MarkC Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 31 minutes ago, papagolfjuliet said: Sample comment: "The railwAy must think we are fools!! I am not fooled! This a blatant attempt to reinvent history and present a wrong image to the public. THIS SO CALLED PRESERVATION RAILWAY KEEPS PROVIDING REASONS FOR ME NOT TO VISIT. I Will take.My custom elsewhere, where history is correctly represented!" Bless. They walk amongst us... 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 It does look like the SVR is struggling with it's finances. Maybe they are just being more open than other heritage lines or maybe they have more fixed costs. This is a shame. On the bright side there has been a long history of successful appeals on the SVR so if they totally ran out of cash and were facing closure it is quite probable that an appeal to its supporters would see it through. Cutting back on services will help to save cash but there is a risk it will reduce income as well. I accept that most of the general public want to be pulled by a steam loco but I think the SVR should make more of the diesel fleet based there and try to sell the importance of these diesels to the general public. After all many of them are now 60 years old and diesel hauled trains have almost completely disappeared from the big railway. Also those old diesels are wonderfully noisey! As a long standing member and visitor and as someone who volunteered on the railway back in the 1970s I hope this year is a good one for the SVR. Under the old ceo the railway did seem to go for very premium pricing which may work well in London and the South but isn't a going to be as successful in the Midlands. My family used to go on the SVR Santa Specials but were priced out of it; we have been to the GWSR for the last two Christmases at about half the price and had a great experience. Likewise I love the idea of afternoon tea on a train but I really cannot bring myself to pay the SVR price for this. Instead I will almost certainly enjoy a cream tea on one of the south western heritage railways this summer. There is a danger that the SVR management has lost track with reality on their their pricing of specials. Maybe some lower priced specials, such as cream tea rather than afternoon tea, would put more bums on seats and therefore improve total revenue? Just my thoughts as an ordinary Midlander and supporter. 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold papagolfjuliet Posted February 18, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 18, 2023 25 minutes ago, MarkC said: They walk amongst us... I can't help thinking that when you've got Bulleid Light Pacifics and Austerity tanks and 'Dutch' liveried Cromptons hauling Gresley teaks on GWR branch lines then the history falsification ship has already sailed, but clearly that lad knows better. 2 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 25 minutes ago, papagolfjuliet said: I can't help thinking that when you've got Bulleid Light Pacifics and Austerity tanks and 'Dutch' liveried Cromptons hauling Gresley teaks on GWR branch lines then the history falsification ship has already sailed, but clearly that lad knows better. An expert, no less - "X" being an unknown quantity and a "spurt" being a drip under pressure... 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold papagolfjuliet Posted February 18, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 18, 2023 (edited) 30 minutes ago, MarkC said: An expert, no less - "X" being an unknown quantity and a "spurt" being a drip under pressure... The version I heard (care of Blaster Bates) was 'Ex' = 'A has been' and 'Spurt' = 'A drip under pressure.' Edited February 18, 2023 by papagolfjuliet 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 43 minutes ago, papagolfjuliet said: The version I heard (care of Blaster Bates) was 'Ex' = 'A has been' and 'Spurt' = 'A drip under pressure.' That works too 😁 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 One of the most wonderful moments I have had at Arley was just after Covid . I just happened to be there when one pannier tank with a short train passed another pannier tank with a short train going on the other direction. It just felt so right and fitted so well with Arley station. Idyllic, and such rare sight. Well ok on of the panniers was of course 1501 but you can’t have everything. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 (edited) Hi The SVR is indeed, akin to many, going through and faces many challenges. However difficult and painful these will undoubtedly be, especially for those paid staff whose livelihoods may be uncertain, knowing the railway as I do it will, with the support and affection of its staff, volunteers and long standing supporters weather this uncertain patch. Together is the only way forward, each heritage railway relies upon the collective strength of the movement. Keep the faith! Regards always Bob Edited February 18, 2023 by BobM 7 1 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerzilla Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 5 hours ago, papagolfjuliet said: Sample comment: "The railwAy must think we are fools!! I am not fooled! This a blatant attempt to reinvent history and present a wrong image to the public. THIS SO CALLED PRESERVATION RAILWAY KEEPS PROVIDING REASONS FOR ME NOT TO VISIT. I Will take.My custom elsewhere, where history is correctly represented!" Bless. When the KWVR temporarily repainted its S160 in BR black it was announced that the livery would be retained for one week for every complaint received. It looked so good that quite a few people 'complained' on that basis. That particular comment got far more "lols" than "likes". I'm still not sure if it's a parody. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 (edited) 56 minutes ago, rogerzilla said: That particular comment got far more "lols" than "likes". I'm still not sure if it's a parody. I cannot speak with authority on this and I am sure there are many who can. I am sorry but ,it saddens me when detrimental comments are made without facts. I believe that Taw Valley is due for overhaul and as a stop gap, however incorrect the colour for its age, the loco has been for the interim painted the way it has to return it to service for the remainder of its ticket from the Jubilee Purple rather than a full expensive repaint for a very short period? Please if others are aware of other reasons please let me know? Regards always Bob Edited February 18, 2023 by BobM 2 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 If you ask me a black livery is a natural evolution from the Jubilee livery given what happened, I'm not a monarchist, but I think showing the locomotive in black now is a sign of mournful respect. 