Class 37 65th Birthday Gala

[Forty29]

My top three for thrash
1. 688
2. 248
3. 264
901 made good entertainment starting up seemed to last for ages and the driver gave it some Welly leaving Kidderminster.
All in all a great day, was busy especially on the 501 and the 20 run which had a Scottish theme with headboards and window stickers! Seemed to be a lot of other birthdays being celebrated saw more than one cake. The Castle bar was doing a good trade late afternoon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Oct 2025 ==

Time keeping good though the late afternoon service with 518 arrived about 25 minutes late at Kidderminster for some reason.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Oct 2025 ==

Sorry meant again l meant 423 and the 20!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Oct 2025 ==

There was also a power outage at Highly during the afternoon the engine house was affected, not sure if the signal box had problems?

 

[DarloRich]

I had a great day out with the 37's. I got all but the dazzle camouflaged EPR machine in. I have had the NYMR and Wensleydale ones before but you know

Not as busy as I feared, not many top men thankfully but sadly quite a few silly youth teamers wibbling on about thrash and hellfire and making odd salutes out of the window.

The consensus amongst the wibblers was that the green one made/generated/supplied (?) the best "thrash" apparently. Personally I felt the blue one was more ,erm, thrashy but I don't know anything about that kind of thing

 

[43096]

Not as busy as I feared, not many top men thankfully but sadly quite a few silly youth teamers wibbling on about thrash and hellfire and making odd salutes out of the window.

And Neanderthal noises, too. Just STFU and enjoy the locos!

The consensus amongst the wibblers was that the green one made/generated/supplied (?) the best "thrash" apparently. Personally I felt the blue one was more ,erm, thrashy but I don't know anything about that kind of thing

Wibblers talking wibble, as wibblers do. 37264 (the blue one) was by far the best, indeed one of the best I have ever had. Honourable mention for 688, too. It’s all relative, of course - a 12CSVT is always welcome.

I do like these single class galas (see also Class 14 events in the past). Much easier to decide whether to go or not and no excuse for the usual “my train was the wrong type” whinging!

 

[DarloRich]

And Neanderthal noises, too. Just STFU and enjoy the locos

One pod of 14 year olds were playing music out of the windows. They were very excited. I think it was their first trip out without mum and one or two might have had a shandy.

I had a word.

37264 (the blue one) was by far the best, indeed one of the best I have ever had. Honourable mention for 688, too. It’s all relative, of course - a 12CSVT is always welcome.

Both have been impressive on the NYMR this season

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Yes lots of shouting and swearing going on, rear coach of 1910 ex-Kidderminster seemed to be a party in back half, singing and doing football like chants out the window

Driver of 37508 on that service wasn't hanging around!

Saw Rishton (from The Bashers program) yesterday, see he is still active in the scene!

 

[kje7812]

And yet the punch up was much earlier in the day.

 

[satisnek]

I thought that the SVR was taking a huge gamble with a single class diesel gala, but it most definitely paid off! I was amazed at how busy it was on Friday although the appalling weather probably had an effect with a lot of people (myself included) confined to just 'accumulating mileage' on the trains. Saturday had, shall we say, a broader spectrum of visitors...

So I guess that we can look forward to the same thing in 5 years time for the 70th?

 

[sad1e]

Not as busy as I feared, not many top men thankfully but sadly quite a few silly youth teamers wibbling on about thrash and hellfire and making odd salutes out of the window.

On the 10:20 our of Kidderminster there were even a group waving an English flag out of the window while yelling. Luckily the guard there quickly put a stop to that before the flag got caught in lineside vegetation or something arather .

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Missed the punch up didn't know of that!

Delays of around 20 minutes at the moment, was alright at Highley this morning for a couple of services, then 37518 arrived late on its first run from Bridgnorth and that started the delays. The Arley shunts take time as well.

Apparently timetable is a bit more spread out by taking out the Hampton Load and reducing the amount of Arley shuttles to improve the services, which seems to have worked I think

 

[Bikeman78]

I thought that the SVR was taking a huge gamble with a single class diesel gala, but it most definitely paid off! I was amazed at how busy it was on Friday although the appalling weather probably had an effect with a lot of people (myself included) confined to just 'accumulating mileage' on the trains. Saturday had, shall we say, a broader spectrum of visitors...

So I guess that we can look forward to the same thing in 5 years time for the 70th?

I was there on Thursday and Friday. I thought it was excellent. The Thursday evening run to Bridgnorth with 37264 was particularly good. It was nice to catch up with people that I hadn't seen for years.

 

[Forty29]

Just seen on SVR Facebook page a toilet door was ripped off it's hinges on a coach and other rowdy behaviour Saturday evening at Bridgenorth bar. This small group of people can spoil everything for others. Yes saw the flag out the window but no sign of a drone out of the window experienced at another gala.
20048 working the 1540 from Kidderminster on its own today no sign of 37518 that was rostered. Nice to see 40106 on display at the station.

 

[kje7812]

37518 failed with a coolant leak. It was topped up at Bridgnorth but was failed when it reached Kidderminster.

 

[andyjhatton]

The amount I hear about drunkenness and rowdy behaviour at diesel galas has always put me off attending.

I enjoy a few drinks thought the day at galas, but it's never really entered my head to start damaging the rolling stock or stations I'm supposed to be admiring.

