Project Wareham

Indeed the corrosion was worse than expected. Fortunately, the structural integrity of the vehicles was not affected and its owners have gone ahead with corrosion repairs at Arlington.

 

That's what I was told as well. But what is the chance of it being done in time to be used on the Wareham shuttles?

 

Not exactly a surprise - take a look at the repairs many heritage railways have had to do to their Mk1s in recent years, plus vinal wraps are well known for inducing corrosion when water gets in behind them - with various M3 based EMUS / DMUs / HST vehicles all having suffered from the latter to some degree.

 

Fantastic news that it's startling soon

 

Where is this news?

 

Judging by Carl Watson's pictures taken earlier this month [imside Arlington's works at Eastleigh] the answer would appear to be no.
LU 4TC TBSK 70823: http://www.carlswatson.com/Trains/Galle ... y2017.html
LU 4TC TFK 71163: http://www.carlswatson.com/Trains/Galle ... y2017.html
LU 4TC DTSO 76324 is the second vehicle of the set to go into the prep bay: http://www.carlswatson.com/Trains/Galle ... 20172.html
http://www.carlswatson.com/Trains/Galle ... y2017.html
LU 4TC TFK 71163 (in the paint booth masked up): http://www.carlswatson.com/Trains/Galle ... y2017.html
Incidentally, the Swanage Railway's Bubble Car 55028 is also seen in Arlington's paint booth in Lined Green and Yellow panels: http://www.carlswatson.com/Trains/Galle ... y2017.html
Copyright of photos is Carl Watson's of course.

 

http://www.classicmagazines.co.uk/o...r&utm_term=subscribe&utm_campaign=title-sites
Scroll down to the section marked "Preview" and click on it, then scroll onto pages 8-9 and the article is on page 9.

 

Looks like it's official:

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

David R

 

And there's also a feature on the Swanage Railway website about it. Confirms West Coast diesel locos will be used. Fantastic that it's finally happening. Well done to all concerned.

It's quite something to think that scheduled loco-hauled passenger services will be returning to a former SR main line - albeit for a limited period and only for a distance of just over a mile - but we've had nothing at all since the Fragonset 31s were retired in 2006. It will be interesting to see what locos West Coast provides. Class 33s would be the most appropriate, but I doubt if many people will complain if it turns out to be 37s or 47s.

 

The webpage suggests that subject to confirmation locos will be 33 and 47

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Hopefully an arrangement between WCRC and the owners might see the Swanage based class 33 D6515 on one end of the consist.

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33012 will be very much involved

 

From BBC News:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-40011037

David R

 

Brilliant that 2017 Wareham running is being achieved.

Operational timings look very tight which will be interesting. (Especially the southbound service from Norden leaving simultaneously with the northbound service from Corfe at 1040!)

Ticket purchasing will need to be clarified. The new leaflet says (re Wareham station) that tickets cannot be bought from the SWT ticket office but doesn't say if they can be bought elsewhere on the station/train. Is it proposed that Wareham tickets can only be purchased online? (Maybe right for the initial few days but surely not right for a community service, especially if this is being assessed as a trial). Right now, the website lists the services and fares for Wareham but doesn't enable Wareham tickets to be purchased (except Freedom line tickets which I take it include Wareham - nothing says they don't).

I'm sure this will be such a success.

 

It says on their website that a temporary Swanage railway ticket office will be opened at Wareham on the days the service is running. Presumably the ticket collector on the train will also be able to sell tickets.

Wareham tickets are already available for purchase on the website. You need to click on the 'Wareham services' link.

One concern I have is that the first Wareham service arrives in Swanage at midday. The last service back to Wareham leaves Swanage at 4.26pm. That's not much time really, and it means that for anyone wanting a proper day out in Swanage and Corfe Castle, the train isn't a viable option.

Perhaps that's something that will be addressed in time for the 2018 services. Hopefully this will be a success, and I'm looking forward to my trip to Swanage by rail next month.

 

Some nice photos in that piece

 

From looking at the timetables on the Swanage website the Wareham service stops when the school holidays and hence the two train service starts. Would have thought that was the best time passenger wise for people to use the connection although appreciate it may impact on the two train service. Not sure if there is a plan to use a Wareham to Norden (or Corfe?) shuttle during this time.

 

Teething troubles are bound to occur with such a thing at first, Give them a season or two to fine tune the operation.

 

The Wareham services continue throughout the summer holidays, to a slightly revised timetable not stopping at Harmans Cross or Herston.

The main timetable might not have been updated to reflect this yet, but if you click on the 'Wareham services link you'll see the details.

 

Thanks to stephenvane for that. Too obvious for me to look at the Wareham page (really it had not changed for so long I sort of stopped looking!) and the old timetable was still in the rack on the platform when I was on the station last week and as you said the new main timetable page had not been updated.