Swanage Railway General Discussion

Heard of a few people getting a bout of covid (some first timers and some repeaters) which hasnt been very pleasant at all.

 

Does the "steam on the back" have the same effect as "the diesel on the back"?
33111 approaching Afflington on Wednesday afternoon with the 16:20 service from Norden.
Regardless trains look well loaded this week so I suspect not to most.

 

Looks like 6 coaches, so no locomotive turning loop and hence "top and tail"? Perhaps fitting in enough passengers using a 1 steam loco timetable?
Looking at the webcam back to 5 coaches, and normal operation today.

I notice an ad has been placed for a new Fat Controller, GM, CEO.
https://www.srstaff.co.uk/vacancies/CEO23/
Hope they find someone suitable this time?

On FB been mentioned some private owned Southern catering wagons goods wagons have been leaving the railway for new owners.
http://scpg.org.uk/wagonlisthome.html
"In 2022, the Southern Catering Project Group decided to sell all its wagons. This decision was taken as the facility for maintenance and restoration of wagons was no longer available on the Swanage Railway"

 

As mentioned by @gricerdon on the DCE thread on some days (which from my observations is Wareham days) the 13:30 and 15:20 from Swanage and their associated returns are six coaches and as you say too long to run round at Swanage. Sunday, Monday and today when the 5 coach diesel service operates they appear not to be six coaches.

 

If the Railway are sticking to the rules then it’s the loco on the front should be doing all the work and the one on the back should be dong nothing, irrespective of steam or diesel.On the main line WC use the one on the back for power which DB will not do as they stick to the rule book. I will report on what happens tomorrow when we will be there and as it’s a DMU day I think the 6 coach trains will operate again.

 

The return of the 1330 at 1420 from Norden looked to be absolutely crammed from Corfe today but was only 5 on. It’s very good to see the Railway so busy but of course it is peak summer holidays

 

Well in the image I posted the U was producing a fair amount of steam, but sounded little if anything in the way of power when it went past me..
I thought it had been established elsewhere on here that the operating methods for DBC and WCRC are different and both are acceptable..

 

I was on the Purbeck Breezer on Wednesday between Swanage and Bournemouth and it was absolutely rammed. Additional buses seemed to have been put into the already enhanced summer timetable. Listening to some of the comments on the bus there were a good few people on board who had never been to the Isle of Purbeck before and were enjoying their holiday. The kids loved the novelty of travelling on a bus and an open topper at that. I got the impression that the £2 bus fare is attracting customers who otherwise would not be using the bus.

 

I don’t think it has been established that WR are ok to operate like that for safety reasons. As far as I know the rule book hasn’t changed. Bear in mind that WC are also ignoring the CDL rule.

 

Not really true Don, they are not "ignoring CDL" in the same way that say Vintage or Belmond are not.ignoring CDL" They all have derogation's for differing periods. If you are referencing the Jacobite issue that is a different set of circumstances as I am sure you know.

 

Whose rule book are you quoting? Given this is the Swanage Railway, it is what their rule book says that is relevant - not anyone else’s. I can’t see what that picture has to do with West Coast or any other main line operation.

Tom

 

Nothing to prohibit assistance from the rear in the SR Rule Book. In fact, there are a number of specific provisions for it.

 

They do not accept it is necessary and are basing their judicial review on this. No other operators have done this. How can it not be safe? I think they are riding for a fall

 

SR tend to work to the old SR book. I did my signalling and rules in 1971 and remember it from then. It’s there somewhere on the basis that the driver at the front must always have complete control of the train. Exceptions are non coupled banking locos.
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That reminds me of the WSR sleeping signalman.
It did no go down well on the WSR as it was taken probably as 'bringing the railway into disrepute'. However it was soon removed from NP.

 

I have no wish to bring this super railway into disrepute as I know they always operate safely and no reflection on any of the operating staff. Just me and my views which were not appropriate on this thread. I will now go to the naughty corner!

 

I can assure you that the Swanage Railway do not operate according to the 'old SR book', but to their own Rule Book as mandated in the SMS. The most recent SR rule book of which I was conversant was specifically drawn up to be able to be used in parallel with the then existent Group Standards, but with provisions so that there was no need for a thumping set of Special Instructions. (However, there may have been a subsequent revision since then, as I am no longer operationally involved and have to be content with observing from a distance...!) The previous SR Rule Book (which I have an non-controlled copy of) was similarly based on the 1982 BR Rule Book. However, rule books keep evolving (I remember authorising a set of amendments to the SR Rule Book sometime around 2005 to accommodate new SGIs), and I am sure that there have been subsequent revisions and amendments.

As pointed out already in another post, the SR Rule Book (and its predecessor) include provision for assistance in the rear (although, without specific Special Instructions issued for a particular instance, the loco must be attached, which would give the front driver complete control of the whole train via the continuous brake). Therefore, unless the rules for SR have changed, it is entirely possible for a loco attached to the rear of a train to provide power (and to provide power when unattached if authorised for a particular occasion.

It is important to be cognisant with the relevant actual rules before commenting on the operational practice - rather than assuming that some past knowledge (actual or assumed) remains relevant to present day operating conditions and requirements. To do otherwise is to unintentionally suggest that people are not operating safely according the the relevant SMS and supporting documentation - when that is not the case. Publishing such comments in a public forum might lead to significant difficulties or damage to reputation for those involved if the comments are taken at face value - especiallt if they were repeated by others out of context.

 

Hi Gladiator
The U will be drifting which is a term meaning that the driver will set the reverser at the drift setting (on the U it is 45%) and open the regulator so that it shows around 20PSI on the chest pressure gauge. This gives the steam at the chimney but it's not enough to create the chuff as the exhaust port opens.
Doing this cushions the motion and saves wear.

 

No but I can bet you a million quid that Belmond and Vintage are watching very closely!