Swanage Railway General Discussion

In a reasonably rare even of a freight train that is not a demonstration (although of course non revenue being the railways own materials) some images of what I understand is the rest of the framework for the shed.
Passing HX, being unloaded whilst being watched from another construction site, and a poor attempt at something more "arty" before the cladding goes on.

 

Has Grange Road Bridge been repaired yet, I am not aware if it has or not. But if not no way for any inbound stock to access the railway if it is still OOU

 

Interesting to see a brake van in the rake. The Turbots are all vac braked so no need for a van.

 

Brake vans , an ideal place to workers to have tea/coffee and a pasty or pie.

 

No it has not as yet.

 

Does the SR Rulebook allow you to not have a brake van on the rear?
Pat

 

And, most importantly, keep warm.

 

Freight/ Enginners trains are Fully fitted class 6, Brake vans are provided I guess for the guard to ride in when the train is steam hauled.
I guess the same applies on the Mid Hants?

 

No idea, TBH. I only ever see the demo train at Galas, where a GBV is marshalled at each end of the rake. I've given up pointing out that a fully fitted train shouldn't have side lamps .
Pat

 

Depends. The fully (air) fitted Spoil trains a few years ago ran with no brake van (and no guard or second man)

 

Was that the one hit by a skip lorry post 10900 in about September, guess will be covered by insurance and hopefully repaired before the March steam gala.
There could be several reasons why the Crompton explorer railtour will not run to the 2025 diesel gala, presume it made a profit in 2024?, one could be the LU Museum want to keep their 4TC for the Met line runs now the vintage Sarah Siddon loco is back? Perhaps might help the SR fundraising to finally get their 3TC unit running for 2026?.

 

Thanks, 33111 was busy in 2024 running push-pull with the LU 4TC and 4VEP at various railway diesel galas. Good it is at last getting a good overhaul.

 

It did the Bluebell diesel gala in September and then I think went straight to Barrow Hill from there (rather than back to Swanage first). Saved the costs of an additional movement I guess.

Tom

 

The BLS are using the 4TC for a weekend rail tour in late May. Promoters are making their choices over what to run

 

"On class 1 to 6 trains, a guard must be provided, and he must ride in the locomotive if a brake van is not provided ..."
As a fully fitted class 6 train, a brake van is optional. Why was there one on this train? Probably because that's what we usually do!

 

Do those same rules apply when the train moves are totally within a possession?

 

Now you've put me on the spot! It's not about what's in the rule book, more about what isn't. And there's nothing that exempts works trains within possessions from these rules, and in my experience, that's how we have operated such trains. Trains entering or leaving the possession must comply with these rules and there is no need to operate them otherwise within the possession. There may, of course, be local exceptions by special instructions, but I'm probably guessing here as I don't remember seeing such things myself. No doubt someone will correct me if I've got this wrong, and I'll be having a meeting with the Ops Manager, without biscuits!

 

At the recent winter warm up, there was only one brake van on the freight and remained in the same position throughout the event.

 

Someone from the railway would need to answer that , but yesterday was 10 weeks until Day 1 of the Steam Gala so I would not expect it to be done by then, even if it has been established who hit it.

 

News c/o Rail Advent. <BJ>

Swanage Railway launches £20,000 appeal to restore ‘push pull’ set

''The Swanage Railway has launched an appeal to raise £20,000 to complete the restoration of a historic TC carriage so that a 1960s British Rail ‘push-pull’ diesel train can once again run on the line from Swanage.

TC ‘push-pull’ diesel trains were a familiar sight between Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester and Weymouth from the end of mainline steam until electric trains started operating on the route in May 1988, when they were coupled to the electric trains until electrification was extended to Weymouth.

In 2017 a 4TC Group was formed by the Swanage Railway Trust formed in 2017, The group is currently restoring Driving Trailer Second Open No. 76322 and Trailer Brake Second Corridor No. 70824, and the £20,000 appeal has been launched to enable the restoration of a third TC carriage, Driving Trailer Second Open No. 76275.

That used to run in British Rail 4TC carriage set No. 404, and the aim is to recreate a 3TC ‘push-pull’ train to run on the Swanage Railway by early 2026.
Although it will cost £70,000 to restore the coach, a gift from a generous benefactor means that just a further £20,000 needs to be raised from the public, as donations will be matched by the Swanage Railway Trust.

The restoration of a TC set along with a unique Victorian T3 steam locomotive will allow the Swanage Railway to tell the fascinating story of the Swanage branch line from its earliest beginnings to the advent of preservation''.

“The tireless work of our 4TC Group’s dedicated volunteers in restoring a unique TC ‘push-pull’ train that operated on the main line through south Dorset, from the 1960s to the 1980s, is an important part of the Trust’s work to educate the public through living history. With the Swanage Railway Trust having restored a unique Victorian T3 steam locomotive from the 1890s, the restoration of a 1960s TC ‘push-pull’ train will enable the Swanage Railway to tell the fascinating story of the optimistic start and the sad end of the branch line from Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage.”
Frank Roberts, Swanage Railway Trust chair

Donations to the Group’s restoration appeal can be made via its website at www.4tcgroup.co.uk.