Swanage Railway General Discussion

You have a good point. From the history page Gladiator 5076 posted, the "Royal Wessex" in 1051 was, like the festival, was to show Britain was recovering from the austerity years into a new era, so had new Mk1 coaches and prototype diesel locos.
But by 1955 was back to a steam loco with green coaches.
So did not have a Maunsell carriage.
Although a good way to market and bring in some extra revenue from the restored Maunsell coach. In 2023 there will be a heritage rake with Bulleid and Maunsell carriages to match the 563 loco.

 

Reference post #7216 by "Gladiator 5076" Half of the train (The Restaurant portion) started/terminated at Bournemouth West.
The Weymouth portion formed BTK TK CK CK BTK departed 0734, the Swanage portion formed CK and BTK .
The Bournemouth West portion formed BTK RTO RK RFO FK BTK departed 0820, The 13 coach train departed Bournemouth Central 0840
arriving Waterloo 1050, The return working departing 1635, Bournemouth Central 1852 Bournemouth West portion arrived 1913, Swanage
portion arrived 1952 and the Weumouth portion arrived 1955.
It would be interesting to know what the Motive power for the Swanage portion was and where it originated from?

 

ok maybe I shouldn't have put it like that. I fully aware it's been worked on, as I said in a post after that. SLL did state they want her ready for June, from the images I seen it still seems way off.

 

I thought they tagged it on the end of the branch line push-pull train? So an M7...

 

My understanding was that, in the down direction at least, the train engine would normally work the train from Waterloo to Weymouth, with a separate engine taking the main portion round to West a few minutes later. (In 1960 2 minutes was allowed at Bournemouth for detaching the rear portion, before the Weymouth portion continued to Weymouth, with the main portion leaving for West 6 minutes after that).

Traction would have varied over the years - but I understand (certainly from Bournemouth crews of the 1950s and 60s) that the general principle was the same. So it would most likely have been a 'big engine' (H15, LN, V, MN or WC) from Waterloo. In the case of the through carriages for Swanage, they would just be worked down by the branch engine with the P-P set.

 

Also found this info which adds very little more to what you have mentioned off the Southern Rail email group website, but 3 minutes to detach at Wareham was quite sporty I guess, where is was not as common as at Bournemouth. Also did not realise called at Poole, Wool & Dorchester so really a semi fast in the true sense of the phrase west of Bournemouth.
https://sremg.org.uk/misc/rwess.shtml

 

Do we think there is much chance of 31806 doing the weymouth Southampton portion of the coast express this year?
or can't swanage spare her?

 

I would imagine you need some serious rain dances. Cannot see NR or the New Forest folks being keen on non diesel assisted steam, especially as none is forecast.
Of course the next scheduled one will get binned as it is an RMT strike day, just leaves the September one.

 

Network Rail have banned ALL steam operation on the mainline UFN, or until there is a significant amount of rainfall.
Think the only line that allows steam operation is Fort William to Mallaig.

 

Grosmont-Whitby is still steam

 

I was very surprised but the LSL Kingswear trip on Saturday and the Royal Duchy yesterday ran with steam. OK they both had diesel assistance but cannot believe much more rain in Somerset and Devon than here.
Up north of course Tangmere did the Northern Belle on Saturday and I believe BIL is down for Dalesman tomorrow.
Although if you look at an image of the Duchy recently loaded on Railway Herald the only exhaust is from the diesel at the back.
The "ban" or whatever NR now call it is all a bit vague to me, other than of course not being pure steam down this way.

 

In August 2019 Swanage's 30012/D6515 Diesel , with LUs 4TC carriage set, took part in a Imberbus railtour from Waterloo (via Warminster, but with a Diesel less risk of trackside fires) http://www.railtourinfo.co.uk/170819c.html
Also some 2019 Sunday seaside specials Waterloo to Swanage
Although the Imber bus event is back in 2022, no railtours with 30012/D6515 this year. Presumably due to finance concerns recovering from covid?. Maybe back next year?.

 

With the current Yellow TT, the 1315 departure will always depart from the Bay. That's what my diagrams says for Fri/Sat!

 

Just looking at "The Southerners" video of Ropley. If EVER there is an engine which should be repatriated to the Purbeck Line its 34105. Is it restorable? how many would buy another SLS share if they decided to rescue what is turning into a Ropley Wreck!!

 

I think you will find it is currently being worked on. I think they are having to make a new centre cylinder block amongst other things.

 

It hardly matters for a "social benefit" line where passengers will want environmentally friendly Vivarail units, though, does it? And haven't the SR got enough Bulleid pacifics already?

 

I thought it was in a bit of a hiatus until the ownership has been fully established/resolved?