Swanage Railway General Discussion

The Saturday-only SWR shuttles last summer brought substantial numbers of extra people to the railway. I was talking to an SWR manager on the train who said that the first one on the day I travelled had carried 130 to Corfe Castle, and the certainly the last one out of Corfe had few spare seats. You'd probably need 3 buses to carry that number. In many ways the SWR shuttles did not fulfil their full potential in 2018 because they were only announced just before they started,and then later they were regularly cancelled completely due to the RMT strikes.

 

I would not disagree with the comments that a rail link is better, and whilst I often feel we are "at the end of the world" in Purbeck transport wise compared to my previous home in West London, the buses are generally pretty reliable. I was also very
shocked when a driver apoligised for being 10 minutes late due to someone having been taken ill on the bus.
Really only wanted to post the how to find us link for those that may have missed it.

Thank you although I shall probably keep my photographic images to myself.

 

Don't you dare. <BJ>

 

Hi,

Does anyone know what the planned loco roster is for the weekend?

I realise that it is pick two from four but it would be helpful to know!

Thank you in advance

Andrew

 

Are bus passes valid on it?

 

My wife and I always use the buses when we're in London. I dislike the tube. We always feel that we're in a different world when we experience the frequency and information provided about locations of the buses and the next stop etc compared with what we get in Worcestershire.

 

Yes like most of the country after 09:30 weekdays and all day at weekends.

 

The DMU replacement bus service timetable is shown on a post in the Diesel gala thread April 9th. Does not look like a hoax!
Just for the 3 days as route 144 between Wareham and Norden by Dekkabus.
The bus timetable has a Swanage railway header, but no mention on the Swanage railway website.

 

If the TOC application has yet to be completed and submitted, as this has a statutory consultation period attached of several weeks, I fear that any Swanage operated service will at best be only very late in the year for 2019.

Steven

 

Just a quick note for the avoidance of doubt (we all know how rumours can get started and spread around heritage railways!) and not in reply to anyone specifically, as stated above the ‘rail replacement bus’ will be in operation for the 3 days of the Diesel Gala weekend only; it is not planned as an ongoing ‘solution’.

 

Just to add to Rumpole's explanation, the ‘rail replacement bus’ was named as such as a humorous nod to the fact that last years Diesel Gala included a train linking Wareham station to the SR. The organisers wished to repeat that this year but were unable to because of [insert several reasons here]. Because a good number of people travel to the Gala by train they had the brilliant idea to lay on a special bus and humorously decided to call it a 'rail replacement bus service'.

I think it great that despite the angest, issues and delays SR is going through in establishing a proper Wareham Swanage service that they are still able to share a joke about it and recreate a part the national rail history that we don't find so glamorous. For the full effect I for one am hoping to see a typical vintage bus with an empty packet of Ringo's strategically stuffed down the seat back, the faint smell of stale cigarette smoke and discarded tickets in the isle.

Yes its an 'in Joke' (at least the name of the service is). No it's not a Hoax.

This should in no way be confused with the normal everyday bus service operated by Morebus that links Wareham station to Swanage station. Please also don't conflate this with the next part of Swanage Railways Wareham trial which they are still striving to commence later 2019/20. It's just part of the Diesel Gala.

For full effect the service should also take an implausible long route along narrow winding roads between the stations going through some places that you never imagined existed. Possibly passing your actual destination without stopping. But then the existing Morebuss service already does this

For extra points the driver could pretend to get lost and have to be given directions by a passenger (this actually happened to me).

 

OK then
Due to the water column bag not reaching the loco 257 has to go to the shed to water. From yesterday, attempting to move off shed for the 1400 service it has a mammoth slip under the Northbrook Road bridge. Reminded me of those videos of Bulleids trying to get out of the infamous "dip" under the Nine Elms coal stage.
And from today even though Summer may come soonest in the South, it can look like winter. Class 33111 peers through the sea mist that drifted over the town this afternoon.

 

Ah, the joys of Sat Nav. <BJ>

 

Well, the gentlemen who I gave a lift to from Wareham to Norden was planning to run it, and he had been retired a good few years

 

Go early and avoid the traffic queues John.

 

One of those days for remembering what your fogging point is from Swanage ‘box...!

 

Steven.

I fear your fears are my fears.

Stephen

 

Deleted ......
Cheers, Neil

 

Can you nudge the Swanage Railway webmaster so it be updated with info? And perhaps just call it a special bus service?

 

Cross purposes I think.
The Swanage Railway has 5 Mk 1 coaches certified for ECS workings as mentioned but further work and/or paperwork is needed before entering main line passenger use.
The DMUs at Eastleigh are being upgraded to current main line standards with electromagnetic door locks, OTMR, GSMR, TPWS, etc.