night on 46443, can i request shes allocated to he night trains every year ?, very smooth on load 4 and lovely steam heat, fits the job like a glove.

Here's my pics from friday night and saturday, unusual had more trouble with "berks" than any technical challenges with shooting at night: http://david1984.fotopic.net/c1760566_1.html

 

svr - gala

a great day yesterday up the valley in brilliant sunshine !!
thanks to everyone who made it possible some pics at
www.stephen-bottrill.fotopic.net

 

This was a very, very good gala and I enjoyed a very pleasant 2 and a half days there. Managed nearly 100 miles on the day rover ticket and also travelled behind nearly everything, not bad value for £17! (This included 8 hours in a comfortable bed, I wimped out at 2am!). Did a bit of linesiding today, the double headed Ivatts making a spectacular assault of Eardington bank was a sight to behold. The most impressive thing about this event was that there were engines everywhere and always something going on. The timekeeping was also excellent given the intensive timetable. Well done SVR, you did it again and showed why this is THE premier steam event.

 

I'm afraid I was driving a bed, Michael. I was on nights on the Mickey Mouse. Knocked off about 0845, drove home, serious de-lousing in the shower, then about 45 minutes with a couple of frosted cans of Carlsberg Export and the Sunday Times and into the pit. I have to say the night trains were serious fun. I think I woke my lot up a couple of times! My first run was on 41241 double-headed with the Pig. What a stunning performer and a complete credit to the Keighley boys. I want one for Christmas.

Regards,

jtx

 

I've been to the SVR many times over the years, but yesterday was the first time to a gala event. It was a great day out and so many things impressed me, but the new Engine House is an absolute knockout! The interactive displays are superb, the view from the excellent restaurant simply wonderful, but what really made the day was some young children in the TPO, dressed in the brown cowgowns provided, sorting letters and parcels. They were having a whale of a time - so much better than "do not touch" notices.
I deliberately left the camera at home and just "rode the trains". It will all remain long in the memory - well done SVR!

 

Well done everyone had an enjoyable Saturday watching the trains. Had a brekkie on the 09.40 very good value at £7.50 and to top everything the weather was wonderful

 

A really good gala - and an extremely busy one for the SVR.

But what happaned to the 'Pig' on Saturday afternoon? I was waiting to get another shot of it after the weather improved, but was just a little disappointed to find the 'Prairie' on the train instead!

 

i think it failed at bridgnorth with a steam leak?

 

I went on Friday and I must admit, from a purely personal perspective, the line-up of locos didn't excite me. However, by the time I left at about 21:00hrs all those 'non-superstar' locos had won me over as I had a brilliant time! Well done to all involved for the months of hard work that obviously went into the preparations to make for an enjoyable event. My photos of an excellent day at the Valley can be seen on my fotopic site.

Cheers,

Paul

 

I had good three days at the gala, two riding and one photographing. I managed to stay on the trains all night Friday even if I was asleep for most of it, lol. A few of my photos are here

http://railways.mjspencer.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3009

 

Nice phots, mate. I particularly liked the one of 46443 at Bewdley, taken at 2148 on Saturday night, as I was standing a few feet away at the barrow crossing with all my gear, waiting for 5643 to finish shunting so I could walk round 46443 and go and sign on for my turn.