Project Wareham

Thanks for clarifying that Steve

David R

 

The reason I started this thread is that in the early/mid 1970s when I first started to become interested in Railways, 3 proposed preserved railways with very similar aims (to re-instate a regular service) caught my attention - West Somerset, Mid Hants (then known as Winchester and Alton Railway) and Swanage. Of those only Swanage have doggedly retained this aim and continue to edge close to achieving it. In 1975 if I was to asked which one would get closest to suceeding it would not have been Swanage (track removed, Local Councils not supportive, plans to build a by pass on the track bed), hence my interest now in this topic.

Thanks Steve for your informaive replies - hopefully this project can start to get the recognition I feel it deserves.

David R

 

This was taken not long before the end of service at Swanage --- Amazing transformation that the volunteers and staff have achieved , wish I lived closed to be able to be involved and Wareham is yet to come

 

A few FAQ

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/project-wareham

 

September Newsletter

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/userfiles/downloads/pw_newsletter_no._9_sept_v.1_approved.pdf

David R

 

October Newsletter

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/userfiles/downloads/pw_newsletter_no._10_oct_v1_approved.pdf

David R

 

November Newsletter

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/userfiles/downloads/pw_newsletter_no._11_nov_v1_approved.pdf

Real progress on the ground and much work ongoing towards becoming a TOC

David R

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...07/south-western-stakeholder-consultation.pdf

Interesting extract from page 39:


David R

 

I can be corrected here but I was fortunate to be at a recent talk at Kidderminster held by the IRSE on the signalling alterations at Wareham for the Swanage services, there is a token machine on both platforms so that trains can depart back to swanage from either platform, also the crossovers still allow the normal network service to keep going should the worst occur and the dmu become unloveable within the normal platform, if you keep an eye on the IRSE via the internet there should be a write up coming soon on the works, I believe the section may be broken up a bit more by the future possible addition of another token machine at the new crossing and a possible loop if the oil terminal plans go further,

 

Prize for best Freudian slip/typo of the week.

 

Interesting external article

http://premierconstructionnews.com/2015/08/07/back-on-track-after-43-year-closure/

David R

 

awww i like Unloveable

 

The crossing is now in place. https://m.facebook.com/swanagerailway/posts/896841483697750


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

December Newsletter

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/userfiles/downloads/pw_news_no._12_dec_2015_v3.pdf

Good News about the Level Crossing and RRI, not such good news about the DMU wheelsets. Also not mentioned there, but I understnad that Planning Permission for the Wareham footbridge has been refused which means that the down sidings cannot be brought into use which in turn has implications for timetable planning.

David R

 

Interesting video showing Norden works

http://www.britishrailways.tv/train...developed-norden-crossing-20th-december-2015/

David R

 

Signalling the link

For those interested thre is a series of Powerpoint presentations regarding the signalling connection (courtesy of Purbeck Railway Circle - a Local Area Group of the Swanage Railway Trust) here:

http://purbeckrailwaycircle.org.uk/3/gallery/library.html

I found it very interesting

David R

 

I have studied the planning application. It was recommended for permission but refused against officer's advice. It seems that the planning officer had reservations about the design and visual impact but considered on balance that more weight should be given to the ability or persons of all levels of mobility to cross the line in safety. The planning committee took the opposite view. Appeals against refusals contrary to officer advice often do quite well because the reasons for granting permission are set out in the report to committee. However, in this case the planning officer was clearly unenthusiastic. I find this hardly surprising as Network Rail was putting forward one of its favourite full-size meccano solutions. I am sure that a more sensitive design to achieve the same objectives would be granted.

 

I thought when the DMU arrived at Wareham it would simply idle in the platform, possibly allowing an EMU to overtake it, and then head back to worgret. Why would it need to use the sidings?

 

Because the original plan was for it to travel up the down line, crossover and arrive at the up platform, then depart, crossback over and into the down sidings, from where it would reverse and enter the down platform. This enabled it to clear the mainline for the regular service trais to depart and also allowed for better connections, i.e. it can arrive from Swanage before the train from London arrives (allowing connection in the Weyumouth direction), but depart after the train from London has arrived, thus giving a connection from the London direction to Swanage. It also allows for same platform interchange with London Bound and from London direction trains. The down sidings act as a reversing siding.

David R

 

What will it do now?