Difference between revisions of "Spring Steam Gala"

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The Spring Gala is the smaller of the two annual enthusiasts' galas with visiting locomotives and a more intensive timetable, but without the all night running of the [[Autumn Gala]]
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[[File:60019 20120325.jpg|thumb|300px|right|2012 Spring Steam Gala guest 60019 Bittern]]The '''Spring Steam Gala''' is the smaller of the two annual enthusiasts' galas with visiting locomotives and a more intensive timetable, but without the all night running of the [[Autumn Steam Gala]]. This event is typically in late March and is now billed by the SVR as "opening the season", even though trains commence for the February half-term week. The event incorporates three days of Gala from Friday to Sunday. Other common features include demonstration freight trains and shorter local, part-line services. 
  
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This event is typically in late March and is now billed by the SVR as "opening the season", even though trains commence for the February half-term week. The event incorporates three days of Gala from Friday to Sunday. Other common features include demonstration freight trains and shorter local, part-line services.
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Visiting locomotives are also often utilised in the days after the gala for private photographic charters and passenger work.
  
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Visiting locomotives are also often utilised in the days after the gala for private photographic charters.  
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==History==
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The first Spring Steam Gala was a one day event held on 10 April 1976 and attended by more than 2,500 travellers.<ref>SVR News 39</ref> It became a two day event the following year although still staged in April, a format maintained during the 1980s and 1990s. Early galas used home engines only, with [[Steam Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas#1990-1999|guest locomotives]] appearing regularly from 1992.
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In 2000 the Spring Steam Gala moved to March, the first being a 3-day event on 8-10 March 2000 advertised as a 'Branch Line Gala Weekend'.<ref>SVR News 131</ref> A number of subsequent galas were also branded as Branch Line Galas, some taking local themes such as 'Somerset and Dorset' or 'Welsh'.<ref>SVR News 138,141</ref>
  
 
==Notable events==
 
==Notable events==
 +
 
*'''2004''' and '''2011''' No Galas due to engineering work.
 
*'''2004''' and '''2011''' No Galas due to engineering work.
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*'''2013''' The Spring Steam Gala was hit by heavy snow, resulting in attendances being around half of the numbers expected. The Railway still managed to run the services as planned.   
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*'''2008''' No Gala due to the [[2007 Storm Damage]], although guest locomotive S&DJR 88 took part in the reopening weekend.
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*'''2013''' The Spring Steam Gala was hit by heavy snow, resulting in attendances being around half of the numbers expected. In '''2018''' heavy snow hit the third day (Sunday). The Railway still managed to run the services as planned.  
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*'''2020''' Due to work on [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] closing the line between Bewdley and Kidderminster, the gala was retimed towards the end of April before being one of the events cancelled due to the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|COVID-19 pandemic]].
  
 
==Passenger numbers==
 
==Passenger numbers==
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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>[http://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1936 SVR Forum shareholders' Passes thread]</ref>  
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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.
 
The following is an incomplete record.
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!Year !! Number of passengers!! Reference !! Notes
 
!Year !! Number of passengers!! Reference !! Notes
 
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|-
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| 2008 ||  ||  ||
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| 2008 ||  ||  || No Gala following the 2007 storm damage.
 
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|-
 
| 2009 || ||  ||   
 
| 2009 || ||  ||   
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| 2011 || ||  ||  No Gala due to engineering work.
 
| 2011 || ||  ||  No Gala due to engineering work.
 
|-
 
|-
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| 2012 || 4,209|| <ref name="SSG1 ">[http://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2305&start=195 'Spring Gala 2012', SVR Online thread]</ref> ||   
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| 2012 || 4,209|| <ref name="SSG1 ">[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2305&start=195 'Spring Gala 2012', SVR Online thread]</ref> ||   
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2013 || ||  ||  The Gala was hit by heavy snow, resulting in reduced attendance
 
| 2013 || ||  ||  The Gala was hit by heavy snow, resulting in reduced attendance
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|-
 
|-
 
| 2017 || 4,537||  ||   
 
| 2017 || 4,537||  ||   
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|-
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| 2018 || 4,541||  ||  The Gala was hit by heavy snow, resulting in reduced attendance
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|-
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| 2019 || 3,472||<ref>NBI</ref>  || 
 
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|-
 
|}
 
|}
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==See also==
 
==See also==
 
[[Steam Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas]]<br>
 
[[Steam Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas]]<br>

Revision as of 15:14, 28 March 2020

2012 Spring Steam Gala guest 60019 Bittern
The Spring Steam Gala is the smaller of the two annual enthusiasts' galas with visiting locomotives and a more intensive timetable, but without the all night running of the Autumn Steam Gala. This event is typically in late March and is now billed by the SVRSevern Valley Railway as "opening the season", even though trains commence for the February half-term week. The event incorporates three days of Gala from Friday to Sunday. Other common features include demonstration freight trains and shorter local, part-line services.

Visiting locomotives are also often utilised in the days after the gala for private photographic charters and passenger work.

