SVR class 50 event

Edders23 · 27 Sep 2018

I am thinking of doing the Thursday but am wondering if this event will be a bit of a fiasco

SVR diesel events tend to have poor record for communication when things go wrong and i can't help feeling this is over ambitious

The class ELR 40's event featured 6 locos and the NVR 31 event a similar number but I can't help feeling the svr are over extending themselves by trying to go with much more anybody else think they might not pull it off or even bothered about going ?

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theblackwatch · 27 Sep 2018

The SVR has an excellent track record - their recent diesel galas have featured more than 20 locos. They have a highly committed team, you just have to look at the progress they have made on 50033 Glorious since it arrived a few months back, resurrecting a loco which last ran in 2004.

The event brochure/timetable can be downloaded at https://www.svr.co.uk/pdf/Special Events/SVR Cl 50 Golden Jubilee.pdf

Cymroglan · 27 Sep 2018

I really do take your point about SVR communication, especially at past diesel events. I wonder whether this is because the diesel gala organisers are only allowed to experience constructing & managing timetables, rosters etc one or two weekends a year and are thereby relatively inexperienced and struggle to act decisively when things go wrong? It must be ridiculously challenging unpaid work!
As for me, I have to attend. It’s compulsory! So many happy memories of the 50s on the Waterloo - Exeter line. It helps that it was also the happiest time in my personal and professional life!
I’m more excited about this than any railway event I can remember.

JonathanP · 28 Sep 2018

You had no way of knowing this, but in fact you couldn't be more wrong

The man currently in charge of organising and executing the Diesel Events, happens to also now be the railway's full time Operations Manager, so it's literally his job to manage timetables and rosters
The on the day management of the operational side of the event will be handled by the same small team of volunteers that do it the rest of the year, the only difference is that in motive power matters they will be liasing with the Traction Depot Supervisor instead of the Steam Depot Shedmasters.

Cymroglan · 28 Sep 2018

JonathanP said:
You had no way of knowing this, but in fact you couldn't be more wrong
The man currently in charge of organising and executing the Diesel Events, happens to also now be the railway's full time Operations Manager, so it's literally his job to manage timetables and rosters
The on the day management of the operational side of the event will be handled by the same small team of volunteers that do it the rest of the year, the only difference is that in motive power matters they will be liasing with the Traction Depot Supervisor instead of the Steam Depot Shedmasters.

Well I got that well and truly wrong didn’t I? Apologies!

Cowley · 28 Sep 2018

Cymroglan said:
Well I got that well and truly wrong didn’t I? Apologies!

Fair play. I must admit that the SVR always seem to have things very well organised whenever I’ve gone to one of their galas.
I’m not actually going to this one but I always attend the main diesel gala and for such a complicated event it always goes well.

Edders23 · 29 Sep 2018

Unfortunately my experience of their diesel galas and I've been to all but 2 in the last 10 years is a little different although the last one went very well I usually find that I miss the locos I went for and end up behind the home fleet because changes to the booked traction are never communicated to the paying customers

I also find that whilst it's all very well putting their nice 40 page glossy brochure on line. I just want to read the timetable not print out all 40 pages so perhaps a pdf of the timetable seperately available to download as well might be nice

alexl92 · 30 Sep 2018

Unfortunately a fault has been found on 26 which can't be rectified in time, so it won't be operational during the Gala. It should be on display though, and I believe they're still planning to operate the remaining 10.

HaggisBotherer · 30 Sep 2018

theblackwatch said:
The event brochure/timetable can be downloaded at https://www.svr.co.uk/pdf/Special Events/SVR Cl 50 Golden Jubilee.pdf

It seems extraordinary that the dates of the gala are not on the cover. The first time they're even mentioned is in small print at the bottom of Page 3.

The picture on Page 5 also sums up why I find diesel galas so offputting. I'd like to attend some of these events, but I really can't be bothered with the idiots who hang out of carriages yelling, waving their arms about and who are evidently incapable of even licking a wine gum without getting intoxicated.

DarloRich · 30 Sep 2018

Goodness - There is some wibble on here at times! The SVR gala's always seem cracking and professionally run. I hope tio attend on Thursday.

HaggisBotherer said:
It seems extraordinary that the dates of the gala are not on the cover. The first time they're even mentioned is in small print at the bottom of Page 3.

The picture on Page 5 also sums up why I find diesel galas so offputting. I'd like to attend some of these events, but I really can't be bothered with the idiots who hang out of carriages yelling, waving their arms about and who are evidently incapable of even licking a wine gum without getting intoxicated.

