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Severn Valley Railway Autumn Diesel Bash 28th September- 1st October 2023

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by Kje7812, Jul 7, 2023.

  1. crantock

    crantock Member

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    Having found the steam gala disappointing, the diesel was much better in Saturday. A lot of blue diesels running to time let me chop and change and cover the full range of hydraulics and a bit of EE. Good day out.

    Sent from my KFONWI using Tapatalk
     
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  2. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Was the sausage cooked? :) I’ll get Dad to pass on your good wishes :)
     
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  3. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    IMG_8047.jpeg Who’s for a little bit of a Hymek in the dark earlier this evening? (30/9/23)
     
  4. Andy Louch

    Andy Louch Member

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    Yep, everything was perfect!! Please pass on my thanks.
     
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  5. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    A very enjoyable event, with a great selection of locomotives - plenty of noise and Thrash! For me it didn't have the atmosphere of the steam gala though, although the time keeping was definitely better! Trains very busy, so hopefully another good return financially too.
    IMG_20230930_110746.jpg IMG_20230930_110904.jpg IMG_20230930_105733.jpg IMG_20230930_153127.jpg IMG_20230930_154115.jpg
     
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  6. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    IMG_8069.jpeg Little bit of Hydralic Heaven at Hampton Loade this afternoon (1/10/23)
     
  7. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    IMG_8012.jpeg Cornwall in 1972 or Worcestershire 2023?
     
  8. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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  9. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    IMG_7971.jpeg Hands up who’s partial to a Warship?
     
  10. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    More than 3,660 fare paying passengers according to their issued PR, ahead of both last year and budget.

    The total paying passengers across the spring and autumn galas is almost identical for steam and diesel, 10,160 each. (I don’t know and haven’t enquired about comparative revenue or profit numbers). It has been an exceptional year for diesel in 2023.
     
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  11. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Patrick, I make no bones about it I’m a massive diesel nut, and if an event like what’s been put on last weekend’s put on again I’m more than happy to come and support it, I thought it was really well organised, the timetable was sensible, there was a decent selection of traction and there was a little bit of ‘outside the box’ thinking regarding the timetable, loco changes were also pretty slick.

    Not wanting to have a pop at anyone but the same point came across at various times during the weekend and that was ‘why can’t the steam guys do the same sort of thing as this?’
    @2857Harry maybe a little chat with your colleagues in the diesel department might not go amiss?
    I will say though that it was really good to see a lot of positivity back at a place that I really love.
     
  12. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    I know little about it and @2857Harry will be able to comment authoritatively, but for diesel the massive event is in spring while for steam it’s autumn. Both large events suffered with timekeeping and timetabling and I suspect that has a bearing, rather than it being a diesel or steam thing.
     
  13. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    So timetabling between the Steam and Diesel events is entirely different…..

    Diesel events, the punters want mileage. They aren’t fussed by intricate moves, they aren’t fussed by locals or goods workings, they want big trains, big mileage. They are fairly simple jobs to run. They don’t have complexities, they can be worked fairly steadily and they have plenty of wiggle room.

    Steam events want to see intricate moves, goods trains, local trains and a big variety. Mileage is less important. These timetables make for less wiggle room and also need a greater deal of operating accross the board. You would never use the diesel gala timetable just gone and passify steam enthusiasts.

    We have just had the Steam Gala MAG this evening, I won’t go in to detail in this thread as it’s the wrong one but it’s been useful to say the least.
     
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  14. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Patrick I’m not trying to say one side is right and the other is wrong, but I had similar conversations with various people who attended both events and there was nothing but praise for the timetabling of last weekends event. There was a fair bit going on but there seemed to be a bit of time built in ‘just in case’
     
  15. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    You mean it might be a good idea to water 7714 before it hitch’s a ride behind 43106 when they go off shed first thing of Bridgnorth?
    Seriously Harry from what various people have told me, there didn’t appear to be any urgency to try and pull time back at the steam gala, a mutual friend of ours put forward a very simple suggestion about caping certain workings when things got too late, I have to say when your -an hour or so down is it not a bad idea to sack the non passenger carrying goods working off?
     
  16. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    No I don’t mean that at all. There’s so many intricacies for steam events compared to diesel.

    And yes man suggestions were put forward but the ultimate decision lies with the person operating the railway on the day, and they have the final say.

    The goods by the way was one of the most easy things to run. Cancelling it wouldn’t have made much of a difference.
     
  17. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    Anyway this is a diesel thread and I’ve no intention of discussing the ASG further here. I’ve explained the differences between diesel and steam events and why the same timetables can’t be used. Those reasons were all agreed by the Steam Gala committee this evening
     
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  18. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Interesting conversation here. Having attended both events I'm inclined to agree with @2857Harry in the differences between steam and diesel enthusiasts and their desires.
    Between trains on the diesel gala you could hear a pin drop at Bewdley - the platforms were quiet and you would not have thought there was a gala on - everyone was on the trains. When trains came in suddenly there was a mad scramble as people jumped off one and dashed onto the next, to try and grab the traction they wanted.
    At the steam gala it was far busier all the time, with people soaking up the atmosphere, the locals coming and going and the goods train being readied - same at Highley. Yes the autumn steam gala timetable went awry, yes there was some questionable decisions in the lack of effort in trying to claw it back, but it certainly delivered in atmosphere and bringing the SVR to life.
    I am sure both sets of enthusiasts enjoyed each event, but I agree the diesel timetable would not have worked a fortnight earlier.
     
  19. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I’m not saying the 2 events should use the exact same timetable but the weekend just gone there was plenty of time at stations to go and get the obligatory loco on the train phot then go and get the train on the other platform.
    Apparently this wasn’t the case 2 week’s previously, look I really don’t mean to sound like an arsehole to anyone but I just think a little bit of collaboration between the steam and diesel planning groups might not be a bad thing?
     
  20. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    We do collaborate. At least 4 of the diesel gala group were in the steam meeting last night.

    And all parties still agreed you cannot use a diesel timetbale and pass it off for a steam event. Section timings are longer for steam, run/rounds and other moves take longer, diesel don’t need to go on shed for coal, more diesel available than steam. 90% of diesels can pull a big train. With the steam galas that’s not the case. There’s more limitations on loads. There’s so much to think about.
     
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