loganberrybunny

It's a year and a half since I wrote something here, so I've had a big clear-out and deleted just about all my notifications. It's not the ideal way to go, but I had so many piled up that I couldn't really do anything else. But I'm back now! Yes, I still like My Little Pony a lot. Yes, I still like trains (especially steam trains) a lot. Yes, I'll be uploading some more photos very soon. Not sure there's much else to say for now, but hi to everyone who's still here!

Up to episode 30 in season 1 right now, and it seems like it's finally getting into gear. The first ten-ish episodes are frankly a bit dull, even allowing for the fact that they set things up. Comparing with MLP, it's obviously addressing some more mature themes -- though as a PG-rated show, compared with MLP's TV-Y, it's not really a fair comparison. I like the gradual worldbuilding, too. The songs aren't in the same league as Daniel Ingram's though, and I don't find the animation style as nice. Right now, I'd say that I like SU, but I don't love it in the way I love Pony. Admittedly it helps that season five of MLP is hitting it out of the park more often than not.

There will be some photos in due course, but for now: the sun shone most of the time, the attendance was very high and the guest locomotives behaved themselves. The timetable was mostly adhered to very well, though my worries about it exacerbating crowding were borne out -- I've never had to stand up for quite so much of a gala. 46100 Royal Scot was absolutely gorgeous and the much-deserved centre of attention. 70000 Britannia put on some very fine displays (and wins the Best Whistle award). The third visitor, 46521, did a sterling job double-heading with 4566. All in all, a good gala.

I've bought my tickets now, so it'd be too late to back out even if I wanted to (which I don't!) but I'm afraid I have to join with those who are a bit disappointed with the timetable this year. You'd think that in the railway's Golden Jubilee year, they'd do something a bit special. What we're actually getting is Kidderminster-Bewdley autotrain shuttles every two hours and everything else being very padded all-line services. (93 minutes from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth...) No other locals at all. I fear there will be a lot of overcrowding on the Saturday; I expect to have to do plenty of standing. And taking photos at Hampton Loade is out unless I want to spend two hours there.

I'm sure the gala will still be an enjoyable event, because it always is, but I really do think this is a bit of a missed opportunity. I imagine the Spring Gala next year will have more locals, but then that one generally has more of a "branch line" flavour about it anyway. (This year's Spring Gala had a timetable I liked much more.) As several people have said, the Diesel Gala timetable is clearly better than what we're getting for the Autumn Steam Gala this year. Sorry, SVR, but you've really dropped the ball on this one. It's a particular shame that you've done so in such a significant anniversary year.