Difference between revisions of "Christmas services"

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(Passenger numbers: add details)
(Passenger numbers: add details to 1985)
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==Passenger numbers==
 
==Passenger numbers==
 
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Total passenger numbers for Christmas services are given below. Where totals only include Santa trains and exclude post-Christmas services, numbers are in ''italics''.
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !! Number of passengers!! Reference !! Notes
+
!Year !! No of passengers!! Location !! Reference !! Notes
 
|-
 
|-
| 1973 || style="text-align:right;" | ||   ||
+
| 1973 || style="text-align:right;" | || Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade. ||  ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| 1974 || style="text-align:right;" | ||   ||
+
| 1974 || style="text-align:right;" | || Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade.  || ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1975 || style="text-align:right;" | ||   ||
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| 1975 || style="text-align:right;" | || Bewdley to Arley  || || 2 weekends of Santa trains.
 
|-
 
|-
| 1976 || style="text-align:right;" | ||   ||
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| 1976 || style="text-align:right;" | || Bewdley to Arley  || || 3 weekends of Santa trains.
 
|-
 
|-
| 1977 || style="text-align:right;" | ||   ||
+
| 1977 || style="text-align:right;" | || Bewdley to Arley  || || 4 weekends of Santa trains.
 
|-
 
|-
| 1978 ||  style="text-align:right;" |  ||   ||
+
| 1978 ||  style="text-align:right;" | ''10,882'' || Bewdley to Arley || SVR News 50 || Total for Santa trains only, a 46% increase on 1977.
 
|-
 
|-
| 1979 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||   ||
+
| 1979 ||style="text-align:right;" |  || Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade  || || Repairs to [[Victoria Bridge]].
 
|-
 
|-
| 1980 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||   ||
+
| 1980 ||style="text-align:right;" | 19,515 || Bewdley to Arley || SVR News 59/63 || Santa trains 17,872
 
|-
 
|-
| 1981 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||   ||
+
| 1981 ||style="text-align:right;" | ''16,378'' || Bewdley to Arley || SVR News 63 || All Santa services ran but numbers were affected by snow.
 
|-
 
|-
| 1982 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||  || Services saw more than 20,000 passengers for the first time
+
| 1982 ||style="text-align:right;" | ''22,005'' || Bewdley to Arley ||SVR News 67 ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| 1983 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||   || Services saw more than 30,000 passengers for the first time
+
| 1983 ||style="text-align:right;" | 33,634 || Bewdley to Arley || SVR News 71 || Santa trains 31,450, Mince pie specials 2,184 
 
 
 
|-
 
|-
| 1984 ||style="text-align:right;" |34,628 ||   || The first Santa services from Kidderminster
+
| 1984 ||style="text-align:right;" | 34,628 || Kidderminster to Arley ||  SVR News 75 || Santa trains 33,326, Mince pie specials 1,302
 
|-
 
|-
| 1985 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||   ||
+
| 1985 ||style="text-align:right;" | 30,975 || Kidderminster to Arley|| SVR News 79 || Santa trains 28,978, Mince pie specials 1,997
 
|-
 
|-
| 1986 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
+
| 1986 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1987 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
+
| 1987 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1988 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  || Services saw more than 30,000 passengers
+
| 1988 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  || Services saw more than 30,000 passengers
 
|-
 
|-
| 1989 ||style="text-align:right;" |42,692  ||  ||
+
| 1989 ||style="text-align:right;" |42,692  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1990 || style="text-align:right;" |42,602 ||  ||
+
| 1990 || style="text-align:right;" |42,602 ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1991 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
+
| 1991 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1992 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
+
| 1992 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1993 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
+
| 1993 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1994 || style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
+
| 1994 || style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1995 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
+
| 1995 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1996 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 1996 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1997 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 1997 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1998 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 1998 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 1999 || style="text-align:right;" | ||  ||
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| 1999 || style="text-align:right;" | ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2000 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||  ||
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| 2000 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2001 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 2001 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2002 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 2002 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2003 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 2003 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2004 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 2004 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2005 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||  ||
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| 2005 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2006 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 2006 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2007 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 2007 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2008 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 2008 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
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|-
| 2009 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 2009 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
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|-
| 2010 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 2010 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2011 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||  ||
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| 2011 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2012 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 2012 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2013 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||  ||
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| 2013 ||style="text-align:right;" | ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2014 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||
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| 2014 ||style="text-align:right;" |  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2015 ||style="text-align:right;" |33,319|| <ref name=SVRH>SVR(H) AGM presentation</ref>  ||
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| 2015 ||style="text-align:right;" |33,319||  ||<ref name=SVRH>SVR(H) AGM presentation</ref>  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2016 ||style="text-align:right;" |33,364|| <ref name=SVRH/> ||
+
| 2016 ||style="text-align:right;" |33,364||  ||<ref name=SVRH/> ||
 
|-
 
|-
| 2017 ||style="text-align:right;" |31,962 || <ref name=SVRH/>  || One day lost due to weather.
+
| 2017 ||style="text-align:right;" |31,962 ||  || <ref name=SVRH/>  || One day lost due to weather.
 
|-
 
|-
| 2018 ||style="text-align:right;" |36,104 || <ref name=SVRH/> ||
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| 2018 ||style="text-align:right;" |36,104 ||  || <ref name=SVRH/> ||
 
|}
 
|}
  

Revision as of 14:47, 27 June 2019

The below is an incomplete page.

