Severn Valley Railway Autumn Steam Gala 14th-17th September 2023

Possibly because you can’t stop people printing off more than one copy of the ticket. The queues at ticket offices can be long but not 40 minutes long. A case of under promise and over deliver. Much better than the other way round

 

I don’t think the TTIs have the scanners necessary to check tickets and prevent fraud. They’re also doing wristbands this year.

 

For a lot of Gala's, they now issue coloured wristbands which I think is a good idea. It saves having to dive into your pocket and find a bit of paper every time they check tickets, which is frequently at special events.
If you are staying for more than one day you can collect all your wristbands at once.

 

Good morning all, thanks for the advice regarding the WTT; I'll give the railway a call to see if they can post a copy out to me! Another question if I may; I really enjoy (not sure if that's the correct word!) travelling on the overnights. I see there's only a single train operating on these this year and, if I'm reading the timetable correctly the trains only stop at Bridgnorth, Bewdley and Kiddy. Am I correct in this please? Previously, I've spent a couple of hours at Highley between trains as the atmosphere was incredible. If I want to do this this year, I guess I'll have to drive there? Cheers.

 

Wristbands are ideal for busy events like this as TTIs can see at a glance who has and hasn't paid.
I would not want QR scanners anywhere near an event like this, given the odd pieces of paper (with variable printing quality!) & phone screens in differing states of repair - it would be a nightmare!
Also, do these QR readers require phone signal? That can be very patchy up the valley too!

 

The '40 mins' is a general remark used on the booking emails. It's the recomended time for events like Santas. You don't have to do it.

Yes wristbands as it has been for a while. No scanners (yet...).

Yes one set in use overnight. And I must admit I hadn't noticed the non-stop nature of it, but that's what the timetable shows.

 

It is a bit frustrating but I suspect it is because of volunteer availability.
I assume HL, Highley, and Arley can be switched out so no signal box staff are required.

 

I think the non stopping is about not disturbing the local residents. I don’t think there is a long token from Bewdley to Bridgnorth so Highley cannot be switched out unless things have changed.

 

All, many thanks for your help. Have ordered a WTT; pick up when I collect tickets! Thanks fort comments regarding overnights; Highley might be my place to stop at then! Will know once I see the WTT. All I need now is directions locos are facing!! Thanks again.

 

Highley can not be switched out.

Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

 

Interesting. I would have thought noise disturbance would be no more at Arley than at Bewdley, but they have the experience to know.

 

Considerably less, I'd have thought. Apart from the station itself, Arley is pretty isolated, the nearest being the pub half way to the Severn. Bewdley has houses right under the north end of the station by the viaduct.

 

Purely conjecture as I've not seen a WTT, but with the overnights being just the one rake I assumed it'd be a full length one - Bridgnorth, Bewdley and Kidderminster being the only stations at which such a rake would be fully platformed.

 

At the 2021 Autumn Gala the overnight runs with 43106 was the full rake at that time I know that it was seperate cost to the day ticket. The Saturday through to the Sunday was the GWR stock and was exactly the same as this years I.e stopping at Kidderminster, Bewdley and Bridgnorth and non stop through other stations.

 

Is it too soon to ask for the loco directions?

 

North
Vulcan
7714
41312
Mayflower

South
21C127
75069
S160
4930

43106 - South Thursday, Turn North Friday Lunchtime.

*As usual it’s subject to change and it has been made clear 21C127 is not an absolute must so it may remain north. It also depends on which way round they are delivered, and their first opportunity to turn.

 

Thank you Harry, much appreciated.

 

One thing I hate these days is that, for anything from heritage railways to music gigs to football matches, we've gone from tickets being sent in the post to having to go to ticket offices or having to printing tickets off at home.

Yes it saves the organisation time, but it is a pain for the customer.

 

Why ? Surely the opportunity to check details, buy WTTs and check if any conditions apply (e.g. change of operations due to circumstances such as points failure, vehicle derailment / failure) is better than arriving with expectations that cannot be met.

 

I think you can call 01562 757900 or email contact@svrlive.com and request tickets be sent in the post at least five working days before a visit: certainly that’s a requirement for the gala if you intend to start from Arley or Hampton Loade.