Swanage Steam Gala 2013

Had a great morning at Swanage this morning, and the weather wasn't bad at all. Mildly damp initially but that looked pretty atmospheric for the freights, and then it was warm enough for the cardie to be superfluous and sun to be inconvenient for photographing up trains within a couple of hours. All six locos looked and sounded great, totally agree that Eddystone's work stains were just right. The U looks utterly at home and the M7 is just lovely, it's an engine I get more and more fond of.

Really nice touch to have steam on the museum's narrow gauge line at Norden too, as was saying the steam crane steaming. Shame in a way that I had to leave before midday for work, but I didn't feel short-changed at all as with a timetable that intensive, I'd already had as much entertainment as many lines would offer in a full day. Timekeeping was pretty good too, any time things seemed to be drifting by a couple of minutes they were swiftly caught up.

The road back through Wareham forest was also, frankly, corking.

Hope everyone there for the rest of the weekend has an excellent time as well, and that it all goes smoothly and profitably for the railway.

 

Wonder how much noise 6695 will make this afternoon.....

 

Not as much as the sirens of Dorset Fire Brigade.....

 

Thought they would go somewhere between Corfe and Harmans X

 

Heavy rain right now in Swanage so hopefully no risk of lineside fires on Sunday!

 

6696 + 6Mk1 and Eddy stuck on the back = best part of 10+ bogies...

Made a lovely noise out of Corfe

 

34028 has had its nameplates and numberplate removed and is dirty. Looks very 1960s.

 

Seems she has now also had 34053 written on the front!

 

Not for long! 34016

 

Is 34016 moving to Swanage then?


Cheers

 

How did you come to that conclusion from her just having 34016 written on her smokebox!

 

Lee loves a good stir

 

No not string Mr Cox just asking a question. But why put 34016 on the smokebox when other loco numbers could of been used?

 

I don't know why they did 34016. I guess it was a wind up!

 

Seemed like a good idea at the time..I blame the 7 valley congintenet

 

Why not?

 

Yeah, agreed, cheers again for letting me drive that trip Steve! 6695 doing what she was built for, lugging lots of weight up hill!

I blame the paid staff for the 34016 identity change, I was ordered to do it, honestly!

Overall a good weekend, appeared a bit thin on the ground numbers wise mind.

 

Some heavy trains and a late night freight, what more could you want!

 

Friday was really enjoyable. 8 trips behind the SR locos were v good !
The ng at Norden was a surprise not having kept abreast of the museum. Cloister was unable to be in steam but was on display. Emmet(sp?) undertook some shunting with the authentic wagons. This loco was a rebuild(!) of a diesel that worked at Norden and was good fun to listen to.....
So many highlights. On sat a late evening freight rumbled passed in the dark with 80104 .....
Sunday saw 34070 leave with 10 coaches on the last train. 30053 at the buffer stops.........PERFECT
Monday I left Swanage to return home via the10.00 to Norden hauled by 31806+5 coaches.

A wonderful gala. Friendly,busy(extra golf festival passengers)and a few unusual combinations along With recreations of the 60's

Tremendous !!

Ray Mason

 

Yes, a good gala. The atmosphere around Swanage station on Saturday afternoon was good, with much of the feel of a summer Saturday in days of old. 31806 was a very appropriate guest. I liked the cheek of the 'Cornish Riviera Express' headboard on a train worked by 6695, in this Southern stronghold! Also,listening on Saturday evening to the trains coming and going near where we were staying.

We were able to combine our visit with a trip on Sunday afternoon on the PS Waverley, excellent views of the coast to Lulworth Cove.

John