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Swanage Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Jupiter

    Jupiter New Member

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    Not exactly. Routine monitoring in April revealed an issue requiring investigation. The most appropriate initial course of action was to take the heads off the engine for inspection. The heads were refitted and the engine was running again on the 2nd of May.

    It was felt prudent to test the 121 on the heritage section of the line before committing it to mainline service. The test runs are scheduled for Friday the 26th of May.
     
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  2. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Found the document.
    https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-consu...e-application-railway-safety-regulations-1999
    It does also mention the costs the LU 4TC cost for central locking doors at Eastleigh, who also did the DMUs. (Photo showing the extra door panels added).
    http://preserved.railcar.co.uk/Images/121/55028-2016-11-30-Carl-Watson.jpg
    [​IMG]
    Now looking much better, Hope it gets back working latter this week.!

    The Hastings Diesel team seemed to do some work themselves and have a good webpage
    https://www.hastingsdiesels.co.uk/news/articles/2005a02/
    Maybe a long term aim of the Swanage 4TC group with a "5TCB" on the mainline, which could be used with 31806 and a 33 to provide occasional runs to Wareham and further now rail tours are becoming feasible again now rail tours are becoming feasible again?
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2023
  3. Andy Moody

    Andy Moody Member

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    There is also something else that everybody has totally overlooked, THE THIRD RAIL which is charged with 750 Volts. I am personally very doubtful if the Health and safety executive, ORR and/or Railtrack would even entertain the idea!
    And goodness knows how much NR would charge The Swanage Railway to put a set of extra points (and associated extra signalling in.
    Unless of course there is somebody on here with a bottomless bank balance that would be willing to fund such a scheme!

    I can confirm that the class 117 behaved itself on Wednesday. It was quite well patronized as well from what I saw at Corfe Castle.

    There was also an extra movement yesterday, 34070 ran light engine to Norden and back so it looks as if we have three working steam loco's again.
     
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  4. buzby2

    buzby2 Well-Known Member

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    Good point about the third rail.
    Although, once relevant crews become qualified in NR Rules, etc then third rail requirements for coupling up to a main line failure, for instance, would have to be covered. Safety would still need concentration when running round in electrified sidings but, perhaps, the LU experience of 'Steam on the Met' shunters using glass fibre third and fourth rail protectors could be invoked.
    Incidentally, Wareham's Down siding number one [250 metres] is the one which was (still is?) electrified but the other two are not.
    However, unelectrified sidings 2 and 3 are only 121 metres long. So not enough for a head shunt and the installation of a set of points, towards the buffer stops end, to allow running round of (say) a 5-coach train.
    As it would not be on the main line it might be possible for Network Rail to grant permission for SR to install a set of points [unsignalled and train crew operated] especially if a main line possession in the area was in force for other PW or S&T works. Whether this site would be road-accessible though, I have no idea. Several buildings/industrial estates have been built along Sandford Lane right up to the boundary fence.
    Finally, the loco would still have to come out onto the Down main line, so that the rest of the run-round manoeuvre could be completed, as there is no head shunt at the Wareham station end of these sidings. All three sidings appear to have just one exit signal and a set of trap points to protect the Down main line.
    The 117 also seems to have behaved itself on the first two Wareham 'excursions' today with the second [13:05 ex-Wareham] having 40-ish passengers I believe - but some of those could be travelling free like me [Premier Life Member].
    31806 was seemingly being prepared this afternoon with steam drifting out of a safety valve - so might this be taking over services again soon? Just when an Amber fire warning has been issued for this weekend: https://www.dwfire.org.uk/news/amber-wildfire-alert-issued/ Fire beaters and footplate 'pep' pipes at the ready - and it's still only May!
     
  5. buzby2

    buzby2 Well-Known Member

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    The Swanage 4TC Group may well have had main line aspirations originally (2005-ish?) - but the national rail network carries on evolving and is now a different place to operate in.
    In addition to electric secondary door locking mentioned earlier, I believe the fitment of controlled emission toilets is at the cost of the rolling stock owner. I also suspect that Swanage would not be granted exemption from that latter requirement should they wish to use the coaches [either Mk1s or the 5TCB] further afield than Wareham.
    Incidentally, I shouldn't have thought a 5TCB would be really economic on a rail tour without charging somewhat 'heroic' fares. However, LU's 4TC has been used on several occasions by UK Railtours to bring visitors to Swanage so it must have [at the very least] broken even - so what do I know.
     
  6. twr12

    twr12 Well-Known Member

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    Andy, the Third Rail is only dangerous if you touch it.
     
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  7. twr12

    twr12 Well-Known Member

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    For 31806 to work with a TC unit, it would need air braking. Not insurmountable, but something else to do.
     
  8. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    All Swanage staff working over Network Rail track will require to attend and pass a NR PTS course that covers safety on third rail track. Mainline loco support crews have to do the same. A periodic medical exam is also required at a cost to the railway.
     
