Project Wareham

Crossing misuse isn't just a problem in the UK. (There are all too many video clips of road users getting it wrong in the USA.)
However, Japan is not a country where I would have expected problems ...
https://soranews24.com/2025/02/04/t...t-railway-crossing-near-fushimi-inari-taisha/

Cheers, Neil
(Thanks to Raildate for the link.)

 

https://www.gov.uk/raib-reports/report-01-slash-2023-lady-howard-footpath-and-bridleway-crossing

 

For everyone's attention Level crossing risk is now dealt with by dedicated Level Crossing Managers since circa 2013

 

So far no public reports on Vikki Slade's meeting with rail minister Lord Peter Hendy,
I expect Network Rail and the council are having follow up meetings before another public meeting.

From May the Wareham to Swanage line reopens with diesel locomotives and the partially restored blue 4 VEP unit going to the gala.

In the 4VEP 3417 Fundraising thread there is a link to a new video with progress on the unit. Don't think in BR days it visited Swanage before the branch line closed (was 4TCs and thumper DMUs)?, but was a common view on suburban lines into Waterloo and Victoria.

 

Sorry, but who is Vikki Slade, and what was the meeting about?

 

Some how the thread turned into a discussion about the future of the Wareham station foot crossing.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8xjxk2rg5eo

Meanwhile here is a picture of the 4-vep which should pass through the station on the way to the gala in May

https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pic2/electric/vep3417.html

 

3417 last visited for the 2008 Deisel Gala, Lets hope that the Grange road bridge, which requires the presence of a road crane to lift it back into position and of course the Grange road itself to be closed for the duration is done in time for this years gala in May, or there will be no mainline convoys!
Here is a photo I took 12th May 2008 of 3417 in platform 2 at Swanage at 0710
I had booked on at 0620 to send out the convoy of Diesels and 73107 would haul 3417 as 5Z08 1100 to Bournemouth depot.

 

Totally off thread, but to a northerner, what do all the TLA’s mean please? VEP, SUB etc? Is there a list on the web somewhere perhaps? TIA

 

Wikipedia is your friend:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Railway_multiple_unit_numbering_and_classification
Interesting to note the obsession with lavatories (ior lack of them!) in the naming of the older SR units.

 

https://sremg.org.uk/photoind.shtml#emu also gives a good insight.

But of course, as a Northerner, you will recall the excellent electric multiple units we had running round the North-west... 3o3, 304, 502, 503, 504, 506, 507, 508, LOR, LYR, Midland, Mersey Railway...

 

Visited in 2010 as well according to:
Lovely unit to drive in push-pull mode with 33/1 - can't remember now if it was in 2008's or 2010's Gala.
I understand cab [and passenger] conditions improved a lot during works at Strawberry Hill depot.
Shame I've retired from footplate staff !

 

Wareham Foot Crossing debate update: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/n...=5c433dd14eb0995735fddfdabb1f9b7b&date=180325
Will Network Rail now also go to the considerable (?) expense of interlocking the east end points/signals with crossing gates - to enable the Down sidings to come back into use?
I'm very pessimistic on that aspect.

 

It was my impression at the time of the resignalling that the interlocking was already installed. The closure rails were not (maybe to drive home that the job wasn't finished)? I was only there for one day, when Worgret Jct. was relaid, so I may have misunderstood.
Pat
PS. EDIT. I missed the inference about the crossing not being part of the system as installed. Doh!
Pat

 

Read more: https://bbc.in/3DDYO2n

 

Given that the electrified portion of the number 1 siding has not been used since 2012 when the Brockenhurst to wareham service was replaced by the semi fast service extended to Weymouth, Goodness knows when the other two sidings were last used. I would imagine they are only fit for lifting.