Swanage Railway General Discussion

Herston has no pits from what I've seen. Does this affect the teams ability to carry out repairs?

 

SSL and SR also use other specialist loco works such as Tyseley, Flour Mill, Eastleigh for part overhauls where specialist knowledge or equipment is needed.
Interesting that although it was thought 257 Squadron would need to be sent to Tyseley to get the steam pipe repaired they managed to do it at Herston saving a lot of money.
Guess to add a pit to Herston will not be cost effective?. Anyone be able to add more info?

They also got help from MHR to repair Eddystone's bogie themselves without the need for a pit.
From the SSL website, next loco to be finished at Herston with Manston is the Drummond M7 30053.
But 80104 has been sent to Tyseley for assessment.

 

Not sure how much this adds but:

1. There is a pit at Swanage so presumably if a loco is coming out of service, some works could be done over the pit and then the loco is transferred by road to Herston Works.

2. There is now a pit at Corfe Castle to support the Wareham service DMUs. As above perhaps some works could be done there.

3. Herston Works is owned by Dorset Council as successor to Purbeck District Council. I have never heard of talk of a wish / plan to have a pit at Herston. Presumably though once installed that could make the space less flexible to use?

 

Just to add there are 4 heavy duty lifting jacks in the works (capacity around 80 tonnes) obtained from Eurostar, which can easily lift any loco for re wheeling, inspecting boxes etc.

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Plenty of headroom under those lifts.

 

Sunnieboy propping up the pony truck for scale!

 

True, I never noticed that before

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If youre going to do it, may as well go all out!

 

As Freddie Mercury used to say, if a things worth doing its worth overdoing

 

Comings and going at Corfe Monday night. I thought the wet weather would keep folks indoors (how wrong I was, as can be seen on the platform, with loads more also on the footbridge).

 

Anyone know anything about an alleged brake issue with Eddystone which now needs a full set of new tyres?

 

Happy New Year and worth noting that today marks the 50th anniversary of the last BR train from Wareham to Swanage.

Swanage Railway are running the class 117 DMU between Norden and Swanage for three days to commemorate.

It’s worth taking a moment to remember just how much effort has gone into this over the years to make operations possible today.

 

Something was mentioned in the SLL newsletter. Didn't go into specifics, but insurance is paying out.

 

Cant believe its 50 years ago today that i was "unofficially" allowed to finish early from my 14.00-22.00 shift as "Signal Lad" in Bournemouth box to be on the last run on the branch, i have somewhere my ticket, which must have been the last ever "priv" return from Bournemouth to Swanage issued ! Getting too long in the tooth now for being an ASSSSSFFAATs member, (The Amalgamated Society of Stone Shovellers, Sleeper Slingers, Fishplate Fasteners and Allied Trades) !!! Fond memories of great times, hard graft and good friendships,and many pints sunk in the Red lion, the Globe, the Oak and the Square and Compass. Happy new year to all, and raise a glass to all of the pioneers from the early days, and all of the projects recent losses who are sadly no longer with us, Heres to the future, must get back soon !
Cheers all, Regards Bish.

 

Not a great image, but the 13:30 departing today complete with its headboard.

 

BBC Radio Solent got it wrong though. They stated that the trains were running to and from Wareham in their news broadcasts this morning!

 

Happy New Year Bish, when you look at what we achieved, when all the odds were against us, when we were told we were wasting our time, that a Swanage Railway was a pipe dream, just like the Channel Tunnel, yet we did.

As you said, it was the comradeship that kept us together, the more we were told you cannot, the harder we worked to prove them wrong.

I return your raised glass, Cheers!

 

Now, if only they had a Hampshire Unit

(But I will be on it tomorrow)

 

The old boy who visits my Post Office they did try and borrow one but it didn't happen.

 

Just one trip to and from would have been a political hay maker!