Severn Valley Spring Steam Gala: 21st - 24th April 2022

Did hear from a friend of mine who volunteers at MHR that 506 is likely to be facing Bridgnorth. But in reality it depends on what way it comes off the lorry. That's what I been told but don't take it as 100% gospel for now.

 

They have got a turntable lol!

 

Have heard a rumour that the field adjacent to Bewdley Tunnel where the poppies usually are (Devils Spittleful??) and is now a nature reserve has been fenced off and not accessible - anyone know if this is correct?? Was hoping to go up there during the Gala.

 

Does anyone know how long 2999 is staying at the SVR after the gala? I can't make the gala and would like to see it run

 

From what I could see aboard the train at the weekend, there is now a second fence about 10 yards from the SVR boundary fence which runs parallel with it from the track leading to Rifle Range Bridge at the Bewdley end, past the 'hangers' and up to near where the signal is close to Bewdley Tunnel before turning away from the railway. There is a wide gate and narrow pedestrian gate at each end (similar to those on the Nature Reserve the other side of the Railway IIRC). Assuming the pedestrian gates aren't locked, that means you can still get the wide angle shot from the top of the field or the ¾ view from near the fence, but you can't fan out very far across the field and stand on the old 'runway'. I assume access is still possible to the top of the field from the Burlish Top estate but haven't checked.

If anyone else has been up there since and can confirm for definite, please do. If not, and if I get the chance, I'll do my afternoon walk on the Nature reserve at some point and add confirmation (the page on the SVR Wiki needs an update either way).

https://www.svrwiki.com/Droppingwells_Farm

 

2999 has been announced as hauling services throughout the Platinum Jubilee event in June, so it'll stay at the SVR for at least a couple of months post-gala, possibly longer if not required at Didcot.

 

Thanks!!

 

No problem. Popped up there today and basically it's as I posted above. You can only access the public area of the field via a pedestrian gate next to Rifle Range Halt bridge (or another pedestrian gate at the top of the field) so if approaching on foot from the Blackstone Picnic Site car park, take the track that forks left towards the bridge rather than the one going right towards the 'hangars' and the farm itself. Between the bridge and the 'hangars' it's only about 10 yards wide, but between the 'hangars' and the signal where the gallery usually forms is about 3o yards wide (roughly up to where the 'runway' used to be) so still a reasonable amount of room.

 

Thanks, really appreciate the trouble you have taken to confirm this - hopefully l can now put the information to good use next week!! Thanks again.

 

For reference both 2999 and 506 have arrived this week.

 

Again, no trouble, the two Nature Reserves are a nice area for a walk and there was a chance for a photo as both panniers were passing passed chimney first within about 10 minutes. Unfortunately those 10 minutes coincided with the blackest cloud of the whole day passing over (it was ever thus!), so I won't bother posting the result.

 

There's going to be a roped off part of the platform for the ceremony (relaunch event with speeches). It will be roped off from 11.30, hence the quoted time.

 

Really looking forward to this. Does anyone know if a working timetable will be available? I know they used to be purchasable for a small fee but now loco allocations are published on the normal one I wasn't sure if they were still made available? They used to be handy for photographing with stock details, light loco movements around stations etc.

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Any idea which way they will be facing for the gala? Thanks in advance.

 

506 was unloaded facing Bridgnorth
2999 was unloaded facing Kidderminster

But that as usual may change

 

Shareholder's Freedom of the Line tickets will be honoured at this gala.

 

Does anyone know if they leaving the Mk 3 coaches in Bewdley station during this weekends gala please?

Thanks

Neil

 

Can tickets be bought on the day for the steam gala or do the tickets have to be bought on the S.V.R. website?

 

You can, but it does get busy at the ticket offices. I bought mine online, they can be printed out or I expect you can display them on a mobile device: they have a barcode. There is a small discount for online purchases.
https://svr.digitickets.co.uk/category/38691
But the website says you can only present these advance downloaded tickets at Kidderminster, Bewdley and Bridgnorth. If you want to join at the smaller stations advance tickets need to be posted and I guess it's getting a a bit late for that.