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

Spot on. Probably worse this year as, after many months of decent rainfall, March has had very little indeed.

 

There must be good reasons why that has been done with the freight of course. But it seems strange to me for a train you can't travel on, as I presume it is running purely to be photographed?

And yes, whilst I am sure the doubleheading appeals to very many, the likes of you and me prefer to get such as 41313 on its own. As the class did when I travelled on the line in 1964.

But I do hope you have worthwhile visit. Maybe see you at the Cuckoo line event later this year?

Bryan

 

Yes but you can travel on the freights at most galas these days for a small extra fee. I have rather mixed feelings about that - on the one hand it's an interesting experience (I've done it at the Cotswold Festival of Steam a couple of times), but it doesn't make it very easy to get realistic photos of the train when there's a brake van full of people immediately behind the loco.

My view on double-headers is that I only like them if they are locos of the same class facing the same way, or at least something that would have been a realistic double header from steam days.

 

4953 is banned from using the up platform at Corfe Castle due to being out of gauge, Therefore 6N90 is starting earlier from Swanage and hopefully will pick up its timings at Corfe Castle, I assume that 2N00 will be 34072 only therefore 0C90 in effect will not run.
Hopefully the timetable tomorrow and Sunday will run without any hitches?

 

I wasn't sure about a few aspects of the roster at first glance at the timetables either, but I've worked out my thereotical moves for all three days and would've managed good smokebox first photo opportunities of everything and uphill rides behind everything, and a good spread of lineside photographing some double-headers and riding on others - which ticks all the boxes for me really. Swanage being relatively short when the River Frome section's not in use helps. It was an enjoyably complicated bit of planning, but great to have such a variety of locos and combinations.

Accurately replicating the past in photos isn't a priority for me with steam as I've only ever known steam in preservation, but I do understand why others like authenticity - I'm looking forward to a large logo class 50 on blue/grey Mk2s at Epping next month because for me that's accurate childhood nostalgia, for instance. But because that's not really applicable/important to me with steam, I'm happy with variety, novelty and maximum noise - so things like the Hall + Bulleid double-header (which I imagine didn't happen much if at all in BR time?) was great to see today, same with the Bulleid + Ivatt.

I'm also a fan of brake van rides on freights, having thoroughly enjoyed those at the South Devon and Watercress with GWR tanks last year. 31806 hammering through Corfe on the down freight today looked great fun.

I could only manage a few hours at this gala so just took photos around Norden, Corfe and Corfe common rather than using the ticket I'd bought to travel too, but thoroughly enjoyed it. Superb choice of visitors, and I'll be back to travel behind the Hall hopefully on one of its running days, but the gorgeous T3 is still the star of anything at Swanage for me and the Mogul makes such a good noise.

 

Anyone attending this weekend, be aware there are some roadworks on the A351 at Sandford that may add to the journey time.

 

Quite a lot of time from the radio this afternoon it seemed.

 

Lineside fire has caused the timetable to go into meltdown again.

 

Oh dear, Looks like somebody has called the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Brigade then. If a lineside fire is spotted by train crew, they will stop and extinguish it with the pet pipe.
However, if D&WFB are called, then it is "ALL STOP" until they advise that the fire has been extinguished and fire personal are clear of the railway.
So that is two days out of three the timetable has gone pear shaped, I certainly want tomorrow to go all to plan, but I have reservations!

 

Yep very late home last night from duty, wife was not happy. Hopefully tomorrows late turn will be ok

 

You sound as though you are in the same 'fussy club' as me! And why not I ask, it's how some of us like to pursue our hobby.

Having looked again at the timetables for the weekend and the small amount that attracts me, plus the prospect of no easy route down because of motorway closures and road works on the only viable alternatives, I have decided, rather sadly, to give this event a total miss. But I will keep watching the loco roster and hopefully do what I did last year for 31806 on the passenger service. When a loco I want to spend a day photting/travelling behind (ie 31806 or 34070 or 34072) is rostered, I'll choose a day when my direct route has at least a fighting chance of being open there and back from Kent. And keep an eye open for any freight charters 31806 may work nearer home. In the meantime I do hope this evening's events go smoothly and the same for Sunday. And that all here helping with the event, and/or visiting get the best possible enjoyment out of it.

Bryan B

PS. At least I didn't waste the sunshine today; a nice day with 34053 on the Spa Valley Line!

 

Glad to hear you got some steam today. I am fairly fussy in that I like things with a degree of historical authenticity, but I don't have the narrow focus on Southern steam that you do. Although my primary interest has always been the GWR I have come to know and love all things Southern over the years and am now even developing an enthusiasm for the LMS and LNER! Having been born in the mid 1960s I have only experienced steam in the preservation era so don't have the wonderful memories that you have.

Anyway, Swanage was really good today despite the delays. It wasn't too bad actually - by mid afternoon everything was about 40 minutes late which meant that effectively the passenger trains were running to time but with the wrong locos!

All locos seemed in good form. It's the first time I've seen 41313 and the first time I've seen 563 in steam. What a lovely bit of kit she is - full credit to those who restored her. Star of the show for me was the Hall, but then I would say that wouldn't I?

 

I think the big news here is the T3. When first steamed, three coaches was a struggle, slowly but surely the team at Swanage have tuned and them fine tuned this beautiful locomotive to the point that 6 coaches are now being handled.

 

Well it looks like you did well, a very nice selection of photos in decent weather.

Bryan

 

Castle and Hall. March 2025

 

If this was it's first train yesterday then I must have been stood a few steps to your side as I took the same shot of that train arriving. Got home late so yet to take it off the camera to compare.

 

Totally agree - I was a bit surprised to see that they had rostered 563 on a full length train, but having had a ride behind it in both directions I can say it coped very well.

 

Wonder what it'll handle at the MHR in April!

 

Depends on rail head conditions

 

Limited to 4 at the MHR