If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Swanage Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Rumpole

    Rumpole Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2005
    Messages:
    2,563
    Likes Received:
    761
    Occupation:
    Tea-Maker
    Location:
    34105
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The Swanage Railway has just spent a not inconsiderable amount of money on overhauling 4 cars worth of DMMU with a view to operation to Wareham. I suspect if it gave those up now and decided to use Pacers, they would have some very ‘interesting’ questions to answer from those public bodies that have assisted with those overhauls!
     
    Wenlock likes this.
  2. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2011
    Messages:
    814
    Likes Received:
    121
    Very True. The inescapable fact is that the majority of HR cannot subsist from the fare box. The SR magazine,in practically every issue that I have read, is constantly bemoaning the fact of lack of capital to pursue major objectives. Appeals are all very well but lets remember that both on and off the line demographics point to a constantly dwindling resource in that regard ,A travel writer once described how the UK has a particular love of its "Railways in Aspic" If HR are to survive how about opening up transferable Life Memberships" within family groups. could be a good way to raise capital and encourage continuing interest. As to Pacers they are a lot younger than the SR DMUS.Spares would not be a problem(Are they going to be with our DMUS?) and were probably retired for political reasons
     
  3. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    4,889
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Forgetting for the moment that as Rumpole has said Pacers are not coming, as has been said before what would be the business proposition of any service (let alone a Pacer) to Bournemouth? Wareham is the interchange to the National Network, Swanage residents (in vast numbers) have bus passes so the 50 would beat an expensive rail ticket, and Bournemouth Station area is not much use unless you want Asda or lots of bars and restaurants that seemed to be aimed at the student population.
     
  4. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2011
    Messages:
    814
    Likes Received:
    121
    Coronavirus changes everything,including,believe it or not,HR. If you do not want things to work then of course they will not.Writing ss an original SR member do you honestly think that the pioneers were concerned about what particular type of vehicle on rails connected Swanage to Wareham?? Have objectives and aspirations changed over nearly fifty years. One would hope so. HR are going to have to adjust their models post COVID. The ones that survive that is!!
     
  5. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    4,889
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    But you were talking about a service to Bournemouth not Wareham
     
  6. City of truro fan

    City of truro fan Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2015
    Messages:
    783
    Likes Received:
    84
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Honiton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I just think they need to fix the loop so that can run a steam to Wareham and run round as people will just see a pacers and keep going to Weymouth where as if it’s steam they will stop and get off
     
  7. twr12

    twr12 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2007
    Messages:
    1,540
    Likes Received:
    692
    Railways in Aspic? That’s an LP of chuffing introduced by Bob Symes....
     
  8. Shaggy

    Shaggy Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2009
    Messages:
    2,501
    Likes Received:
    2,370
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    72B
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    With regards to the Pacers, I've now been advised that they have been purchased and will be retained in Eastleigh for sublease and not be heading to Swanage (Phew!). There are also 3 more heading there on Monday.
     
  9. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2019
    Messages:
    1,173
    Likes Received:
    1,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brighton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Interesting, but sub lease to who I wonder? I thought they were being banished from the national network. Only of use to heritage lines or overseas perhaps.
     
  10. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,100
    Likes Received:
    57,414
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Oh, I’d so love to go out and photograph them going through Salisbury, if only it wasn’t for this lockdown :rolleyes:

    Tom
     
  11. athelney

    athelney Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    504
    Likes Received:
    172
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired warranty administrator
    Location:
    Abbotsford , BC. Canada
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Is the grocery store anywhere near the station :rolleyes:.....hint !
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2020
  12. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2011
    Messages:
    814
    Likes Received:
    121
     
  13. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2011
    Messages:
    814
    Likes Received:
    121
    what is the economic argument for continuing third rail electrification west of Poole. /
     
  14. twr12

    twr12 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2007
    Messages:
    1,540
    Likes Received:
    692
    That was done in 1988......
     
    Shaggy, Bluenosejohn, Mogul and 2 others like this.
  15. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,485
    Likes Received:
    23,715
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Not having to maintain multiple fleets for the benefit of a 30 mile stub of line. Benefits that are much more significant than easing matters for the SR at Wareham.

    Besides which, two points to note about Pacers in this context. First, Pacers aren’t barred from 3rd rail lines, and have worked over them at places like Southport and Bidston. Second, the Pacers at Eastleigh aren’t destined for Swanage in any case.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
    Wenlock and johnofwessex like this.
  16. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,100
    Likes Received:
    57,414
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    It's in the opposite direction ... And also I'm washing my hair that day. It's really tragic, but life just seems to be conspiring against my ability to take a photograph of a pacer ...

    Tom
     
  17. twr12

    twr12 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2007
    Messages:
    1,540
    Likes Received:
    692
    I think I’ve worked out what you said.

    I think you are suggesting ripping up the juice rail west of Poole, just so that Swanage Railway can use Pacers between Swanage and Wareham!

    This is definitely silly season.
     
    35B likes this.
  18. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2012
    Messages:
    2,439
    Likes Received:
    855
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Wessex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Tsk Tsk and you sound so upset. :rolleyes:
     
    Jamessquared and 35B like this.
  19. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2011
    Messages:
    814
    Likes Received:
    121
     
  20. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,338
    Likes Received:
    421
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    SWR now seem to be using modern Desiro EMUs on the Weymouth main line, the 32 year old refurbished 442s seem to be just used on the Portsmouth line (so far)?
    https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/our-network
    the latest SWR map includes Corfe and Swanage, presumably done when before the lockdown?

    When the lockdown is over, although many pensioners will still use bus passes between Bournemouth and Swanage, there should be enough daytrip and rambler passengers for the railcars from other parts on the SWR network, if well promoted?
    Hopefully the 2 refurbished railcars will be reliable and 31806 or 31874 might do occasional Wareham runs. without the need for rented Pacers.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2020

Share This Page