I have nothing but disdain for spotters but have attended many galas. It is easy to spot the mega wibblers and avoid them. I find the last carriage is always a good place to sit

Harbon 1 · 30 Sep 2018

I'm looking forward to the whole weekend considering it's my first "holiday" with 15

EE Andy b1 · 30 Sep 2018

Always enjoyed the Galas I've been to on the SVR. Well run events and obviously things can and do go wrong just as on the National network.
In fact i think too popular at times. Just too many people at weekends especially, for me.

Shame about 50026 but great news about 50033.

theblackwatch · 1 Oct 2018

HaggisBotherer said:
It seems extraordinary that the dates of the gala are not on the cover. The first time they're even mentioned is in small print at the bottom of Page 3.

Gien that this is a booklet which has been produced to hand out to ticket holders during the event (which just happens to have been also put online), I think most people will be aware of the day when they are there. If not, well they may have turned up on the wrong day! :lol:

mumrar · 1 Oct 2018

HaggisBotherer said:
The picture on Page 5 also sums up why I find diesel galas so offputting. I'd like to attend some of these events, but I really can't be bothered with the idiots who hang out of carriages yelling, waving their arms about and who are evidently incapable of even licking a wine gum without getting intoxicated.

There really is nothing worse than anybody having fun, especially at rare celebration events such as this. The issues regarding their behaviour when intoxicated has little to do with the quantity required and everything to do with their behaviour when they reach that point - but that's an issue for the majority of the UK population, not just those who are diesel gala passengers.

DarloRich · 1 Oct 2018

mumrar said:
There really is nothing worse than anybody having fun, especially at rare celebration events such as this. The issues regarding their behaviour when intoxicated has little to do with the quantity required and everything to do with their behaviour when they reach that point - but that's an issue for the majority of the UK population, not just those who are diesel gala passengers.

Each to their own but you don't really need to lean 2/3rds of your body out of the window making quasi nazi style salutes bellowing incoherent rubbish and silly spottery phrases to have a fun day out do you?

underbank · 1 Oct 2018

JonathanP said:
You had no way of knowing this, but in fact you couldn't be more wrong

I think the OP is talking more about problems on the day itself, not the pre-planning etc. It's almost inevitable that there'll be a failure at some stage of the day. From experience, I have to agree with the OP, that last minute changes, cancellations, swaps, etc are usually very poorly communicated (just like the real railways). It's not good when even station staff don't know what's happening, and there's really no excuse these days for not putting out updates on twitter/facebook, their website etc. I'm talking in general terms, not specifically the SVR as it seems to happen everywhere.

mumrar · 1 Oct 2018

DarloRich said:
Each to their own but you don't really need to lean 2/3rds of your body out of the window making quasi nazi style salutes bellowing incoherent rubbish and silly spottery phrases to have a fun day out do you?

And most people travelling will be avoiding all of those things, but it is the fashion to try and segregate and denigrate various sections of society for anything - the kind of thing that distracts the populace from attacking those in charge who are actually causing most of the issues we should be more concerned about.

DarloRich · 1 Oct 2018

mumrar said:
And most people travelling will be avoiding all of those things, but it is the fashion to try and segregate and denigrate various sections of society for anything - the kind of thing that distracts the populace from attacking those in charge who are actually causing most of the issues we should be more concerned about.

oh dear. Thinking someone is a childish idiot doesn't distract me from criticising those "actually causing most of the issues we should be more concerned about".

mumrar · 1 Oct 2018

DarloRich said:
oh dear. Thinking someone is a childish idiot doesn't distract me from criticising those "actually causing most of the issues we should be more concerned about".

But out of the many hundreds of visitors to the event, how many will be doing so and why would you particularly care? Unless something actively stops your enjoyment then it's a waste of blood pressure surely.

theblackwatch · 1 Oct 2018

underbank said:
I think the OP is talking more about problems on the day itself, not the pre-planning etc. It's almost inevitable that there'll be a failure at some stage of the day. From experience, I have to agree with the OP, that last minute changes, cancellations, swaps, etc are usually very poorly communicated (just like the real railways). It's not good when even station staff don't know what's happening, and there's really no excuse these days for not putting out updates on twitter/facebook, their website etc. I'm talking in general terms, not specifically the SVR as it seems to happen everywhere.

I think if a Class 50 has to be substituted, it will probably be replaced by a Class 50, so I can't imagine the majority of people will get particularly agitated by it! Although one question probably is, if there is an issue with a loco, should one of the volunteers spend their time trying to fix it or updating facebook?

