Swanage Railway General Discussion

The 4TC website is down and (unless anyone has more info) the only definite plan I can find is on the SR FB Dec 9 2021 "advent calendar" entry "Once the restoration is completed, we will be able to recreate the sight of a BR Blue Class 33/1 and a Blue & Grey liveried 4-TC working trains on the Branch - something that hasn’t been seen since 1972!" Although since then they also have the 5TCB buffet coach.

 

Retention tank cost contribution is only for stock already running on Network Rail. CDL is a legal requirement so I'm fairly certain Network Rail don't contribute to that.

 

For the Worgret to Wareham section surely all they need to do is lock the toilet doors? They only need to worry about retention tanks if they plan to run trains further afield on the mainline.

 

Am I the only one thinking some realism is needed here?! Full marks to Swanage Railway for attracting the necessary grant funding for the mainline connection and derogation for the DMU's, but that doesn't mean it's sensible for the TC to be destined for an extremely expensive mainline future, the bill for which I assume won't be footed externally.

I think their group have done very well getting this far and their aim to recreate a local diesel era push/pull train on the branch is both admirable and more importantly achievable. It would be a shame to spoil that with a leap towards mainline running with a questionable business case. After all, do SR need another "non steam" vessel to run to Wareham (or beyond)?

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My understanding is that 4TC's cannot run on the main line in propelling mode unless the leading vehicle is not used by passengers due to issues over crashworthiness of propelled MK1 stock

 

All Southern Region 1051 EPB 1956 CEP HAP, 1963 CIG VEP REP stock had Motor Generators, Amongst other thinkd they powered the lighting and compressor. The 4TC was unpowered and had to be coupled either to a 4REP or class 33/1 for Push Pull operation, As well as the 27 way jumper cable having to be connected The heating jumpers also had to be connected, that is why the class 33/1 was always preheating, I:E: the engine running fast even when statioery.

 

From memory, the motor generator is powered by the high voltage line supply to provide the lower voltage required for auxiliaries (such as lighting, Driver-Guard communication etc).

 

Thanks Andy and 5914. So the motor generator is basically a voltage changer?. Nowadays there are solid state circuitry that can do this, but if the motor generator worked well, good to preserve it as it was.

 

750V DC motor powering a 70V DC generator.

We aren’t aware of any faults with the MG set. However, thanks to the efforts of copper thieves, the coach needs a full rewire of the Control, Heating and ETH circuits.

And with regards to a 33/1 pushing a TC on the mainline, we aren’t aware of anyone having had that conversation with the ORR yet…we certainly haven’t. So the leading vehicle not being able to carry passengers is just an assumption.

 

A major step forward in the return to steam of No. 563.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...G3mo8EJu8b856tYaWfsqvCAyZl&id=100064645127545

 

For those who don't want to use FB
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/04/adams-t3-class-4-4-0-no-563-passes-its-hydraulic-test.html

 

That's the old story about the hydraulic test.
The story that @Josh Voce posted is about the steam test.

 

Thanks for the correction, glad progress is being made

 

There was very definitely a strong opinion offered by a senior inspector when options were being explored within the feasibility stage of Project Wareham. However, people change and so do processes for approvals and derogations, so the answer may come back differently if asked again...

 

Looking at the Brighton Belle project and crash worthyness was one of the issues.
http://brightonbelle.com/history
The design was considered to be safe, but MK1 coach design was not, the 4TC is based on MK1 design so currently always needs to be fronted by a locomotive on the mainline.
For the gala push pull working on the LU 4TC will be acceptable on the Swanage branch line.

 

Presumably stolen a while back?
I see on the webcam the Swanage blue/grey 4TC brake coach is still at Swanage station. No updates on the FB 4TC page. Will the rewire be ready so the coach can run for the gala, or a long term project?.

 

Both the Brighton Belle and Wareham DMU projects were developed when Mark 1 carriages were going to be severely restricted on the national network. These restrictions were never brought in.

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I don't think that is correct. The regulations came into force with effect from 31st December 2002 (Reg 4) and 1st January 2005 (Reg 5):
https://www.orr.gov.uk/guidance-com...lling-stock/mark-1-and-hinged-door-exemptions
As with ROGS, the regulations did not apply to railways with a maximum speed of 40km/h or lower.

Regulation 6 provides ORR the authority to make exemptions, and there is an extensive list on their website. (Having exemptions issued would idicate that the regulations did come into force.

At the time when ToR and initial feasibility study was taking place for Wareham services, ORR indicated they would not not be likely to agree an exemption for a Mk1 coach to be a leading vehicle without significant modifications. Whilst I personally would have liked the conversations to have come to a different conclusion, that was the ORR position at the time.

It should be noted that some of these conversations were in the abstract (as SR did not then have a 4TC set!) and in the context of the time when Mk I stock was still being withdrawn from the mainline and was therefore a prominent public issue. However, the conversations were looking at all rolling stock options that might be possible/desirable.

 

More than just a rewire, no brake pipes, all knicked whilst up at Butterly by metal thieves

 

If I may change the subject today we travelled on the 1215 Corfe Castle to Swanage returning on the 1520 . At no point on either journey or at the entry points were our tickets checked. We might as well as not paid our £54. Swanage Railway need to tighten up on revenue protection. Heaven knows how much money bus not being collected as todays experience is typical in our many visits here.