Project Wareham

Well I realise it has to meet the needs to those who are mobility restricted but the term "less imposing" is an interesting choice of phrase pure council speak. It would also appear from that image to lack an increase to the height of the bridge parapet per modern trends I have seen elsewhere.

 

One of the reasons the NR proposed bridge was turned down was because it was in the committees eyes too big, so the Councils description covers any worries of being too big

 

Some more details on the DCC Website:

https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/wareham-level-crossing

David R

 

A visit to Swanage on Tuesday saw 33025 + 37518 working the Wareham shuttle with 30053 operating the internal steam service, Both seemed very well patronised for a wet weekday outside the school holiday season: http://daviddepperphotography.zenfolio.com/p829711526#h8ed83003

 

Movements to/from Swanage today:
LE Crewe to Eastleigh (earlier today) http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O08596/2017/06/30/advanced
ECS Eastleigh to Swanage (currently moving) http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O08612/2017/06/30/advanced
ECS Swanage to Southall http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O08637/2017/06/30/advanced

 

37516 came down the stock from Eastleigh and has taken the WCRC stock back to Southall. No loco swops.

 

No locomotive exchange. 37516 delivered the LU stock and removed the previous WCRC coaches.

 

A new arrival ...

 

Is it heading to push pull operation or is there a chance that the 33 and the 37 could be swapped at a later date ?

 

37516 returned to Southall after delivering LU stock from Eastleigh.

 

Still no sign of 47270 then shame...

 

From studying the timetable I thought that Swanage to Corfe Castle was operating as a single section but noticed today that the 1400 Steam service from Swanage was running late yet the Wareham service departed on time at 1423 before the steam service had arrived at Corfe Castle. Is Harmans Cross Signal Box permanently manned on Wareham trial running days? Is it being manned as required or are there other safeguards to allow two trains to operate in this single line section? AFAIK the loop at Harmans Cross is not a passing loop being provided solely for locomotive run around.

 

Harmans Cross is switched into circuit on all Wareham operating days, whether planned to pass there or not, to aid the robustness of the timetable, for exactly the reason you'd have seen today. Even if not passing there (which was done a couple of times this morning to recover time), by splitting the 'long section' to Corfe Castle it makes the operation more flexible.

Harmans Cross amd Corfe Castle are both fully-signalled passing loops; Norden is only practically useable for loco run rounds. Although you could de-train passengers and put away in the loop, it would be a hell of a faff to do so.

 

Both 33's On Wareham service today and Manston on the steam service. A homage to the end of Southern steam I guess.

 

Thank you for providing this info. It helped me decide what to do in between the outward and return trips of the Bournemouth Belle which, like quite a few others, I took the day off to see. It was great to see the Cromptons and the very smart TC set on the Wareham trains and having got a couple of good pictures, I'm hoping that my next encounter with the new service will be at Wareham station as a passenger. Along with the excitement of both Clan Line and the new Wareham trains, the bonus of seeing Manston working the ordinary services made an already enjoyable day even better. I've seen her plenty of times before, but you can never have too much of Bulleids!

 

Sounds like you had a cracking day John.

Extra steam to go with the Wareham 33's on Sunday

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/detail/50th-anniversary-last-day-of-steam-on-the-southern

Timetable

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/userfiles/media/50th_ptt_2017_v2_(28-06-2017).pdf

 

Hmmm!

PH

 

Yesterday 3 hard core enthusiasts used the 14.23 Swanage to Wareham as the best way to connect with a steam hauled
Bournemouth Belle.......No view on the various parking discussions........
It was wonderful to arrive at Wareham on a spotless LT 4 TC with 2 x 33 spot on time. It seemed natural to then wait for a Waterloo train with a friendly TM ! We passed 35028 at Poole !!
Swanage staff were very professional and the 14.23 left dead on time. The local roads were v busy and the train was a joy especially as one of the group had a brother who is a reg driver on the line.
The last time we had alighted off the branch to connect for London was on a v sad rundown line on a Hampshire unit.

When Mr Dobbing thought about U /Ns being certified for main line use(31806/74) the conversation became very animated to say the least. I'm sure the alcohol on the BB had nothing to do with it!!!

For non motorists this service is a breakthrough. We travelled to Waterloo using a timetabled Swanage branch train in 2017!

The hard work in restoring the link is appreciated--THANKYOU to everyone who assisted in this!!

Ray Mason

 

Maybe one day we will get to see the U on one end of the Wareham service.
A shot of it today just after coaling in its nice new gleaming paintwork.

 

Yes, Ray. To me, this is what preservation is about - using the train as genuine public transport.

John