Swanage Railway General Discussion

No, it was LMS 2500.

 

Thought the U looked good today with its short set on Driver Taster trains.

 

1Z43 is formed 0f power car 43007 Blue & Grey Set xc02 (8 coaches) 43008 rear Intercity.
It will be interesting to see how many coaches fit into platform 2 at Swanage.

 

From the photo on FB taken from the bridge, the power car and the first 6 cars (if the right term) fit on the platform so those in the last 2 cars have to pass to car 6 to get out.
The with the railtour and 563 testing the railway is allowing only ticket holders on the platform to prevent overcrowding.

Good to see on Swanning around and the webcam some progress on the blue/grey 70s era 4TC coach, looks like it might be ready to run with a 33 for the next diesel gala.
Hopefully not the last time an HST will visit, although today might have been a first time an HST has come to Swanage?.

 

An East Midland Trains HST set worked through to Swanage on 14 June 2014 as the 'Swanage Samaritan' railtour.

 

41001 was on display there a few years ago.

 

The whole line seemed busier than a gala today.
I tried some different locations today as well as the more predictable places.
The inbound Pines Express beginning the climb away from River Frome led by 43007
The Bournemouth Belle at Furzebrook foot crossing with 43007 on the rear
Return Bournemouth Belle at Castle Crossing with 43008 on the rear
The return Pines Express at Swanage behind 43008 and passing King George's Field with a headboard that reads "Cross Country High Speed Tran Farewell"
Plus reborn Victorian meets past its sell by date HST

 

I was Swanage signalman for that!

 

The first HST on the line was a FGW unit on 28/09/2013 although it terminated at Corfe due to clearance issues. For the same reason it used the loop line in both directions through Norden.

I believe the prototype power car only made it as far as Corfe too, although not under its own power.


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You're correct that the FGW unit terminated at Corfe, due to FGW taking a more risk-averse view on clearances. We ran a 7-coach connecting service with 34028 to convey passengers to Swanage.

The prototype power car did make it to Swanage as part of the main Diesel Gala convoy, before being tripped to Corfe for display. Yesterday was the second full HST set to Swanage, after the EMT set in 2014.

 

Does the Cross Country units have short swing bogies, as they often used to work to Bournemouth, that might explain why the GWR unit did not work the full line, when Western region HST's used to work on diversion onto Southern routes, they would be reformed into units that had short swing bogies.

 

I gave you a like….

but, only for the last pic!

 

I do like that last pic, it shows the end of one era and the start of another.

 

The FGW unit not working the full line was nothing to do with long or short swing links bogies. It was down to a different approach to the gauging risks between the different operators.

Mark 3's with long swing link bogies are banned from 3rd rail lines, so all HST sets that have reached the Swanage branch have been in sets formed with short swing link Mark 3's.

 

I’m Supposed to be at work… I may have to constantly check my ‘emails’ for invoice number 563…

 

The final CrossCountry HST heads to Swanage | 43007 & 43008 work the 'Pines Express' 26/09/2023 - YouTube

 

When the mini tour was announced I wondered if the Weymouth would play ball or have issues and it would have chance to run. I only discovered when I got home there was a PHBT west of Worgret yesterday morning and trains were turning around at Wareham for nearly 3 hours. Good job Swanage and not Weymouth was the destination.

 

Yes lots of shots of 563 as it shuttled between Swanage and Corfe between Manston on the service trains. The afternoon trains some of which we were on had a driver who certainly knew how to handle a Bulleid. Shades of Nine Elms finest!