Swanage Railway General Discussion

Sometimes In the late 197o's-early 80's for a short while, there was a freightliner service (class 33 and 5 set) between Millbrook and Hamworthy goods, restricted to 8ft high only containers due to clearance under several bridges between Totton and Branksome. So not possible to even consider.

 

A misty afternoon in Purbeck for the penultimate Driver Taster day.
The train approaching Woodyhyde to a background of lots of gunfire from the army ranges (practicing shooting Russians?) and Harmans Cross.
The Swanage shot of the "mushroom cloud" was unexpected as I had been to Budgens and walking back to the car the train was still in the station.

 

34028 Eddystone will be running on Tuesday and Wednesday for SLL shareholder DX trips.

 

Just watched the loco running round on the cam and noticed the view behind the column. I am sure someone in always complaining from Canada will be very happy!

 

I wouldn't put any money on that...

 

Well spotted Gladiator. Were you a 34050 person!!. coming over in August for a personal inspection!!. Do you think SR will be running on a daily basis given current circumstances?? I am bringing my SRN and SRT magazines from/ to; 197?/2015 for the book Van!
btw If you have a few bob the Urie S15 society are hoping to have BOTH their engines running to gether in 2023. Just need a little help!
and, Keith,as you know ,there is no business like putting on a good show business!!

 

Especially for you as I was passing on the way to Boots for the usual "guess what they might have dispensed for my wife this time" pick up.

 

One from yesterday with a face full of steam for the signalman on the verandah with the token, and the last train heading away from HX this afternoon.

 

Lonnie Donegan sang it best!1 Puttin on the Style"

 

A Storm In A Tea Cup - a petition against the relocation of the Birds Nest Buffet

End of the line for Swanage’s buffet car café? – Swanage News

 

A huge own goal. a great spot especially in warmer weather to sit outside and enjoy a great railway atmosphere. Once again,but a few years ago, this vehicle was repurposed(at about 100,000gbp) to its present format. ST has dining trains.&The Birds Nest. How much of the Purbeck Pie does it want? I like to sit in the gardens at the Bankes Arms. I also like to have a coffee at the NT facility. Spread it around SR!! I do not think SR will win friends or finance with this proposal. Sign the Petition for this unique railway catering facility to stay in Swanage.

 

Can I be a grump and say I doubt its a big loss.

Normally when I'm in Swanage I go to somewhere in Town for food, only popping to the nest for a cup of tea. When I was down there last the new buffet counter in the booking office dealt with that plus other snacks were brought with no issues. The only thing the Bird Nest could do but the current counter can't is certain hot food like chips but there are three chippies down the road. And a shop which does decant Cornish pasties. And the Italian Ice Cream shop. etc and etc.

I'm sure it would be possible to reopen the picnic area at some point as well so people can still sit in the sun with their teas and since of cake.

Also the railway made all of the Bird Nest staff redundant when Covid Lockdown Mk1 started so there is less people to man it now.

As for Corfe Castle Station, there would often be a 'Tea Truck' based down there during the summers. Always did a roaring trade. However I just looked at their FB, it hasn't been updated since the summer, and their website is down so I fear their business has been knacked by F##king Covid. So the railway must have decided to send the Birds Nest to Corfe as a replacement.

I mean yeah there is the little bakery, the NT tea room and the bars so we see how well the Bird Nest does. I suspect it wouldn't be the full range of hot food, it might just do what the Tea Truck used to do. Probably be enough...

Its is a bit annoying considering how much it cost to refurbish the dam coach as it went way over budget and now its redundant in its intended role. But then again that's happening everywhere at the moment. Look at the SWR plans for the class 442s...

 

I must be getting old!. I want my tea/coffee in a real cup, not a plastic beaker. Weather permitting,lets say at this time of year, i could sit outside, enjoy my cake and coffee,the wonderful daffs and appreciate the work the gardening team puts in to keep it like that.
I want to sit somewhere with a view,an atmosphere(railway is a bonus) and if it employs locals so much the better. As i said there is only so much financial "pie" at Corfe and I cannot think that more competition would be welcome
The petition is nearly at 200 so obviously a lot of supporters and townspeople disagree with this decision and it could cost the railway a lot of support and goodwill.

 

There are indeed a lot of cafe's and other food outlets in Swanage. Many seem to come and go with a great frequency, maybe due to seasonality, maybe due to people spending less I do not know.
The Birds Nest of old with cracking bacon rolls was great but in its final form did it offer much more than is offered from the facility in the booking hall?
Regarding Corfe may do well if people feel happier being where there train will be rather than missing it, plus some of the competition (pubs excluded) are in locations you need to "find" unless you are visiting the castle.

 

Birds nest was in dire need of updating, pre Covid you could only get a cappuccino or latte from a sachet… Had quite a limited range of cakes and sandwiches on offer too.

I’m sure we’d all agree that catering across the railway is still in need of further development but I think personally it is a good idea to have the new Kiosk in the booking hall (where passengers naturally flow past) and not past the bins at the end of the platform.

Seems like a good idea to make use of the coach at Corfe where seems to be a ready market for customers, as many people break the journey there for a trip round the village.

Of course the need for development doesn’t stop with the coach moving, but it’s a good first start.

Does seem somewhat odd for people to criticise the railway for wanting to improve facilities for visitors?


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I think the last time I went in the Bird Nest it was a plastic cup...

If they reopen the picnic area you can still sit in it with your coffee from the new counter. So yeah that doesn't really stop that...

 

Looking up the companies website and sadly the Teatruck Company status - Dissolved.

They do need somewhere at Swanage where they could ocassionally show off locos in need of renovation to help with fund raising.

 

...Where's the dislike button....

...their Victoria Sponge was magnificent...

 

nearly 200 people disagree with you(so far!). ..and if the offerings from a kiosk style coach at Corfe are similar to what you describe then that is set to fail also! i know what my choice will be given a chance to sit and enjoy in relative comfort rain or shine!
remember that meme "the crumbling edge of quality"? believe it or not some of us still enjoy a slice of quality and if i have to bypass the SR "Kiosk" to obtain that then its a no brainer!!

Come on. even a visitor from overseas can find the NT facility ot,not as difficult, the Bankes Arms. The Greyhound? I think one has to remember a lot of visitors to Corfe, however they arrived, have other things to seer and do rather then trains!

 

The last time I volunteered at the "Nest" it was real cups,real cakes and a real dishwasher! Someone had brought a huge load of mugs from the southern Railway Childrens Homes. Have a word in the chairman's ear that its all about the "experience" and plasric cups from a kiosk do nt contribute to that do they??