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Swanage Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Rumpole, Oct 10, 2012.

  1. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

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    From the Project Wareham Thread, my understanding is that the benefit of using these "50 year old machines" is that (quoting Nick, AKA Rumpole) "there is a lot of redundancy built in with 3 powered cars out of 4. For example, if one of the 117 power cars developed an engine fault (just to pick a simple example), it would be a relatively simple matter of simply taking out only that vehicle for repair, which would still leave you with a 3 car set Even if the vehicle that failed was the DMBS, you will still have the brake van in the 121 available to use. W ith the amount of additional capacity in terms of engines, exhausters etc that the chosen units gives, it should (hopefully!) reduce the possibility of an issue such as a failure being a show-stopper once the service starts"

    Given the need to get the unit home, or at least back onto Swanage metals and to clear the mainline I think this is very sensible. The last thing needed is any additional risk factors, however appealing a "made in the UK" solution may sound. Personally I think Swanage have made absolutely the right decission and we should recogniose what has actually been a fantastic achievement which reflects great credit to all involved in delivering the infrastructure upgade.

    Delivering a service to Wareham will be the culmination of a dream of many years and is worth a short extra wait.

    David R
     
  2. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

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    Nick

    Actually (speaking as a PLM and former volunteer) I think you're doing yourself an injustice. As a current volunteer at another Railway (nothing against Swanage - it's a fantastic Railway - just a bit too far to travel to each week) , there is interest in events at Swanage - it's more it's history where it's still perceived as a "minor railway" and people are only starting to catch up with what has been achieved.

    It's also one of the few Railway's I can still get the family (or at least wife and youngest) to travel on (along with Isle of Wight, which is the family's favourite) without too many groans so I'd say just keep doing what you're doing - recognition and enthusiast "chatter" will come . As you will gather from the Project Wareham Thread, it is my belief that running over the mainline to Wareham will lift Swanage up to the next level in terms of enthusiast (and hopefully General Public) interest.

    David R
     
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  3. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

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    I for one am totally gobsmaked that Swanage is seen as a minor railway, To quote "lift Swanage up to the next level" is unfathomable. What next level? We are in the top five performing heritage railways in the UK as far as passengers numbers go. We run M7's, standard tanks, class 33's the occasional T9 plus you might have noticed Bulleid Pacifics.

    Should Nick be drafting in Kings, Duchesses and A4's to make us a proper railway?

    We are a railway that does what it was built for, moving people from A (Norden) to B (Swanage) passed ancient ruins at Corfe Castle through beautiful scenery, Someone help me, what does Swanage need to do to become a proper railway?
     
  4. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

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    Keep Swanage as it is....working quietly under the radar...and being successful.

    Swanage is in the top 5 as far as passenger figures for the last 10years+...in fact I believe it was 2nd to the NYMR in 2014
    As Daddsie71b says Swanage does what it says on the tin.
     
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  5. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    I would second the two comments above. The Swanage Railway is one of my favourite heritage lines. It may not be the longest line nor the steepest, but it has always came across as a very friendly line, the scenery is attractive, the gradients are steep enough to make the engines work a bit, it is working on restoring more heritage coaches and it normally runs enough trains to allow one to fit in a ride and a couple of pictures quite comfortably. Indeed, even the reluctance to offer lineside passes isn't a problem as there are plenty of publicly accessible locations. Well worth a 250-mile round trip from my home every now and then. My advice to SR staff and volunteers is simply this: keep up the good work; you're doing a great job.
     
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  6. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

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    You forgot to mention Daddsie71b that you run daily, YES DAILY, from mid March ish to the end of October!
    How many railways do that? NYMR, SVR but no others spring to mind...
     
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  7. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

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    On re-reading my post it has not come out as I intended, so firstly my unreserved apologies to anyone I have offended.

    What I meant to say, was in response to Rumpole's post, that for various reasons (Later start, starting from nothing), Swanage has perhaps not yet had the recognition in enthusiast circles that some of the other major lines (NYMR, SVR, Bluebell) seem to have received. It has a loyal band of enthusiast followers and supporters (of which I am one), but with the achievements to date and more significant achievements yet to come, I am sure that this will rectify itself with time. So my message is not actually removed from the other posts which as Woof Mk2 so ably put it "Keep Swanage as it is....working quietly under the radar...and being successful."

