Swanage Railway General Discussion

Just to keep everyone up to date with the Motive power situation, SKP has arrived back on the premises after its brief visit to a wheel drop somewhere in south devon bringing the notionally available fleet to a healthy (by recent standards) four!
Didn't stop to ask, but T9 looked to be on washout, Standard Spare, U in traffic. 257 continues to be worked on but not match fit yet.

The 108 DMU is back in traffic on Green timetable days and running very well after some attention to a corridor connection.

The P-way is standing up well to the heat and all in all people are getting ready for the onslaught of the school holidays. Bring it on!

 

Paid a brief visit on Saturday just gone (21st July) predominantly to do the SWR service. 33111 was out vice T9, staff suggested this was due to a fault with it. 31806 looked like it was being prepared for the dining train later in the day. Last SWR service back to Wareham was pretty much full which was good to see.

 

Yes, was there on Saturday. T9 worked early afternoon. Last SWR service standing room only.

 

I note that industrial action by SWR has led to the cancellation of all services between Corfe Castle and Wareham today. Assuming that grievances are not resolved it would appear that 25th of August and 8th of September are the only remaining running days for this service.

 

Will the 'missing' day be credited to the Swanage's total of Wareham running days?

 

Service trains at present are in the hands of the Std tank (ex Swanage) and a class 33 (ex Norden) running 30 mins late.

Possibly a problem with 31806. <BJ>

 

Oh Bother there no spear engines now is there?

 

No issue, three rotating locos 31806,80104 and 33111 due to service trains having to use Platform 1 whilst the Steam Dreams tour occupies platform 2 and hence also the run round loop

 

Not as we speak. Two fit for traffic on a two loco timetable is not ideal. T9 is on washout and having attention to its main steam pipe. Fingers crossed this will be the quickest back. 257 is still undergoing commissioning work and hopefully not to far behind. SKP back from holiday in Devon but waiting for spare fitters.

Just to up the fun quota, due to a problem with the water column one loco is taking water on shed and the other at the 'emergency supply' at Norden. These backup watering facilities deliver water much more slowly than the main column. Norden has a submersible pump and hose pipe. The shed tank has a much lower head of pressure so the water lazily flops in to the tender despite the 6" pipe. It takes really sharp footplate team work to unhook, get to the supply, take water and get back on the train and ready to go. A delay at either end tends to impact the other service when they pass at Harmans Cross. Despite this all advertised steam services (apart from charter day) still steam hauled and mostly on time. Swanage Carnival week in full flow. Staff and Volunteers to be congratulated.

Latest issue of swanning around here let me know if the link doesn't works for you.
http://srstaff.co.uk/swanningaround/swanningjul2418.pdf

 

Hotdog might get more use yet then.

 

Not heard about the progress on N class 31874 recently after such a rapid start on the overhaul, is there a problem with this Loco?

Kind regards
Chris

 

As the bottom end is virtually complete I'm guessing its boiler related most likily extra work needed and that's raised the costs see this was the boiler with the BR era patch on the inner firebox side ,so most likily its needed new platework.

 

Not yet in service, but at least parked somewhere different to normal, 257 Squadron at Swanage on July 31st 2018.

 

Bottom half was completed some time ago and is in Herston works awaiting its boiler.

Boiler is causing the delays. Not helped I believe by the original boiler contractor going bust.

 

Thank you martin, I am obliged to you

Chris

 

Ans Stephan Vane, opologies for the omission.

Chris

 

That Ballast & lineside vegetation is very 'period'

 

After yesterdays strike, talks are back on.
Any news on the 2 DMUsthat are due back for main line certification and training for the 2019 season?

From the 4TC unit website slow progress, but sadly will not be ready for 2019.

 

There has been no substantial change in the DMU schedule that's been notified to us. Final assembly is progressing at Eastleigh with testing scheduled during Aug. All being well we should see them back at Swanage sometime in the autumn for our own testing and training program. There is an additional inspection pit going in at Corfe this winter to facilitate the FTR exams and then we will be then be at least physically ready then to operate the 2019 Wareham service. As always these days there is an amount of paperwork, compliance, exempting, consulting, licencing, timetabling, etc, etc, etc, also coming together.

I've not looked at the TC website but the second coach is coming along after discovery of more tin worm than expected. Unfortunately Tin Worms like to dine on Cash for desert so a fundraising push will be needed for the third coach to get us to a 3TC.

We have made a grant application for more MK1 rolling stock to be mainline certified in addition to the 5 we have already. Hopefully The N will come out main line equip as well if funding can be found for that. We will then be well placed for taking Steam off the branch in some form or other. Before anyone asks there are no solid plans for anything specific at this stage. We have enough on our plate at the moment and are taking this one step at a time.