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Visiting From time to time visiting locomotives are also often utilised for regular passenger services in the days after the gala . They were also often used for private photographic chartersuntil the practice was ended in 2021.
==2019 Autumn Steam Gala ==Full details of the 2019 Autumn Steam Gala can be found on the [https://www.svr.co.uk/SEItem.aspx?a=100 SVR Web site]. The Gala, which runs from 19-22 September, features three first-time visiting locomotives::*'''305412020''': SR Maunsell Q class 0-6-0. With thanks to The Maunsell Locomotive Society & Bluebell Railway. :'''34092 City of Wells''': SR Bulleid West Country class Pacific. With thanks Autumn Steam Gala was cancelled due to East Lancashire Light Railway Co Ltd. :'''76017''': BR Riddles Standard 4MT class Mogul. With thanks to Mid Hants Railway Ltdthe [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic]]
no more photographic charters
The event has also extended in duration and now typically incorporates a 'Preview day' on the preceding Thursday to the standard timetable but with visiting locomotives, and three days of Gala from Friday to Sunday inclusive with overnight running on the Friday and Saturday nights. One popular operation is the running of a "Breakfast train" using the [[Severn Valley Venturer]] stock. Other common features include demonstration freight trains and shorter local, part-line services.
==Notable events==
*'''1975''' First Enthusiasts Day, with 11 locomotives in steam.<ref>SVR News 37</ref>
*'''1976''' First Enthusiasts Weekend.
*'''1980''' [[LMS Stanier Jubilee 45690 Leander]] participated before undergoing a contract boiler overhaul.
*'''1984''' First [[Steam Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas|guest locomotive]] at an Autumn Steam Gala (5051 "Drysllwyn Castle")
*'''1989''' The "Autumn Steam Spectacular" was the last Autumn Steam Gala featuring home locomotives only.<ref>SVR News 94</ref>
*'''2007''' The [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2000-2009#2007|Autumn Steam Gala]] took place despite the [[2007 Storm Damage| storm damage]] which closed the line north of Bewdley. The Gala included services running on the main line to Birmingham Snow Hill as well as between Kidderminster and Bewdley, the only unaffected section of the SVR.
*'''2016''' The Autumn Steam Gala was replaced by the [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2010-2019#2016|'Pacific Power']] event featuring visiting locomotives LNER Gresley A3 Pacific No. 60103 'Flying Scotsman' and LNER Peppercorn A1 Pacific No. 60163 'Tornado'.
==Passenger numbers==
From time-to-time the SVR publishes the number of Gala passengers, according to the method of counting these which has varied over time (for example, since 2010 documents sent to shareholders became valid as a ticket which did not need to be exchanged for travel).)<ref>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1936 SVR Forum shareholders' Passes thread]</ref> The following is an incomplete record:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| 2018 || 6,335|| <ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/epnovember18 Express Points November 2018]</ref> || Over the Preview day and three days of Gala
|-
| 2019 || 5,850 || <ref>NBI</ref> ||
|-
| 2020 || n/a || || Event cancelled
|-
|}
