Swanage Railway General Discussion

The seasonal DMU service was created originally, in the main, to provide Santa passengers with connections to their special trains.
I believe these DMU services have experienced steadily reducing patronage over many years with people now preferring to drive to Swanage.
This year Santa passengers can drive to Swanage and park for just £1 all day in the nearby Council car park [or FREE on Saturdays!].
This gave the Railway a problem as using a DMU in these circumstances would be an expensive alternative for Santa passengers.
So far as I'm aware there have been few, if any, problems/complaints from families.
If you've not already done so, may I suggest you contact the Railway to let them know your views: info@swanagerailway.co.uk

 

Any photos of today winter warmer gala please, unable to make it due to family emergency . Bet it was amazing, would love ❤️ too see pictures, thank you

 

If you are on FB then the Swanage Railway Unofficial FB page has few including video.


Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk

 

Or look on YouTube

 

Just shown to the world today. 80104 has emerged in to the world as 80146, in tribute to the real loco which was the motive power for the last passenger train on the line back in 1967 (18th June 1967 to be exact I think for a railtour). The FB page says it was 'the' last steam engine on the line but I think a WC came down during the last week of steam to do a freight turn didn't it?

 

34021 'Dartmoor' worked down the branch as far as Furzebrook with a clay train on Friday 7 July 1967. There are a series of photographs in Andrew Wright's 'Swanage Branch in Colour' book.

 

Will 30053 be running on New Year's Day? Still facing Swanage as well? Thanks!

 

30053 was in service yesterday, 29th, and it was facing Swanage.

It was hauling 4 green Mk.1s and looked very nice in the crisp, winter sunlight. Plenty of passengers aboard.

As is the norm on my way home I was stuck in heavy traffic on the A351 heading towards Wareham.

Roll on the day when we can catch a train between Swanage and Wareham. <BJ>

 

indeed, wish it would be possible to travel Wareham to Nordon for bulleid gala

 

The -4 at Wareham from the early trains from London (etc) onto the bus to Corfe is very tedious. Sometimes so tedious that getting the bus from Bournemouth over the Sandbanks ferry is better :-(

 

The two routes serving Swanage are:
Route 40: http://morebus.co.uk/service.shtml?serviceid=3920 calling at Wareham Station [stop close to London bound platform exit] en-route to/from Swanage.
Route 50: http://morebus.co.uk/service.shtml?serviceid=3921 starts in bus/coach area outside Bournemouth Station [Down side] and uses the Sandbanks-Studland ferry to Swanage.
These are the current Winter timetables but I think they may still apply when the "Strictly Bulleid" steam gala is running [31 March - 2 April].
To make sure, may I suggest contacting them via enquiries@morebus.co.uk

 

Will take car then

 

Route 40 will pass through Corfe and there might also be a stop out side Norden P&R. Might not need the car

 

Request a stop at Norden Farm. Norden station is just round the corner (circa 300m as the crow flies)

 

Friday 31st March, buses to Swanage should leave Wareham at xx04 during the day.
The first two connections from London (and intermediate stations) (should) arrive at 0811 and 0911 so just missing the bus. The first London connection with a reasonable bus connection is 0703 from Waterloo arriving at 0939. 1004 bus from Wareham gets into Corfe at 1019.
Saturday April 1st, buses to Swanage should leave Wareham at xx04 during the day.
The first connections from London (and intermediate stations) (should) arrive at 0813, 0908, 1008, 1027 and 1048 (0835 from Waterloo).
The 1104 bus from Wareham gets into Corfe at 1119.

I'm sure the connections off the trains from London onto the bus to Corfe used to be better than this. This is why I've ended up getting the bus from Bournemouth or driving recently.

"(should)" is because the network rail journey planner won't plan that far ahead - these times are based on 1-2 weeks earlier.

 

personally nearly an hour to sit on a railway station would be not a problem. Not sure what traffic would pass, but that's the thrill of it isn't it!

 

Watching a couple of 444s go past when you really want to be travelling behind a real loco isn't my idea of fun.

 

A taxi to Norden is circa £10-12....and if there is a group of you then it works out about £3 pp

 

Last time I called to Wareham, 46115 appeared out of the blue.

 

Just bear in mind that the No 50 often runs with an open-topped vehicle (Even at this time of year!) and is often fairly busy - especially in the mornings and evenings. Whilst I was in the hospital in Poole in November, my friend often found himself having to sit outside as every seat inside was taken. Food for thought that may alter your decision! In contrast, I've only seen the No 40 run with an open-topped vehicle once, and that was back in May, so perhaps the better choice - even if the wait is a little tedious.