  9. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    I think the cost of controlled emission toilets as down to NR but not central door locking
     
  10. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I think it’s only funded by NR for stock that already passed for main line running.
     
  11. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    I see the Hastings Diesel mainline "Thumper" DEMU will do a rail tour from various locations to Weymouth, and return, 8th July with prices between £57 and £97, so presume with drinks and light refreshments will make a profit?, one option, instead of Weymouth, is to change at Wareham for the Swanage Railway.
    https://www.hastingsdiesels.co.uk/railtours/
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2023
  12. Andy Moody

    Andy Moody Member

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    Agreed, But try telling that to the Health and safety executive, OR&R or Network Rail!
    From personal experience as a mainline guard, When I was originally trained up as a guard at Eastleigh we were trained how to use a hook switch pole (A hook switch when operated isolates a short section of live rail) but not trained on the Short Circuit Bar.
    On Privatization, guards had to be trained, So it was around 2000 or 2001 that I found myself on a course at South sidings at Waterloo where there is or was an isolated piece of track with a third live rail, witch was operated by the trainer.
    A Test lamp consisting of several bulbs was placed on the live rail and when lit proved that the 3rd rail was live.
    The SCB (Hard to describe on here) but basically a fairly sturdy wooden handle with a metal bar on the end plus a metal bracket designed to fit over the near running rail.
    The operator (Driver or Guard) would by using a paddle push the ballast out from underneath the live rail. The SCB would be placed on its side and the metal bar would be pushed under the second running rail and live rail.
    The operator would turn the SCB over, Look away in case of a flash and smartly push the bar down, The metal lip on the SCB coming into contact with the underside of the live rail causing the circuit breakers on the adjoining substations to open.
    On the main line the SCB has to be left down for as long as you wanted the traction current isolated, as the electrical control operator would make three attempts to reinstate power before enquiring from the supervising signalbox id there was a train in the section.
    In the case of Waterloo south sidings, the Brick built Southern Railway Substation was right in front of us so not only did the test lamps extinguish but we heard the breakers operate, I think we also knocked out the juice to platforms 1 to 4 or was it 1 to 6 cant remember.

    So, Fast forward to around 2007 or 2008 and a refresher course, However by then we had "ELF & SAFETY and it was deemed to risky to perform on an actual live rail, So IT's off to Basingstoke where with a Controller of Site safety appointed, we are marched to beyond
    the stop blocks the London end of Barton Mill sidings where there was an isolated section of track and dead third rail that we had to go through the motions. I'm sure you will agree with me that it was totally ridiculous. but there you go!
    The last time I did a refresher was again at Basingstoke but this time in doors during a company/safety day held in the Drivers training school that was in 2013.
     
  13. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    In my PW days we were shown how to use a Short Circuit Bar. The operative word was 'shown'; the instructor wasn't allowed to 'instruct' us. Yes, I know, subtle use of language!
    Pat
     
  14. Wenlock

    Wenlock Well-Known Member Friend

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    I have seen a third-rail flashover. The arc wa sustained for more than a minute and melted point blades into place.
    Luckily I was at the opposite end of the office, so didn't suffer arc-eye. I would not have wanted to be out on the track near that.
    It was the only time that the yard supervisor was justified in calling ECO on the direct emergency phone. (normally all requests for isolation were done through the PSB at Dartford) Powerbox Regulator was a bit put out by trains suddenly coasting to a stop.
     
  15. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    It’s a really a non issue for the SR anyway. If they want to mainline any stock to Wareham, all they need to do is lock the toilet doors for the 1 mile they are on the mainline.

    CDL is a whole different and expensive kettle of fish though, no way around that.
     
  16. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    A week with Eddystone.
    I always try to ensure that if I need to visit my Dad, go down the town, GP surgery or make a trip to the dump to get rid of garden rubbish it coincides with a train.
    So a few from this week, as 31806 was on shed this afternoon it may the loco tomorrow I guess.
    Monday at Corfe Viaduct with the 16:30 service. Five shades of green on those Mk1's?
    Tuesday at Herston again on the 16:30
    Wednesday at the end of a rather impressive slip, that I was not prepared for, leaving Swanage on the 15:20 (maybe caused by the moisture from its own drain cock steam?)
    Today leaving Swanage with the 11:20 and at New Barn with the 16:30 IMG_1683.JPG IMG_1687.JPG IMG_1692.JPG IMG_1700.JPG IMG_1711.JPG
     
  17. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    If it’s a legal requirement such as CDL, it’s down to the owner/user. If it’s simply a network requirement such as CET, Network Rail will cover the cost for stock already operating on the network.
     
  18. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    I assume the extra trains tomorrow and Monday shown in the red timetable as "diesel" will be the DMU?
     
  19. Brockenman

    Brockenman New Member

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    I understand it's a class 33 and the other rake of coaches
     
  20. buzby2

    buzby2 Well-Known Member

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    According to Facebook - "... U Class ‘31806’ on either day, which will be running alongside 33111 on Sunday and D6515 “LT Jenny Lewis RN” on Monday."
     

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