Christmas services are a huge part of the SVRSevern Valley Railway’s services, accounting for approximately 35,000 of the 200,000 tickets sold annually.

Services are a volunteer lead project, headed by Dianne Malyon.

Early years

The South Devon Railway relates that Kitson & Co 5474 'Carnarvon' carried Santa in 1969. [1] There is no record of the event in either SVRSevern Valley Railway News or Chris Magner's book. Since the Light Railway Order was only granted in 1970, it could presumably only have been a static event at Bridgnorth, and so it would not have been classed as a 'Santa service'.

In 1973 two days of 'Santa Claus' specials ran between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, hauled by 'Austerity' 0-6-0ST WD 193. The weekend marked the SVRSevern Valley Railway's first Santa services.[2]

On 20 December 1982 Santa arrived at Bewdley by helicopter, before travelling to his grotto at Arley by train.[3]

On 8 December 1990 the worst snowstorm for a decade affected the weekend's Santa services; only a small proportion of the 9,000 ticket holders were able to attend.[4]

The 2007 Storm Damage resulted in services being restricted to Kidderminster to Bewdley, where Santa was ensconced.

On 10 December 2017 all Santa Special services were cancelled in light of heavy snow overnight and complete loss of power at Arley Station.

Hired in locomotives

The SVRSevern Valley Railway normally operates services using a working fleet drawn from its own steam locomotives. On several occasions it has been necessary to hire in locomotives from other railways to alleviate pressure on the fleet over the busy Christmas period.

Recent operation to 2018

The mainstay operation is the Santa Special operation. This operates half hourly all day, typically weekends from late November/early December until Christmas Day. This necessitates a five-train operation, all steam hauled, with a sixth locomotive providing train pre-heating and acting as standby. The trains operate between Kidderminster and Santa's Grotto at Arley, with trains picking up and setting down at Bewdley on the return leg only. In addition the Class 108 DMU runs staff trains, and a late afternoon service for late-returning passengers.

On 23 November 2018 the SVRSevern Valley Railway made a 'Black Friday' discount offer of unsold Santa Special tickets.

A secondary operation are ‘Santa Heralds’, with Santa travelling on the train to distribute presents. These are typically steam-operated midweek services.

Carol Trains are an evening DMUDiesel Multiple Unit service, running from Kidderminster to The Engine House. Christmas Carvery DMUDiesel Multiple Unit services also run to The Engine House where a meal is provided. Dining Trains also operate. Schools steam services run in midweek.

Stations and platforms at Kidderminster, Bewdley and Arley are decorated. At both Kidderminster and Arley live seasonal music is provided by local groups. Carriages are not usually decorated, locomotives may carry headboards, wreaths or other decoration.

It is also an important part of activities for other groups. SVR Apprentices dress in animal character costumes to entertain the waiting youngsters at Arley. Several preservation groups roast and sell chestnuts.

2019 operations

In June 2019 the SVRSevern Valley Railway announced there will be a refresh of Santa Specials, including the addition of departures from Bridgnorth for the first time in many years and operations from Bridgnorth during the evenings. These will make use of the new facilities afforded by the Bridgnorth development project.

Passenger numbers

Total passenger numbers for Christmas services are given below. Where totals only include Santa trains and exclude post-Christmas services, numbers are in italics.

Year No of passengers Location Reference Notes
1973 Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade.
1974 Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade.
1975 Bewdley to Arley 2 weekends of Santa trains.
1976 Bewdley to Arley 3 weekends of Santa trains.
1977 Bewdley to Arley 4 weekends of Santa trains.
1978 10,882 Bewdley to Arley SVRSevern Valley Railway News 50 Total for Santa trains only, a 46% increase on 1977.
1979 Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade Repairs to Victoria Bridge.
1980 19,515 Bewdley to Arley SVRSevern Valley Railway News 59/63 Santa trains 17,872
1981 16,378 Bewdley to Arley SVRSevern Valley Railway News 63 All Santa services ran but numbers were affected by snow.
1982 22,005 Bewdley to Arley SVRSevern Valley Railway News 67
1983 33,634 Bewdley to Arley SVRSevern Valley Railway News 71 Santa trains 31,450, Mince pie specials 2,184
1984 34,628 Kidderminster to Arley SVRSevern Valley Railway News 75 Santa trains 33,326, Mince pie specials 1,302
1985 30,975 Kidderminster to Arley SVRSevern Valley Railway News 79 Santa trains 28,978, Mince pie specials 1,997
1986
1987
1988 Services saw more than 30,000 passengers
1989 42,692
1990 42,602
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015 33,319 [5]
2016 33,364 [5]
2017 31,962 [5] One day lost due to weather.
2018 36,104 [5]

See also

Santa's Grotto

References

  1. South Devon Railway website
  2. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 29,32
  3. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 67
  4. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 98
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 SVRSevern Valley Railway(H) AGM presentation

Links