Swanage Railway General Discussion

Am I correct in thinking that bank strengthening work is being carried out here?
Then why are the tree stumps being left in situ?
Is the ballast second hand or new material from Network hence the use of the side tipping wagons?

 

Embankment four, and 'shoulders', need substantial amounts of stone to re-instate line back to previous standards thus allowing 25mph operations. Amongst many reasons, decades of deer crossing & re-crossing the track in this area caused substantial movement of embankment material from around the top/track area. You can see that the 'top' has gone along much of the track in this vicinity and will need a tamper's attention before services can start.

Don't know.

Our friends at Colas are bringing a total of three trainloads of used ballast [screened & cleaned] from Network Rail Virtual Quarry at Eastleigh. Side wagons are ideal to drop stone where needed.

 

As far as I know, the treestumps are being left after the bank strengthening work on the recommendation of our civil engineer. There is a layer of terram (? sp.) underneath, on top of which is being dropped 6F2 grade stone; the layer of terram is then to be folded back, and 'capped' with much excavated from the new site for the road rail pad.

There are three trains coming in at present; last Thursdays was 15 side-tippers of 6F2 for the embankment, this Tuesday was 10 side-tippers of 6F2 and 5 autoballasters (dropped between Bridge 9 and Creech Bottom), and tomorrow's train is 10 side-tippers of 6F2 and 5 side-tippers of recycled ballast for a stockpile we're creating.

 

Some more piccies of NR ballast deliveries...

 

Is there any report on what works have been done.... it looks like all the furzebrook track has been replaced, including the spur into the industrial units....

 

Named this afternoon...

 

Another tick in the box......
First Swanage passenger train to the new boundary with NR.
This is after the naming of GBRF's 66 741 as "Swanage Railway"

 

Photo from APM Wright...

 

Just a brief update that LSWR T9 No.30120 is due to arrive tomorrow on a long-term loan as cover for 6695. Thanks are of course due to owners the National Railway Museum and custodians the Bodmin and Wenford Railway.

This gives quite an impressive home fleet for the summer if you are a Southern enthusiast; 30053, 30120, 31806, 34070 and 80104.

 

Good work Nick

 

What brilliant news just 30541 for the full set!!

All the best

Dave

 

That's wonderful news. Please let us know the dates when it's going to be used, Nick (Also any idea how long "long-term" amounts to?) I missed out on the T9 when it failed during its visit to Swanage last year and if my memory serves me correctly, I haven't been down to the Isle of Purbeck since. Shame on me! I can't think of any other loco more likely to tempt me to make amends and pay a visit n the not-too-distant future.

(Although having said that, I'm sorry that it looks like 6695 will be hors de combat for a while. I know it's not a Southern engine, but I've grown quite found of it since its return to steam)

 

The Swanage Facebook page states 30120 will be at the railway until the end of October.

 

Thanks Paul. That's long enough to give me (and anyone else for that matter) plenty of time to pay a visit.

 

I can't take any credit Steve; all of the hard work was done by others. I'll just go up to Norden to get it!

 

I've just checked the Swanage Railway website. No mention of 30120 yet. 80104 all week so far. Does anyone know when it will be in use?

Thanks

 

have you had any photo charter requests yet, 30120 at corfe,on a local as the U boat arrives with a train from wereham, with the M7 shunting in the yard and all in 1950's livery and you could rename corfe on the day to anywhere on the withered arm

 

Yes. There have been photo charter enquiries, funnily enough; nobody has asked about 120 & 31806 passing each other.

 

cant understand why not, i think that , would make a very good sight , be an ideal postcard, if taken through the spectacle plate of the Greyhound catching the U as she takes the road onto the down platform

 

Im afraid the Swanage Railway website has never been much use for loco information.
A couple of months ago 31806 was listed to be working. I drove there and had a nice day on 34070. Upon getting home in the evening, 31806 was still shown as working that day.
The best we can hope for is for "Rumpole" to post something on this thread when applicable.