The Swanage Belle - 14th May 2011

34067 "Tangmere" from Waterloo to Swanage and return apparently: http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0514c.htm

 

What a busy loco! And what a busy support crew, too. Carlisle - Stirling on Saturday 7th, Glasgow - Oxenholme on Tue 10th and London - Swanage on Sat 14th. Let's hope her teething troubles after the recent overhaul have been sorted out and she settles down to her accustomed reliability.

Peter - the times show Tangmere hauling both the outward and return trips, with only about 2 hours lay-over. Do you know how she'll be turned on this occasion? Has the objection to separating loco from tender been overcome, so that she can use the Swanage turntable?

 

The timings on Uksteam are not specific for the Swanage railway sections, and looking at the times it's due over the mainline connection, it could be up to a 3-hour layover at Swanage. 2 hours would be a minimum. There are no timings for a LE move to turn the loco elsewhere so it would suggest a split and turn at Swanage is more logical.

 

She will be heading out of London the day after the Swanage trip again - booked for a private charter from St Pancras to Canterbury and return to Kensington Olympia to celebrate the reopening of the Midland Grand Hotel. Booked to leave St Pancras 1045 -obviously off the Midland platforms in the "new" bit of the station, those in the Barlow shed being only available for Eurostar traffic.

 

Be good to see Tangmere back and in good form - I have been wondering about the timings for a couple of days since they went up on uksteam. Even with 3 hours it is not enough to run to Eastleigh and back to turn the loco - I understood that splitting the loco and tender at Swanage was not an option on a day trip like this as it needs a new fitness to run exam and time is very tight to do that unless something new has been thought up. (Sadly for me it is a bit academic on this occasion as I have to be elsewhere for the down trip and the timings for the evening return are very (probably too) tight to allow me to get to another committment on Saturday evening- some you win etc!) Be interested to know what is to happen though Ta DH

 

Mark, Haven't a clue I'm afraid. Will try to find out what the 'powers that be' at Swanage know. Don't hold your breath though as I'm heavily involved with the weekend's Diesel Gala so unlikely to get near a computer until Monday. In the meantime I seem to recall 'Tangmere' was (is?) fitted with tender water shut-off valves to facilitate easier split/turn requirements. Over the years Swanage has gained some experience of splitting/turning it's own Bulleids!

 

That's correct, fitted with the Swanage turntable specifically in mind. In the past, though, the requirement for a full FTR after splitting and re-coupling has prevented her from being turned and send her back the same day. Never mind, we'll see what happens next Saturday.

(I'm going to be away from the computer for a while too - about to hit the road to follow The Cathedrals Explorer...)

 

Actual Times now on the RTC Website arrive Swanage 14.10 depart 16.25

 

Timings on uksteam now show the MP as 70013. Might be tempted by this one now. Always had great runs with 70013 since she came back in 2008. Never have any luck with runs using 34067, the Lincoln trip last month being the most extreme level of bad luck so far!

 

At moment says 34067 OR 70013 on the title/header although the timings say 70013.

 

Funny choice of loco and route to celebrate the reopening of the Midland Hotel!

 

Timings on UKSteam.info now include outline times for loco to return to Eastleigh to turn, so not being split and turned at Swanage. Please don't think me a pessimist, but I can see lots of scope for the return trip, at least, running rather late. Never mind, either Tangmere or Oliver Cromwell will put up a good show, I'm sure.

 

Eastleigh is 2 hours from Swanage so it will not be possible for loco to go there to turn based on current timings. Based on the current timings 2 loco's would be required.Cromwell to Swanage ( since it is doing the White Cliffs trip the previous Evening, and Tangmere on the return ?

 

When they ran for the first time last year the idea was to have two steam loco's; one outward, the other on the return run. However, IIRC only one of the runs last year managed it. The first RTC SB which I travelled on had 44871 (in place of the unavailable 70013) on the outward run (which was heavily delayed by a faulty EMU in the path in front of it) and 30777 on the return run. Only a short visit to Swanage on this occasion! The next run which I also went on had 30777 and a Class 37 "double-heading" down to Swanage with the 37 hauling the train back to Southampton with 30777 on the rear. The third run had 44932 down to Swanage with a diesel hauling the train and 44932 back to Southampton again.

 

Rumour has it 45305 out, Cromwell back.

 

Is there anyone who is able to provide updates during this tour please?

 

I'm contemplating going on it, waiting to see if it goes a advertised and see if I can get a last minute ticket

 

My ticket arrived today

Letter confirms 45305 out, 70013 back.

I will provide updates

 

Seems SR's well trained split/turn/join gang can stand down then!

 

I was thinking of going until checking the RTC site today. It seems that standard is now full up. Don't know what class you were thinking of going in?