 

[kje7812]

Thursday and Sunday are fine and even Friday isn't too bad.

 

[43096]

I thought that the SVR was taking a huge gamble with a single class diesel gala, but it most definitely paid off!

I didn't think it was a risk doing a single class gala, to be honest. With 37s it's pretty much nailed on to be successful given how popular they are. There have been very successful one class galas before for much more niche designs (such as Class 14), so the risk was pretty low for the SVR.

 

[43096]

The amount I hear about drunkenness and rowdy behaviour at diesel galas has always put me off attending.

I enjoy a few drinks thought the day at galas, but it's never really entered my head to start damaging the rolling stock or stations I'm supposed to be admiring.

I was there yesterday and didn't directly witness any of that behaviour and I didn't need to consciously avoid it, either. Worst I heard was some vegetables shouting while going through Bewdley Tunnel, but 37264 soon drowned them out.

 

[Tetragon213]

Apparently there was a set of seats on the WCR coaches with some tape on them, along with a biohazard sticker. From what I've gleaned off the others, there was a fight which resulted in blood being spilled on the seats...

 

[sad1e]

Apparently there was a set of seats on the WCR coaches with some tape on them, along with a biohazard sticker. From what I've gleaned off the others, there was a fight which resulted in blood being spilled on the seats...

What could there possibly be to fight over at a diesel gala. Which 37 has the best thrash

I would give a large bet that alcohol being sold at the gala was a contributor to this fight.

 

[Tetragon213]

What could there possibly be to fight over at a diesel gala. Which 37 has the best thrash

The argument, from what I've heard through the grapevine, was regarding whether or not 37901 was a "real" 37, whatever that means.

 

[kje7812]

What could there possibly be to fight over at a diesel gala. Which 37 has the best thrash

I would give a large bet that alcohol being sold at the gala was a contributor to this fight.

It was before 12.30 and apparently not alcohol related.

 

[andyjhatton]

Now I think about it, the evening services at the spring steam gala had professional security on at least some of the trains.
Not that I've ever seen any trouble at the steam galas.

 

[Johnhayworth21]

Glad I attended the event on Thursday when there was a much calmer atmosphere. The 13 year olds screaming, shouting and waving their arms out the window have no consideration for anyone else.

 

[kje7812]

Now I think about it, the evening services at the spring steam gala had professional security on at least some of the trains.
Not that I've ever seen any trouble at the steam galas.

There has been in the past but very occasionally.

 

[DarloRich]

And yet the punch up was much earlier in the day.

i saw a man with blood on his nose on the platform at Kiddie and i assumed he had been struck by a branch or something. What is wrong with people?

On the 10:20 our of Kidderminster there were even a group waving an English flag out of the window while yelling. Luckily the guard there quickly put a stop to that before the flag got caught in lineside vegetation or something arather .

idiots. Just brainless. Also some of the chatter I heard from wibblers was embarrassing.

Just seen on SVR Facebook page a toilet door was ripped off it's hinges on a coach and other rowdy behaviour Saturday evening at Bridgenorth bar.

Disgraceful - this kind of thing will get these events stopped.

The amount I hear about drunkenness and rowdy behaviour at diesel galas has always put me off attending.

Now, considering the above the following might seem odd BUT:

Sit near the back, find some decent, boring, sensible looking blokes and talk to them. Let the brainless mosh into the front coach and get on with it. Sit back, enjoy the day, maybe a beer or two and have a nice day. You can spot the idiots VERY easily. Same as at the match. You know when you see one and you just give them a wide berth.

I had a good day and wont let silly people spoil it

Apparently there was a set of seats on the WCR coaches with some tape on them, along with a biohazard sticker.

I just assumed the "thrash" and "clag" had been too much for one basher

 

[sad1e]

Sit near the back, find some decent, boring, sensible looking blokes and talk to them. Let the brainless mosh into the front coach and get on with it.

As a bonus you can get decent photos of the whole consist from the back carriage when it takes a curve. It's the main reason I would take the back carriage other than to avoid rowdyness.

 

[xotGD]

The only reason to sit at the back is to be at the front for the return journey.

Sit at the back downhill, front uphill is standard practice at the KWVR.

 

[sad1e]

Sit near the back, find some decent, boring, sensible looking blokes and talk to them. Let the brainless mosh into the front coach and get on with it.

Just seen a video of a group of people flailing a melon out the rear window of a 37901 hauled train , it seems not even the back was safe on this occasion.

 

[Richard Scott]

Glad I attended the event on Thursday when there was a much calmer atmosphere. The 13 year olds screaming, shouting and waving their arms out the window have no consideration for anyone else.

I just wonder where they learned this behaviour?!!!!

 

[Bikeman78]

Now, considering the above the following might seem odd BUT:

Sit near the back, find some decent, boring, sensible looking blokes and talk to them. Let the brainless mosh into the front coach and get on with it. Sit back, enjoy the day, maybe a beer or two and have a nice day. You can spot the idiots VERY easily. Same as at the match. You know when you see one and you just give them a wide berth.

I had a good day and wont let silly people spoil it

I was in the front coach of almost every run during the two days I was there. I didn't witness any trouble.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I just wonder where they learned this behaviour?!!!!

The Francis Bourgeois influence, perhaps....?

Mr Luke Nicolson's character behaviour makes me wince, every time he overreacts to the sight and sound of a loco...