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 18, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 18, 2023 17 minutes ago, BobM said: Hi The SVR is indeed, akin to many, going through and faces many challenges. However difficult and painful these will undoubtedly be, especially for those paid staff whose livelihoods may be uncertain, knowing the railway as I do it will, with the support and affection of its staff, volunteers and long standing supporters weather this uncertain patch. Together is the only way forward, each heritage railway relies upon the collective strength of the movement. Keep the faith! Regards always Bob As a spotty faced 14 year old I hitch hiked to be on the first public train out of Bridgnorth in 1970. Have done a bit of volunteering in the past but nothing too consistent. I think this puts me in your long standing support cohort Bob …. I have seen the railway weather other managerial crises …. Nabarro, Draper… and structural/mechanical crises … the boiler crisis when 813 was the only usable loco, slips at Sterns several times , the Bridgnorth bypass bridge to name a few. The diverse body of support you allude to has got the railway through all of these and more and like you I am sure it will do again. To more casual supporters I would say … please use the railway, where else can you experience railway history …. Bewdley, Arley, Highley, Hampton Loade are all worth visiting in their own right for their atmosphere, whilst travelling in the best selection of running historical coaches in the country? I will be there on several occasions …. And will visit WSR too as 7812 is there for the summer. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold papagolfjuliet Posted February 19, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 19, 2023 18 hours ago, BobM said: I cannot speak with authority on this and I am sure there are many who can. I am sorry but ,it saddens me when detrimental comments are made without facts. I believe that Taw Valley is due for overhaul and as a stop gap, however incorrect the colour for its age, the loco has been for the interim painted the way it has to return it to service for the remainder of its ticket from the Jubilee Purple rather than a full expensive repaint for a very short period? Please if others are aware of other reasons please let me know? Regards always Bob Such is my understanding. The agreement with Buckingham Palace for the renaming was I believe time limited and in the present climate there would be little sense in painting the engine in the comparatively complex and thus expensive lined Brunswick green only to dismantle it a few months later. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted February 19, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 19, 2023 12 hours ago, papagolfjuliet said: Such is my understanding. The agreement with Buckingham Palace for the renaming was I believe time limited and in the present climate there would be little sense in painting the engine in the comparatively complex and thus expensive lined Brunswick green only to dismantle it a few months later. The livery was for the Jubilee which has now passed. Phil, the owner has paid for the repaint and as it is due to be withdrawn for an intermediate overhaul at the end of the year it would have been wasteful to put it back into full lined BR livery. It will get people talking whatever. 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 10 hours ago, Blandford1969 said: The livery was for the Jubilee which has now passed. Phil, the owner has paid for the repaint and as it is due to be withdrawn for an intermediate overhaul at the end of the year it would have been wasteful to put it back into full lined BR livery. It will get people talking whatever. Rule 1 - its my loco and I'll paint it whatever colour I want. 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerzilla Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 One day we'll get a 9F done as Murdoch from the Railway Series. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willjam39 Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 That would get families in which does bring in much needed revenue! Its not a bad shout guys Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerzilla Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 Does anyone know if 6024 is in running condition yet? A Manor, Hall, Castle and King would be one hell of a line-up at the gala, even if the King is very much a BR-era loco. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 On 18/02/2023 at 07:35, papagolfjuliet said: Sample comment: "The railwAy must think we are fools!! I am not fooled! This a blatant attempt to reinvent history and present a wrong image to the public. THIS SO CALLED PRESERVATION RAILWAY KEEPS PROVIDING REASONS FOR ME NOT TO VISIT. I Will take.My custom elsewhere, where history is correctly represented!" I’m a bit late to the party here, but if history is being correctly represented, shouldn’t the steam engines be cut up to be replaced by other forms of traction? Any preserved railway is, by definition, a non-representative slice of history. I for one will be doing my bit for the SVR as I’m lucky to live close enough to reach it fairly easily in about 90 minutes on public transport, and I enjoy going there a great deal. Until this year I’ve had a strict ‘no riding behind the diesels’ policy (although I admire how well they’ve been preserved) which I will now have to abandon, but I can’t say that that actually is a problem for me :) I do question some of the decisions (not opening the railway this half term week seems a tad odd to me for instance) but the people running the railway have been doing it longer than me, so they almost certainly know something that I don’t :) 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 I’d also like to add that I will make a beeline for any model of taw valley in black that Hornby produces… :) 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerzilla Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 (edited) Well, it's a Prairie rather than a King, as the final guest for the steam gala. Still a pretty good line up. We'll do Friday as usual. A Bones for the diesel gala is definitely out-of-the-box thinking, although we'll probably do the GWSR diesel gala instead (SVR means an overnight stay, so not cheap). Edited February 27, 2023 by rogerzilla 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerzilla Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 Weather looks rubbish for Friday but I don't think lineside fires will be the problem they were last April 😄 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerzilla Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 The SVR finances are the reason I'm likely to retire to near the GWSR and volunteer there instead. I love the SVR and will continue to visit, but I suspect they've overspent on big new infrastructure projects in the last few years, as well as having a suboptimal employee/volunteer mix. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmdon Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 3 hours ago, rogerzilla said: The SVR finances are the reason I'm likely to retire to near the GWSR and volunteer there instead. I love the SVR and will continue to visit, but I suspect they've overspent on big new infrastructure projects in the last few years, as well as having a suboptimal employee/volunteer mix. Fair enough - I’ll be heading in the opposite direction. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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