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Swanage Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Rumpole, Oct 10, 2012.

  1. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    The only potential use of the Wareham sidings would be short term stabling of trains before the return journey to Swanage, and possibly running around. Lack of road access wouldn’t be an issue.

    A 5 coach MK1 set is around 325 ft long. So a 500ft loop sounds more than sufficent.
     
  2. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    All 3 of this years DCE's have that as the hoped for combination (23/7, 20/8, & 3/9) since they were published some time ago. Of course with the New Forest fire risk caveat. From some images I was sent by a friend this week NR have done some more clearance work near Bincome short tunnel and the site of Upwey Wishing Well Halt, so lets hope at least one of them happens.
     
  3. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Some spring like weather yesterday was a good excuse for a walk down to Dickers. Also long distance shots of the Herston activity (as I was too lazy to walk down the field).
     

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  4. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

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    Struggling to find the join between a volunteer heritage railway and NR.
    If this is the future, perhaps 4mm is the way forward.
    Steve
     
  5. Andy Moody

    Andy Moody Member

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    The down sidings, mainly owing to the ongoing situation with the foot crossing have been out of use for a number of years.
    The electrified siding next to the main line has not been used since at least 2012 and goodness how long ago the other two sidings were used.
    I would hazard an educated guess that network rail have more likely than not signed all three sidings off and probably the only future for
    them is to be eventually lifted and the parcel of land sold for redevelopment.
    I still can not see why you would want to substitute the DMMU service for steam? Yes a nice thought, but where are you going to find additional
    Loco hauled coaching stock with central door locking from? Trains would require top and tailing, OK D6515 and 31806 are main line certificated
    but the U class comes out of traffic as it's boiler certificate expires in April 2021 (Source Steam Railway 501 and 502) so it just is not going to happen.
    Me, I would ideally love to see 30053 and a push pull set operating between Swanage and Wareham, but that wont ever happen either.
     
  6. ady

    ady Well-Known Member

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    The U boat's ticket might be soon up but the N class should be back by then. I suspect the five Mark 1's that are registered will have the door locked fitted once the DMUs are finally in use and proven to work. The sidings won't be sold if the railway are interested, Network Rail have allowed the railway the use of the former signal box for staff.

    Can you give the railway a flaming chance, steam hauled services to Wareham have been the hope since the project started.
     
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  7. 60044

    60044 Member

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  8. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    Agreed. I believe the sidings have been earmarked for Swanage railway use once the crossing issue is resolved.

    It’s hard to take some people on here seriously when they directly contradict the Swanage railway’s official publicly stated intentions.
     
  9. Mogul

    Mogul Member

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    Cos the general public like to ride steam! Its the premium product! Findings from the 2017 trial were that despite the service running all the way to Swanage most passengers originating at Wareham got off at the earliest opportunity and transferred to steam.
    Not if we run round in the sidings:rolleyes:
    Bottom end has been extensively overhauled during two intermediate overhauls since arriving on the railway. Note BOILER expires. If only we there was another boiler that fits. It could be overhauled in advance and swapped in just like they used to do in Eastleigh for a faster turnaround. But where would you find such a thing?
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2020
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  10. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

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    Isn't 31625 sitting at Furzebrook? Maybe there is another reason - lack of money. N class comes first re spending. We love to dream, but in our dreams there is no thing called money.
     
  11. Mogul

    Mogul Member

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    :cool:

    It is all about money - and the amount of engineering capacity it can buy, however....... With a lot invested in the last couple of years getting 806 bottom end in probably the best shape its been in since the 50s, it would be poor use of funds to set it aside and hire another loco instead. Starting from scratch on 1625 is also way more expensive than reboilering 806.

    Cheapest way of having a serviceable loco is to repair either 1625 boiler or 806 boiler and return 806 to traffic ASAP. With boilers taking as long as they do unless 806 boiler is in significantly better shape than 1625 the fastest and only smart thing to do is get a head start on the expiration of the ticket and get cracking on 1625's boiler. Heritage railways need steam locos so one way or another, money will need to be found and this is probably the most economic option.

    1625 currently has the boiler previously on the N. It steamed for 5 years between 1996 - 2001 when it was failed with persistent stay issues. At this time it's thought that politics between MHR and the owner were as big a factor in it being laid up as as the engineering. The plate work is thought to be in good condition. The N was the worst boiler of the 3 without a doubt. This thread discussed some time ago the perceived reasons for 625's stay issues and lay up. These would need to be investigated before making a decision and committing to the work.

