Swanage Railway - Spring Steam Gala- 28th-30th March 2025

Hotel booked, tickets bought, timetable printed, just waiting for confirmation of which way they are facing. Weather says mixed for the event, nothing unusual there then!

 

Is that still likely to be how the locos will be facing for the event please?

Many thanks,

Bryan

 

If you are driving down stay on the A31 Note that the dual carriageway ends at Aynesford roundabout, but continue to the Worlds end pub turning, There is a 40MPH speed limit on the approach take the B3075 to Wareham , be careful crossing the A35 though , You pick up the A351 at the west end of Sandford
After crossing the Main line east of Wareham station, take the Wareham bypass and past the Halfway inn, You have to turn right on the Roundabout at Norden. I suggest that you park in the Corfe Castle visitors car park and climb the steps up to Corfe view crossing as this is the only place you can get a
decent photograph as the freight crosses the 1040 Norden Passenger.
Good Luck.

 

Andy, very many thanks for that. It's a variation to the route I used last year for two trips to Swanage, except that I left the A31 earlier and went down the A350 which got me on the A 351 before Sandford. I may give your route a try.

But, I have decided I won't come down Friday, with all that can happen on the M20, M26 and especially the M25, and for just the one photo that I would like to get.

So I'll wait and see if 31806 is staying as it is, ie, ending up tender first on the full line length run with the freight train it is booked for twice on Saturday. In which case I'll probably give the event a miss.

Thanks again for your help.

Bryan

 

Is the hall likely to work after this weekend or is it a 1 weekend deal
Cheers

 

The latest news thanks to the Swanage Railway Unofficial Facebook Group <BJ>

''GWR 4900 Class 4-6-0 No. 4953 ‘Pitchford Hall’ arrives on Swanage Railway metals in advance of the 2025 Spring Steam Gala - 24/03/2025''
'

 

Out Saturday 5th-Monday 7th April, subject to availability

 

Before the Hall's activities, 41313 will be running the Blue timetable from Tuesday 1st April to Thursday 3rd April after the Gala.
I guess it may then return to Haven Street.

 

I've just watched 31806 shunt onto the freight train at Corfe Castle and bring it into the station. That would have made a superb sequence of still photos, and exactly what I needed for my book section on the withdrawal of the last of the N and U class 2-6-0s in 1966. But I had decided I just didn't want to drive down very early from Kent on a Friday with a time deadline for arrival at the line. Not the way I like to drive on Britain's very busy roads.

I'm not sure who to keep in touch with, but I imagine the U may do freight photo charters from time to time, preferably during a vist to the Mid Hants.

With the U tender first on freights for the rest of the weekend I am unlikely to come down. Plus the M26 shut until 06.00 hrs; M25 Jctn 9-10 shut until 09.00 hrs and my A25 diversion route via has three lots of roadworks! So I can't get my unrebuilt Bulleid fix!

Bryan

 

Looking at the timetable, the freight set seems to be predominantly worked by 'backwards' engines, save for one Bulleid and Hall run from Norden this afternoon, a Bulleid and T3 from Swanage to Norden tomorrow and one single each way on Sunday (I think).

Tomorrow, an early morning run is the only one with the Ivatt solo running to Swanage after which it double heads any other down workings it is allocated to. Certainly making my ride and photo visit a challenge to plan.

Speaking of tomorrow, the Hall somehow comes off of Norden at 10:05 but has no path up before then, and then magically transports itself to Swanage for a 10.25 departure with the freight. Anyone able to shed light on which deity they've employed for the hand-of-god movements needed to make this happen?

 

I'm not sure what has gone wrong on the first day the gala but the 14:00 service from Swanage with the T3 has just arrived at Harman's Cross some 62 minutes late. [BJ]

 

According to a post they’ve just put up on Facebook, signalling problems at Harmans Cross are to blame.

 

Correct, points failure at Harmans Cross.

 

Thank you gents. And now a further short delay as the crew of 34072 distinguish a small lineside fire close to Quarr Farm crossing. Lineside fires in March? What's happening to the world? [BJ]

 

I'm aware there were a couple at the Worth Valley last weekend too. Seems the higher fire risk starts earlier and earlier...

 

This time of year is always bad fir fire risk as vegetation which has died over winter dries out before new green vegetation starts to appear.

 

Rumour on 563 train whilst waiting to be released was ballast from “freight” dropped onto points effectively scotching them. We passed 34070 at Corfe instead of Harmans. Everything over 1 hour late.

 

The Hall's movement from Norden to Corfe should not be required as the freight is berthed at Swanage tonight rather than Corfe Castle

 

Thanks; I assume that means 0C90 on the timetable (10:05am off Norden) is an error then. Does give me a slightly more relaxed morning tomorrow at least.

 

I have seen a few lineside fires down here at this time of the year, even after some recent rain.