Swanage Railway General Discussion

Great news, just a shame it can't stay permanently! Perfect for the railway, and it was a regular on the Swanage branch in the 1960s.

 

For anyone planning to come and photograph the Ivatt (or as not viewed the webcam today) it now faces Swanage. No idea if this is permanent or not, and it may be to ease watering as it seemed to go back to the water tank in the shed area quite often.

 

Thank you, kind sir. The forecast for Friday is quite reasonable and I was planning a ride and photo. As I live over 100 miles away, some careful planning is required and this news obviously will have a big impact on my proposed day. I even had my proposed pictures worked out, but I'll have to think again now!

 

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Here's my offerings from a trip to the Purbecks on Thursday to capture the Ivatt in action.

Enjoy!

 

When do they plan to build the new water tower in Swanage station including the lengthening of the platform?

 

Both projects are more involved than might seem at first sight.
The Six coach project aims to make the whole railway 6 coach capable and we are looking at the feasibility of this. It involves lengthening the loop at Swanage, extending the platform at Swanage, both platforms at Corfe & the platform at Norden plus changing the signaling and watering arrangements at Swanage. Harmans cross is the only station that's fully 6 coach ready. You also then need to consider how you stable 6 coach rakes so sidings may also need extending. A lot of work and capital that will need to be justified. We have carried out a couple of studies but there is no start date (or funding).

We occasionally run six coach trains as special workings, locking out the london end coach doors but this doesn't overcome the issue of not being able to run around the stock at Swanage. To get around this we have four options;

1. Run in to Swanage and stop in the normal place with the back coach fowling the loop exit. Run the loco into the loop then do a shunt to push the stock down to get the loco out (we don't tend to do this any more).
2. On the way in, take the loco off at the inner home, pull the stock down to the stops with a station pilot and reattach the loco to the other end (preferred method)
3. Use an additional loco and alternate them with the first running to the stop blocks and the other coming on the London end and taking it out. (gala style operation)
4. Top and tail it all day, often with a 33 on the other end

Nos 3 & 4 need two locos & two full crews. 1 & 2 need someone on shunt duty.

Its likely we would undertake the project in phases over a period of years and because running round at Swanage is so awkward and resource intensive, to my mind lengthening the loop at Swanage (and not the platform) would be the logical first step. This would likely involve reinstating the double slip, excavating the bank and moving the signal box steps and a track circuit and point detection location cabinet. Platform 2 starter would also need moving. Just extending the platform at Swanage doesn't buy you anything. Unless all platforms are six coach you still need to have one locked out. The locking out of a door causes nowhere near as many problems as running around so I would say platform extensions are further down the priority list.

The Water Tower is probably the most asked about project. The tank sitting across the road at Norden and the foundations at Swanage are a constant reminder to everybody. The project was parked when it ran over budget and over schedule. Its a classic example of underestimating the risks and complexities when going into a project and we had to concentrate funding, logistics, management, people etc. on more pressing issues like Wareham and others. A six coach loop at Swanage would force the issue as you wouldn't be able to reach the current tower with six coaches.

Apart from the tower itself the completion of the project will include an RO plant, new water cranes & underground pipework, extraction of local spring water and a good tidy up of all the coach watering hoses and other ancillary plumbing. We are committed to completing the project but just can't do everything at once. It's a certain recipe for failure.

The railway as a whole is still busy getting Wareham up and running, consolidating our infrastructure after absorbing the Wareham extension and looking at expanding essential rail connected facilities and undercover storage. Its hard to see us making any physical progress on 6 Coaches or the Water tower in the next 12 months. What 2018/19 winter works program will bring I'm not sure. It depends on availability of finance and all the other finite resources plus the prioritization against other pressing projects. 2018 will need to be a better year than 2017 for sure!

We can and will continue to progress the planning, design work and other paperwork behind the scenes. In short tho, I think completion of both of these is still sadly a few years away.

 

Some people complain about the misinformation, rumour and speculation on internet forums. To me it just heightens the pleasure when a post like this comes along. Thank you for sharing your well-infomed, comprehensive knowledge.

 

The Ivatt was running with a SCTS "Farewell to Steam" headboard today. From a look at Six Bells Junction this seems to be a tour on 20 September 1964 which featured 92220, 41206 and 41308. Just wondered why today as not an obvious anniversary.

 

Was the Ivatt on a special working or is the Swanage still daily running?

Looks like a reasonable number about from that one photo (could be a false impression!)

Steven

 

Steve regular service trains (orange timetable). The train, which was the 1440 from Norden had just arrived of course, but loadings do not look bad at the moment from what I see to my daily trips to the Post Office by the station. There normally happen to coincide with an arrival or a departure (strange that!)

 

Normal Orange service on 5 days a week till the end of next week. Driver ex on the other days. Then Orange on weekends and Driver ex on the other 5 pretty much until we start Santas.
This looks like the crew were celebrating being rostered on what is undoubtedly a superb loco, perfect visitor for the line and putting on a little extra razzle dazzle for their own entertainment and any photographers that may be around. We were all sad the gala was canceled and maybe this was something they had up their sleeve for that.

 

Actually, I am surprised, not so much by the performance, as to why anyone should be surprised by the performance! These are very lively little things and I gather need to be watched to avoid excessive speeds.

The way trains were being whisked away from Harmans Cross looked worthy of a DMU.

PH

 

41312 climbing to Afflington with the last train of the day today, just as the sun was dipping beneath the hills...



James

 

Had my first fire of 41312 yesterday; cracking little engine, and perfect for the branch. Up there with 813 and Judy for the most fun I’ve had with my trousers on.

I want one!

 

Is she likely to be running on 18/19th November?

 

I note in a photo published on Facebook the other day that the T9 appeared to be in steam - is there any news on her?

 

Like quite a few others who have posted on this thread, I have recently made a pilgrimage to Swanage to see 41312 - in my case, a week ago today. 30120 was receiving some attention when my train arrived at Swanage and from what I can gather, it looks like repairs are being undertaken and the loco is likely to be based at Swanage at least until its ticket runs out in 2020. However, this is second hand info. It's only what I was told by another enthusiast. Perhaps someone from the Swanage Railway may be able to provide a more official statement and if anything I have posted here is incorrect, please don't shoot the messenger!

I hope, however, that what I was told is correct. 30120 is one of my favourite preserved locos and it would be great to be able to enjoy it without having to make an inordinately long trek to Cornwall. It felt very much at home when visiting the line on previous occasions.

Also, thinking ahead, if a spring gala is being planned for 2018, it would hardly be necessary to bring in an additional engine. 30120, 31806, 34053, 34072, 80104, the outside chance of 31874, trains running through to the River Frome bridge and hopefully the same spring sunshine with which I have been blessed for both the 2016 and 2017 galas - what more could anyone ask for? (To answer my own question, hanging on to 41312 until then!!)

 

Dates for the steam and diesel galas are up on http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events

 

Although I can confirm your eyes did not deceive you, there has been no official statement issued so what you have heard should be taken as conjecture. Sometimes it's unwise to open the oven until the yorkshire pudding is cooked.


Signed,
Yet Another Enthusiast