Edders23 · 3 Oct 2018

theblackwatch said:
I think if a Class 50 has to be substituted, it will probably be replaced by a Class 50, so I can't imagine the majority of people will get particularly agitated by it! Although one question probably is, if there is an issue with a loco, should one of the volunteers spend their time trying to fix it or updating facebook?

So the real issue is that you can ride behind Ark Royal,Thunderer,Hood on almost any visit to SVR and valiant at ELR but NOT Glorious or Exeter so if you have never had haulage off say Exeter and they then swap Ark Royal for Exeter and you have worked your moves out to get Exeter it is annoying because the station staff and announcers are unaware of the swap and then probably Exeter gets put on the next service without telling people you miss the loco you wanted

this is where a lack of communication is annoying because I have been at SVR before and missed the visiting locos which i wanted and got yet another ride behind a home fleet loco which I didn't need simply because loco swaps are not communicated

PS each to their own at the spring gala there were people fast asleep on the trains through too much drink it's their prerogative personally I prefer to be sober and not hanging out of a window but if that's what floats their boat let them get on with it

DarloRich · 3 Oct 2018

Edders23 said:
So the real issue is that you can ride behind Ark Royal,Thunderer,Hood on almost any visit to SVR and valiant at ELR but NOT Glorious or Exeter so if you have never had haulage off say Exeter and they then swap Ark Royal for Exeter and you have worked your moves out to get Exeter it is annoying because the station staff and announcers are unaware of the swap and then probably Exeter gets put on the next service without telling people you miss the loco you wanted

this is where a lack of communication is annoying because I have been at SVR before and missed the visiting locos which i wanted and got yet another ride behind a home fleet loco which I didn't need simply because loco swaps are not communicated

PS each to their own at the spring gala there were people fast asleep on the trains through too much drink it's their prerogative personally I prefer to be sober and not hanging out of a window but if that's what floats their boat let them get on with it

does it really matter if the loco swaps over? For me it is a nice day out with an intensive timetable and a unique selling point. I don't care which locomotive hauls the train but then i don't get overly spotterish about these things and have never gone in for moves or red lines or such silliness. just relax, take it easy and have a fun day out.

I have looked at gala rosters before and decided which locos might be fun to ride behind but by the time you get on the trains the popular/rare ones are rammed and dealing with rammed trains all week i cant be bothered. I then just get the next one and see where i end up.

Edders23 · 3 Oct 2018

WOrking timetable is now up on SVR website 026 is missing all 3 days so presumably just 10 locos

033 will be on Kiddie shuttles Thursday hauling 4TC and 008 on freight thursday

matt · 3 Oct 2018

Edders23 said:
WOrking timetable is now up on SVR website 026 is missing all 3 days so presumably just 10 locos

033 will be on Kiddie shuttles Thursday hauling 4TC and 008 on freight thursday

There is no 4 TC. The shuttle is 4 GWR toplight coaches

Cowley · 3 Oct 2018

50026 will be on display at Kidderminster station I believe.

Edders23 · 3 Oct 2018

matt said:
There is no 4 TC. The shuttle is 4 GWR toplight coaches

working timetable had TC written I was assuming it was the 4 TC again not toplight coaches my apologies

matt · 3 Oct 2018

You may have misread, it says TL(4) unless an earlier version had a typo.

AnthonyRail · 4 Oct 2018

First day looks to have been fantastic, hoping to get up there Saturday.

HOOVER29 · 5 Oct 2018

It was
Shame 026 & 044 had problems.
Fingers crossed for 026 as it sounds serious according to one driver.
Shame also 008 was only on the ballast demo.
50033 may look like a bag of spanner’s but don’t let its appearance fool you. One hell of a 16csvt lump is inside it.
Saying that ALL were good performers. Quite a crowd too & the sunshine was a bonus.
Hats off to the SVR crews.

Edders23 · 5 Oct 2018

well SVR managed to get their C-Up in early as lots of passengers on the 08.30 hauled by Ark Royal were bemused as it sailed through the advertised stop at Bewdley and went straight from Kiddie to B'north non stop but rest of the day did go well and the timetable did allow for the full complement of available locos to be bashed and I have to say did not see many drunks or people flailing and all locos seemed to perform well

Interesting idea with Glorious to raise the funds for the repaint and judging by the vast amount on it by the end of the day a lot of money raised

SVR class 50 event

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