Severn Valley Diesel Gala 19th and 20th May 2017
Yep another SVR gala report.
Friday
Dropped our youngest off at school in the morning and then hot footed it up the M5 to drop the van off at the campsite by the railway at Hampton Loade. I think by the time we got there, sorted the van, the dog and walked to the station to get tickets it was well into the afternoon.
This however didn't worry me as I'd decided that I just wanted a few runs on some favourite traction this weekend rather than a weekend running from one train to another. Mrs C purchased two two-day rovers and we had a little look at the timetable to see what was happening.
We took 60100 first (an entirely new class for me having never been behind one). Sitting in mk2 aircons seemed quite odd. We hopped off at Arley for the Western back up to Bridgenorth - it looked (now in BR blue) and sounded superb and even though we were quite a way back the run up Eardington bank was really exhilarating.
At this point the normal done thing is to leg it over the bridge to try and get near the front for the next departure. Not for me though, we bought a few drinks and headed back onto the stock we'd been on for the next departure which was 50007. Perfect, right near the front, our own table for two in comfortable ex 1st class seats and a very good run all the way to Kidderminster was had (Foley Park Tunnel was a noisy and fumey experience
, like going up the bank from St David's with the whole front coach vibrating).
We pottered about Kidderminster for a bit and again managed to get seats near the front for another excellent run behind 31271 back to Hampton Loade where the heavens had just dumped a skies worth of hail on the station and surrounding hills. There was thunder too and we decided to go down and check Doggy McDogface was ok. He wasn't too happy as he's not into the whole thunder thing, we ended up staying put at the van and watching the trains go by rather than go out again.
The guys in the pub had let us park right down by the river on our own so a pleasant evening was had getting slowly sozzled.
Saturday
I must admit we didn't get up too early, but after we'd eaten, walked the dog etc we headed up to the station for 33035 down to Highley and a quick look around the Engine House as I wanted to show Mrs C the royal train carriage which I knew she'd be interested in.
After a quick look around we took 47192 up to Bridgenorth to get in place for the 20s. A couple of beers were had while we sat in the front coach and once the other service had arrived we headed off to Kidderminster enjoying the noise. They sounded great too and three windows up from me and in the front vestibule (I only realised this this morning) was a certain Mr
Dhassell filming the whole run
.
At Kidderminster we did a quick out and back to Bewdley behind D9551 and 33108 (a strange but fun combination) for 47192 again back (I thought 192 looked great with full yellow ends and shabby green paintwork).
Mrs C had booked us in for a curry in a place on George Street just down and right from the station so we headed there and ate a fantastic meal, she'd told them that it was my birthday the next day so when we got there they'd put a 'Happy Birthday' sign up and they also gave me a free cocktail and a bit of ice cream birthday cake which was rather nice.
After a meander back to the station (so full and a little half cut), we got seats in the front coach behind one of my all time favourite locomotives (D)1062. I love it so much I've even got a valve and cam follower from it on my shelf downstairs...
The run back to Hampton Loade in the dark was probably my favourite of the weekend (this may have had something to do with the alcohol), it was sounding awesome and all too soon we were at Hampton Loade. I complimented the driver on the run and he showed his appreciation by absolutely storming out of the station in a way that only a Western can.
Sunday
Not really a train day although we did head up to Eardington to get a shot of the fine looking 47828 passing through. Very nice.
After being inspired by one of
55013s reports I decided that for my actual birthday I'd like to visit Ironbridge. We packed up the van and headed over before having a very pleasant time looking around this very interesting town. We had Sunday lunch sitting outside a pub at the end of the bridge and watched the world go by whilst feeding the odd bit of turkey to the black and white hairy guy under the table.
So that was that, a very relaxing weekend.
A little bit of nostalgia
For those that like nostalgia it's just over 25 years since I did my first ever diesel gala at the Severn Valley, so I've dug out my old book and this what I did on the 19th October 1991.
I've put down the TOPS numbers instead of the D numbers even though most locos were carrying their original numbers.
Kidderminster - Bewdley: a unit, maybe a 108?
Bewdley - Hampton Loade: 25173 (0845 Bewdley to Bridgenorth - we were there early)
47192 (yep, that one) Hampton Loade - Kidderminster, 25283 piloted from Highley and they uncoupled it by Victoria Bridge, ran it on it's own over the bridge before we followed it over and recoupled on the other side!
47192 Kidderminster to Hampton Loade (the 25 was coupled to the back)
D1062 then from Hampton Loade to Arley (1st run on a Western)
D821 Arley to Bridgenorth (1115 Kidderminster to Bridgenorth - 1st ever Warship)
55016 Bridgenorth to Arley
D1062 Arley to Hampton Loade
55022 Hampton Loade to Bewdley
55019 Bewdley to Hampton Loade (1425 Kidderminster - Bridgenorth)
45108 Hampton Loade to Kidderminster
45108 Kidderminster to Hampton Loade (piloted by 25283 from Highley)
55016 Hampton Loade to Kidderminster (1730 Bridgenorth - Kidderminster)
25173 Kidderminster to Bridgenorth
D821 Bridgenorth to Kidderminster (2020 Bridgenorth to Kidderminster)
And that is what you call getting your money's worth
We must have been knackered driving home. I feel a bit guilty about not doing enough trains this weekend now.
Some photos including:
31271 in Switzerland
14, 33 and Pussy
1062 nice!
50007 almost as nice!
Dog, van, 50031 in the background, not a bad view from the bedroom.
31271 in the olden days (labour was cheap then).
Ironbridge. It's a very ironey bridge.
47828 Eardington (taken by the missus).
60100 Hampton Loade (very red).
Deltic 55022 Hampton Loade again.
50015_1991.11.23_6_Plymouth_& 37142 by Phil Wood, on Flickr
50032_1989.04.14_Reading by Phil Wood, on Flickr
) but yes, a rather different world back then and obviously not just on the railway.
Will be posting my report later this evening!