History

The first Spring Steam Gala was a one day event held on 10 April 1976 and attended by more than 2,500 travellers.[1] It became a two day event the following year although still staged in April, a format maintained during the 1980s and 1990s. Early galas used home engines only, with guest locomotives appearing regularly from 1992.

In 2000 the Spring Steam Gala moved to March, the first being a 3-day event on 8-10 March 2000 advertised as a 'Branch Line Gala Weekend'.[2] A number of subsequent galas were also branded as Branch Line Galas, some taking local themes such as 'Somerset and Dorset' or 'Welsh'.[3]

Notable events

  • 2004 and 2011 No Galas due to engineering work.
  • 2008 No Gala due to the 2007 Storm Damage, although guest locomotive S&DJRSomerset & Dorset Joint Railway, jointly operated by the London and South Western and Midland Railways (later Southern and London Midland and Scottish Railways) 88 took part in the reopening weekend.
  • 2013 The Spring Steam Gala was hit by heavy snow, resulting in attendances being around half of the numbers expected. In 2018 heavy snow hit the third day (Sunday). The Railway still managed to run the services as planned.
  • 2020 Due to work on Falling Sands Viaduct closing the line between Bewdley and Kidderminster, the gala was retimed towards the end of April before being one of the events cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Passenger numbers

From time-to-time the SVRSevern Valley Railway 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.)[4]

The following is an incomplete record.

Year Number of passengers Reference Notes
2008 No Gala following the 2007 storm damage.
2009
2010
2011 No Gala due to engineering work.
2012 4,209 [5]
2013 The Gala was hit by heavy snow, resulting in reduced attendance
2014 3,900
2015 4,313
2016 3,537 Depressed number because of the non-appearance at the gala of announced visitor 6990 Witherslack Hall
2017 4,537
2018 4,541 The Gala was hit by heavy snow, resulting in reduced attendance
2019 3,472 [6]

See also

Steam Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas
SVR Passenger numbers

References

  1. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 39
  2. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 131
  3. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 138,141
  4. ↑ SVR Forum shareholders' Passes thread
  5. ↑ 'Spring Gala 2012', SVR Online thread
  6. ↑ NBINotice Board Issue. The SVR's on-line method of circulating information to working members.
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Welcome to the Severn Valley Railway Wiki

From this week's featured article
"76738" is a London and North Western Railway Company 10-ton Goods Van, although it carries a fictitious number as its true identity is unknown. After restoration it saw limited use in the SVRSevern Valley Railway's demonstration goods train, but due to its age and wooden underframe it is now in static use as a sales coach at Bridgnorth. (Full article...)
Schematic Map of the SVRSevern Valley Railway
BridgnorthEardingtonHampton LoadeCountry Park HaltHighleyThe Engine HouseArleyVictoria BridgeNorthwood HaltWyre Forest LineBewdleyStourport BranchBewdley TunnelConnection to Network RailKidderminsterMaps#Schematic maps of the pre-closure SVRMapandlinks.png
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larger interactive version

For 101 years between 1862 and 1963, the Severn Valley Railway formed part of the national railway network, running for 40 miles between Hartlebury and Shrewsbury. Established as a separate company, it was mainly operated by the Great Western Railway (GWRGreat Western Railway) and later by British Railways (BRBritish Rail or British Railways).

The present day Severn Valley Railway (SVRSevern Valley Railway) was established in 1965 to preserve part of the line as a heritage railway. Today it has six stations and two halts and runs for 16 miles along the Severn Valley between Bridgnorth in Shropshire and Kidderminster in Worcestershire, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route. Operations involve a mixture of steam and heritage diesel-hauled services.

This unofficial website is a project aimed to collect information and record events relating to the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both past and present.

For timetables, fare information, and news about special events, please visit the SVR Official Website. Other news and information of interest to members, shareholders and enthusiasts can be found on SVRLive.

In April 2023 the SVRSevern Valley Railway announced the launch of a Survival Fund to enable it to overcome the current financial crisis and implement longer-term plans for its future. Information and details of how to donate may be found on the SVRSevern Valley Railway's Survival Fund page.

Categories of article

History of the Severn Valley Railway

Current events on the SVRSevern Valley Railway

Information about the SVRSevern Valley Railway

Miscellaneous


Query Corner

Unsurprisingly, there are a large number of questions about the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both in pre-preservation days and for a number of historical items since then. Take a visit down to Query Corner to see if you have a recollection relating to some long forgotten event, or know of a reliable source (maybe an early edition of the SVR News?) that might have the information we need!

Adding to this Wiki

This site, or "wiki", is a collaborative effort, and anyone who has any knowledge relating to the SVRSevern Valley Railway should feel free to contribute. Once you have created a user account and logged in, you can modify any page by clicking the "Edit" button in the top right hand corner. For some tips on how to format pages, and some guidelines on how to make this wiki accessible can be found on Tips for contributing to the SVR Wiki.

Alternatively, if you don't feel confident editing this Wiki (although there is no reason you shouldn't!!), each article also has a "Discussion" page, which can be accessed by clicking the relevant button in the top left hand corner. This allows you to make additions, suggestions, or corrections to a page without making any change to the article itself.


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