    It does. But spending on the N is virtually completed. Its been 'nearly there' for a long time. If a certain boiler company would pull their finger out it could be running soon. Its because there is a thing called money (and the continual need for Steam Locos to generate it) that having the N and 806 in traffic is more than a dream. It's a necessity.

    As for Steam to Wareham. Coming as far as we have with TOC status, Mainline certified engines and rolling stock, fully signaled connection to the main line, Mainline trained crews, etc etc, why wouldn't we experiment with steam to Wareham when we are ready? Top and tailed at first undoubtedly, but if its worth while it's entirely possible to put an additional X over in the sidings to facilitate runarounds off the mainline.

    Now if you really want to talk about dreaming there is Poole sidings. But then didn't all our railways start as a dream?
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2020
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  12. mikechant

    mikechant Member

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    Also, I would have thought that the extra capacity of a 5 coach loco hauled set might come into its own at (e.g.) school summer holiday times. The DMUs are no doubt much cheaper to run but the loco hauled set could nonetheless maybe be more profitable if it was well loaded.
     
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  13. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Re 1625 boiler It only ran for 5 years, before being put aside, The problem though could have been reluctance on behalf of the railway to spend money on an engine it would lose, the boiler was like all the others overhauled at the time with the expectation of running for 20 years, with some stay work and re tubing being needed at the 10 year mark. I agree about the N boiler, it had a large patch done in Br Days, whilst ok for preserved use, it was not ok for main line use, of course whats unknown is the extent of damage done on 31625 to the plate work by the stay problem as likely there could be some plate cracking between the stays as well as the actual stays, but as you say the only way is to lift it and inspect it. and if its in reasonable condition, compared to say 806, then to overhaul it between now and when the U comes out of service fit the already overhauled boiler, and away she goes, the bottom end has already been done, The second U needs far more work it has no finished motion for starters so that needs to be machined and fitted, a full mechanical evaluation and that's before you start on the boiler off 806 , would you ever concider sending the boiler away for overhaul to another railway, such as Ropley if it didn't create any problems between your selves and the owner just on the grounds that its a contract job,
     
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  14. Mogul

    Mogul Member

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    I think you are spot on Martin.
    SR are expanding their engineering capabilities all the time but I also think Ropley would be an excellent place to send the boiler. I'm not sure if they are taking contracts tho? I can see a lot of scope for a collaborative effort. Perhaps even possible for SR to fund an apprentice in Ropley boiler shop as part of the deal. Rather than each railway trying to be self sufficient its far better for railways to develop a speciality and trade between them. This already happens to an extent but I can see potential for this to grow. Regards whether this would be a problem for Mr Bunch he would need to be asked but time and a lot of water under the bridge has passed. When the locos moved to Swanage there were a lot of warnings on here about the problems we would have with the owner but I've not heard of any at all so far. It was emphasised here that the contract gave complete control to the SR so even if grudges are still harbored, there is no legal basis for preventing it happening. I can only think of one place where I definitely wouldn't be sending any more boilers ever!
     
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  15. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    You are right a lot of water and time has passed, that he agreed to sell the Standard 5 to the MHRPS shows that he clearly has moved on, as has the railway, The boiler dept. at Ropley have a very good reputation , and know the boilers history . yes I feel the Swanage railway has been let down by its chosen boiler contractor, but don't know the true extent of the reason for the delays, as when you change contractors mid job, the new one will often want to re do whats already been done, or to at least check its been done to their own standards, I can remember a contract job, I think it was the Std 5, we got it back, supposingly done, and we had to rework every mounting face, every flange I think we had to replace several new large tubes, or re expand them
     
  16. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    Exciting times at Swanage with with T3 and N hopefully coming into service within the next year or two.

    I know the M7 is in Herston works, is there an estimated timescale for completion?

    Also I believe the T9 boiler ticket expires this year. Is this likely to remain at Swanage for a further overhaul? I presume discussions will be taking place behind the scenes with the NRM.
     
  17. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    My understanding is that the lack of progress with the boiler was due to awaiting free issue parts by the Swanage Railway. True or not, it shows that there are two sides to every story.
     
  18. Mogul

    Mogul Member

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    Steve, forgive me I don't know your involvement ot connection with the firm but you are right in that there are two sides. A true one and the side with a load of ********
    Do you really believe that parts have caused this to take 5 1/2 years.
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2020
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  19. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    PM sent. I'm not going to comment further on this subject on the Forum.
     
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  20. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

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    DMU scheduled to return Tuesday onwards by road
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2020
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