6880 Betton Grange

That’s fair enough Harry, but can you understand why some of us are a bit cynical?

 

I think a few people put 2 and 2 together and got 5.

 

No not really. I just think it puts the people organising these things down

 

Not at all. It would be beyond the fault of gala organisers if a promised loco didn’t appear. Those that know gala organising know how things promised don’t make it. It is just difficult to see how BG will be ready when so close to the event and it’s still (unless I’ve missed it) not even compete or run in.

 

Again as far as we are aware, it is on the schedule agreed at the time we signed it up to come. I’m sure the group will make the necessary announcements in due course and as such people just need to have that patience.

 

Fair point and I don’t mean it come across like that, but in this particular case this is something that’s been advertised for 2 previous events and hasn’t produced, AFIK it still hasn’t made a trip up the demo line at 84E, we are very much in ‘squeaky bum time’ if it’ll make an appearance at the SVR.

 

Are we? What’s your definition of that time? I mean some locos we’ve had in the past have arrived less than 24 hours before the event starts and been fine.

As I say there is a schedule, it’s currently following it.

 

There doesn’t look to be a lot to do externally, safety valve bonnet and for some reason the reversing rod is missing, could be to facilitate painting. Whenever it’s ready it looks the business.

 

I can see your reply but I think you’ve quoted it!

I agree with you. But again you are not privy to the plan for said running in, there is one, and as things stand we believe it will make it and it is on the schedule agreed.

 

With the way 4930 has been introduced into service over the past 18-20 months, I am really baffled how the SVR have stuck with 6880 to be honest.

 

You could always put the grange name and numbers on the hall and nobody would no any different haha

 

One mis-alignment somewhere and your plan is in the bin.

 

Martin, I think some people (as in people that are not necessarily myself if we’re going to be bloody pedantic) have seen 6880 advertised for 2 other other events and it’s not shown up.
I’m not having a pop at those on the committee for organising this event (please don’t forget I have a lot of friends at the SVR, and my family has an association with it going back to the 1970’s)

Yourself and Harry are in the privileged position where you know a little bit more behind the scenes than most of the members on here, if 6880 shows up and works straight out the box in 3 weekends time you can turn round to those on here who had doubts with a smug grin as you type ‘What were you all worried about’

But I don’t think yourself and Harry are are considering those who are debating on whether to attend on account of 6880 being in action and their concerns/considerations about things like costs, travel time off etc, and understandably being hesitant about attending. Can you not understand why there’s a little bit of cynicism going around and why some people are a little mistrustful?

But what do I know hey, I’m just a potential paying customer.

 

Again that was more due to traffic requirements than anything else. It was never planned to hammer 4930 in its first 2 years. It will see plenty of mileage this year to make up for it!

 

And that is where Plan B comes in. And yes there is a Plan B. It’s ready to go if required.

 

All fair points @Matt37401 but having organised a few galas myself I think it is high time people stopped focusing on a single engine or event being present in order to make their decision to attend. Make a decision and go (or not) based on the overall plan.

whatever does it doesnt run I am sure the gala will be great.

 

Isn't that a trifle naive? Like it or not the first running Grange in, what, the lifetime of over half the UK population, is a major event, and damn sure people will want to be there and it's going to shift a shed load of extra tickets. For the same reason as long as there's a reasonable, even slim chance of attendance organisers are going to promote it. Not only for the extra sales to those who will only turn up for the Grange, but also for the extra sales to folk who might have come anyway, but the chance of 6880 would tip the balance. Name a single line that can happily ignore anything non fraudulent that will shift that many extra tickets?

 

The Valley galas are one of the things they do best, why would anyone would cancel plans to go because a certain loco is unavailable? It’s the first Gala for a better engine than a Grange, the Stanier Mogul!