[Apr 17, 2015] Swanage Spring Gala - April 17/18/19 (Swanage Railway)

With only 4 weeks to go and not a word on the SR website about 70000, I am in something of a dither. I've got a 3 day weekend arranged which is really precious!
For me, Britannia at Swanage trumps the Deltics at the Bluebell, but Deltics trump a Britannia-less Swanage, and I have until this Tuesday to commit or pass on the offer of a colleague's holiday cottage outside Lewes for that weekend. Swanage I would do from home, so no accommodation issues there.

 

I've got that same Swanage/Bluebell dilemma. Was hoping to do both, one on Friday and one on Sunday, with 50027's Mid-Hants running day in the middle, but a few work and family things have changed for that weekend and I'm down to just Friday morning free of the three days. Swanage would allow me to see and do a lot more before going to work as the timetable's more intensive and interesting, conversely Deltics on the Bluebell is far less likely to be repeated than any of the things happening at Swanage. Tricky! I will have Britannia at the WSR this coming week and am very familiar with Cheltenham from Mid-Hants runs, plus if the Deltics are driven as 55019 in particular was at last year's SVR diesel event then there will be plenty of entertainment to be had on the Bluebell. Bluebell wins for line-up novelty, Swanage for timetable intensity and therefore probably also value for a rover in the time I'll have. Would be a lot easier and cheaper sometimes to only like steam or diesel or even just one variety of one of them...

 

I share your pain!
What I find frustrating is the deafening silence on the Swanage website & social media. 70000 was announced, then it simply vanished with no explanation.
Railways often complain about the fickleness of passengers like myself, but ignore the pressures of work, family life etc on our time!

 

It has never been confirmed by either the Icons on Steam website ( for all Locomotive Services locos ) or the Britannia facebook page.

 

I must admit, I didn't know of the existence of either of those sources prior to reading your post.
I'll assume 70000 won't be there and head for the Deltics. Many thanks!

 

I think it is highly unlikely that 70000 will be there, and would have expected confirmation on one or both of those sites by now if it was attending.

 

The availability of 70000 for some Steam Dreams trips seems to be uncertain too at the moment.
Early last week I looked at her runs in May on the SD website which were available to book with spaces in all classes but now all of the trips with 70000 have had the online booking facility removed. I wonder what is going on with these trips as they were only advertised in my local paper last week?

 

I'm a really stupid man. The timetable on the SR website has loco allocations already, and confirms that Britannia does not feature. Why didn't I think of looking there? So it' Delticland here I come!

 

Thanks for that, I am going to the Swanage Gala and did not know the timetable now had loco allocations.

 

Question. I wonder if 6695 will be fit for the gala or will a replacement be in the pipeline? I know she will/ is at the WSR at the mo having whatever damage sustained in the trailer failure earlier in the week assessed.

 

There will be changes to those loco allocations, and there is still the possibility of a second visitor. We have a series of meetings to discuss the recent changes to the event over the next few days, following which the picture will be a lot clearer; can I please ask that people bear with us until the end of the week?

 

Right, good news! It is pleasing to be able to confirm that 70000 Britannia WILL be attending the Swanage Railway Spring Steam Gala from 17-19 April. Revised loco diagrams are in the process of being drawn up, and I anticipate these will be available by the end of this week.

 

Am I pleased with that news! Many thanks for being so helpful!

 

I didn't see that one coming!

 

Just as an update, the revised loco diagrams have been completed, and are currently being proof-read. Just to give people a heads-up, there are a couple of turning moves booked each day for 30053 and 80104 to try to keep as many workings chimney first as possible, particularly with the freight and the 2 car Bulleid set, and I have tried to avoid too many ridiculous double header's (eg smokebox to smokebox); I'll try to get times for turning included in the public timetable, as an added attraction.

I couldn't resist the opportunity to have 80104 piloting 70000...even if it is only once on the Saturday!

 

Fantastic news!! Here are the timings for the transfer of 70021, sorry 70000, from the WSR to Swanage on Tuesday, 31st March. <BJ>
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55310/2015/03/31/advanced

 

Think I might have to pop down to a certain station.......wouldnt want to have any delays...

 

Ah yes; one other thing I forgot to mention is that the freight formation will be different between the Friday and the rest of the weekend. On the Friday the freight has got to be shorter in order to be able to run round in the loop at Swanage, whereas for the rest of the weekend there is no real restriction on its length; hopefully it will also be the first use of our newly-restored SR 'Ling' wagon (if Billy and I get enough spare time to finish painting it!).

The Friday evening will be a good one for those who like watching wagon shuffling; may even use 80104 as the motive power for the shunt, given that it is in use during the day anyway.

 

Ah. The railways entry for Swanage Pride week?

 

I'm minded to pop down on Friday or Sunday - unfortunately I am working on the MHR all day Saturday. Where is the shunting for the reight done, quite like the sound of watching that!! PS Just been up to Ropley to watch 925 depart ready for a Murder Mystery train, might take some pictures later