Swanage Railway General Discussion

To put that into context, the large majority of the sum raised was from the Leeds to Swanage charter and not the short run to Bournemouth.

CrossCountry train trip raises over £60,000 for charity | CrossCountry (crosscountrytrains.co.uk)

''A final one-off trip from Leeds to Swanage on the south coast was organised in support of The Brain Tumour Charity, raising a total of £63,022.12 through ticket, merchandise and food and drink sales on the day''.

 

Money the railway does not have.
It has been said before that the coaches are not mainline approved for carrying passengers. The coaches would need retention tanks fitted, which NR would not pay for as they were not in use when the rule was introduced. I would not see it as viable to lock the toilets out unless you propose each ticket comes with a free bucket.
I would think the ORR would think very dimly of more stock "appearing" that did not have CDL, it is not like the stock is currently in use on the mainline.
And what would be the cost of these fares? £25 to Wareham implies something nudging £50. Where is the market? What is the appeal to most of paying that to go to or from somewhere that you can do on the bus for £2 each way (or free?)

 

Some final details need to be confirmed before the announcement is made which were not fully understood by those who run the social media pages. Exciting things to look forward to but will have to wait for now

 

Yes, just picked that up on the Swanage FB page.

'You may have seen our recent post about an announcement regarding an event next year… we’re sorry to tell you that we’ve jumped the gun slightly and some final details still need to be confirmed - we can’t wait to reveal all but for now it’s still under wraps! '

I'm due another visit down to the Swanage Railway, so I am awaiting all to be revealed with great interest . . . .

 

SR now posting a few more detailed need to be fixed before they announce anything. Interesting times ahead

 

Paddy Power have a grand unveiling of the Former Salisbury Water Tower at 500-1.

When they said they had jumped the gun, I thought they had invited the Moscow State Circus and the Royal Navy Field Gun Display Team to give a joint demonstration.

 

No, he isn't me, so what new developments, are we to look forward to 35025 going mainline, once overhauled, ? a dedicated servicing depot at Furzebrooke for mainline steam, ? 31806 leaving swanage, `76017 taking its place,? wheres my crystal ball, actually i think its going to be a grand LSWR event with a visiting S15, and static guests,

 

I'm hoping Swanage does a steam gala for 2024 anyway but anything else would be interesting to hear.

 

In view of the fact that WCRly has lost its JR case there is no certainty that they can continue operating without CDL fitted stock. But if they reach an agreement with the ORR to fit CDL and a timescale is agreed then the best option for a main line trip with 31806 would be with WCRly crews and stock. Whatever the route and cost I would be first in line to buy a ticket. However it’s most unlikely to happen so I suspect the special event will not involve the main line

 

The problem again is Network rail not maintaining the gauge properly and basically saying that 31806 has to do 10 mph from Wareham to Southampton.

 

I probably would as well but I was answering the "proposal" from @Tom02 that there is a market for tours between Swanage and Bournemouth and vice versa, when one way is going to be diesel hauled anyway.
When RTC used to sell Bournemouth to Weymouth as an option on the DCE there were normally only around 10 passengers per trip and that is a longer journey of course and for a few years was only £20. Also of course diesel one way. I accept it would not be £20 now, but it did not seem to attract much interest.

 

Hello, real world calling.
Some people might have missed that Swanrail is in a bit of a financial pickle at the moment.
Surely talk of risky mainline excursions is from the land (keyboards) of WIBN.

 

Agreed, a repeat glance a few minutes ago at the last available Swanage Railway accounts strongly suggests to me that the event being planned will surely be based just on the Swanage railway. And using the locos based there with maybe a possible very attractive guest loco that would normally see income far more than cover hire etc costs. Unless of course there is someone with a very deep pocket involved . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

So the use of 36001 is very unlikely - but that is just IMHO so don't give up on that. And, with great sadness re my own delight and interest, financial and other constraints probably won't see every available loco in BR SR livery, including 30563 - purists and the NRM would perhaps more than frown at that particular loco being so presented - to which I would respond with mention of war time black rebuilt Bulleid pacific 21C127!

But as I think has already been amongst the keyboard suggestions, in addition to the operational Swanage fleet locos, some non-operational locos brought out into 'good' photo locations as static exhibits would, if that was to see 30120 so displayed, encourage me to drive down from Kent as I have yet to photo the T9 in BR SR livery and numbering. It would give an interesting 'reverse' Past and Present photo comparion as I did photo the T9 as number 120 in the 1960s (but not on one of the service trains it hauled after overhaul).

 

36001? Brian if that’s in action that’s a massive bloody surprise!

 

I see the Swanage Belle will again run in June and September from Victoria return, stopping at Staines, Woking and Basingstoke stations to pick up passengers, with 45596 Bahamas. Should be no financial risk to the railway and the SR should get some fees, also a good day out for those on the train.
https://www.railwaytouring.net/the-swanage-belle-26-06-24
Hopefully not the only Swanage mainline rail services in 2024?

Also from facebook Swanage Railway Trust 563 Locomotive Group
"We are delighted to have been nominated for the Steam Railway HRA award"
Hope they get it.

 

Whilst I agree with you, and when considered how vociferous Steam Railway were about 563 being de accessioned am I the only one finding that a little ironic and possibly a little bit hypocritical?

 

I would say extremely unlikely given that Leader 36001 was scrapped over 70 years ago! 563 was withdrawn before 1948 so was never taken into BR stock.
If there is going to be a "Major Steam event" the only dates that I can see on the calendar are June 28th-30th Roads to rails event, or September 6th -8th Classic Steam and vehicle show. unless of course anyone knows different.

 

Saw the 1422 Swanage arrival and 1430 departure both looked reasonably loaded.

 

Benefits of top and tail or the DMU, only need one signal box at Corfe Open! (obv plus the driver, guard ect)

 

You only need Swanage and Corfe boxes open on any one train service, Polar excepted where Norden Gates (should that be North Pole Gates?) also had to be manned.