    No need to change anything - just keep on doing what you're doing.

    Again, apologies for a poorly drafted post :)

    David R
     
  8. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

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    Whilst passionate about the railway I helped rebuild from the early 80's that post was at 11.34 in the evening so post wine. However, feeling less aggressive as drinking becherovka in a Prague micro brewery after having consumed two pork knuckles. Sorry Dave if my post made you uncomfortable
     
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  9. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

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    No Problem Steve - I too, am passionate about the line and looking forward to an excuse for my next visit. You're very lucky in living much closer than me. However, to atone for my sins :( I'll make a £50 donation towards a Swanage appeal of your choosing - just let me know which appeal you'd like it to go to and I'll get it sent off :)

    David R
     
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  10. Pugwash

    Pugwash New Member

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    Just a suggestion for that donation, www.swanagemoguls.com has easy an PayPal donate button. And a worthy cause to get the last surviving N class running.
     
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  11. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

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    Can I just say what a pleasant change to read a thread without any sniping, wind ups etc etc.... I supose its sums up the railway.
    And if people are reading this thread, and others threads, and wondering which railway to volunteer at I think I know which one they are going to choose.

    Well done you Swanage guys and keep it going.
     
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  12. Adam-Box

    Adam-Box Member

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    Now project Wareham isn't going ahead this year why is the DMU service only every 2 hours on the Green timetable?
     
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  13. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

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    A very worthy cause. If Steve doesn't express a preference I'll donate to this as the "default" option. But I'll give him a few days to respond first.

    David R
     
  14. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

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    Yes, although it's some years since I volunteered at Swanage (Distance, Marriage and Children!) I would wholeheartedly agree with you. And it is a railway that's going places with much to offer in a location that has much to offer.

    Swanage is one of those Railways that has crept up the league of Heritage Railways, as you say "under the radar", so that rather than "errupting onto the big scene" it has just sort of slowly arrived there (hence my earlier, poorly drafted comments). If you're not into volunteering I commend it as a Railway to visit, I last visited in October 2015 and am already looking forward to my next visit.

    Oh, and in case anyone forgets to mention it, there's the award winning Mineral and Mining Museum (part of the Railway) at Norden which is well worth a visit. As the Narrow Gauge railway there develops, although there are other Standard Gauge preserved lines with Narrow Gauge lines attached (Midland Railway Centre and Toddington GWSR, come to mind) this will be the only one (I believe) where it is historically correct, as Norden was the interchange from one of the Narrow Gauge clay lines to the standard gauge.

    David R
     
  15. buzby2

    buzby2 Well-Known Member

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    I believe these diesel timings were arranged to allow for the community service trial later in the year. The current 2016 Timetable [January to May] was published before it became known that the trial services would not start as early as hoped.
     
  16. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

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    Just returned from a short break in Prague, lovely city. Great trams!

    Your kind offer of a donation. I was thinking of how important it is to cover up our rolling stock, so the fund for that is a worthy recipient.
    However, what about the Salisbury water tower fund? Reverse osmosis treatment to reduce boiler maintenance plus the added reduced costs from extracting from our own supply.
    No hang on, what about all those sleepers that need replacing on the extension.
    Mind you, any monies to help preserve our Maunsel and Bulleid stock has got to be worth a punt.
    But without the loco's to pull the stock then we might as well stuff and mount them, so the Mogul fund?

    Err, No. I request that you buy £50 worth of membership of the 200 club, this fund has paid for many deserving projects around the railway, plus pays out in its regular draws. If you are lucky to be a cash winner then you can buy more! Win win.
     
  17. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

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    All excellent causes.

    Standing order for £48.00 (2 units of 200 club) set up on-line this morning - first payment Friday and subsequent annual payments on 1st January :)

    Glad you had a good break in Prague - I'm just off to Copenhagen for a few days, but for work rather than pleasure sadly :(

    David R
     
  18. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

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    Well done you sir. Fingers crossed for lots of winnings to re invest! :)
     
  19. steam_mad

    steam_mad Member

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    Last edited: Feb 3, 2016
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  20. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

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    Very sad to see that Mike Stollery passed away in December. A very long standing stalwart of the Swanage Railway.

    David R
     

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