Swanage Steam Gala March 2018

Is there any indication which members of the home fleet might be in action for this event and whether a visitor is likely?

With thanks in advance.

 

Am sure the organisers will post here as and when they have the info

 

From what I hear, its a home based gala....

That would mean 30120,34053,34072,31806 and 80104.

Still a line up that a lot of railways would only dream of!

 

That will do

 

A little teaser from the Swanage guys

https://www.facebook.com/swanagerailway/posts/1532043136844245

 

Steam Railway's Facebook page have said that Sir Keith will make its debut as a Swanage resident at the Gala. But there no mention of 257 Squadron... don't tell she still not ######## ready!?!?!

I know of course this hasn't come out offically from either Swanage or Southern Locomotives sources but a lack of any test run still is worrying.

 

Now on Swanage website, but 257 not mentioned in line up and as the 33 is down to run then I guess it will not be ready.

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/detail/spring-steam-gala-2018

 

There's nearly two months to go and a lot can happen between now and then. Just suppose 34072 might be ready but it's by no means certain. In such circumstances, it's much better to say nothing at the moment and to have the option of adding at a later date "34072 has been added to the gala line-up" rather than promising 34072 at the outset and then having to say "Whoops, sorry chaps, it won't be ready after all".

Even without 34072, it's still an impressive line-up, especially given the use of the section to the River Frome bridge. If only the weather on the Friday (the only day I could make) is as good as that marvellous sunny day of the "Winter Warmer" on 28th December last year - a day that I shan't forget for some time.

 

Timetable has been published.

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/userfiles/media/ptt_springgala18.pdf

 

No 34072 shame.

Free WTT is something other railways should do.

 

Has 34053 arrived and if so which way is it facing?

 

Yes and facing North from photos I have seen.

I believe 80104 and 30120 face south, while the U faces North.

 

If so 30120 and the U have both been turned since December 28th

 

31806 see Martin Creese photo from his photo charter last month https://www.flickr.com/photos/martincreese/39735039564/
34053 and 30120 see photo on last post on this page https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/swanage-railway-general-discussion.37847/page-72 taken earlier this month.

 

Yes I confused north and south. Both as they were

 

As of this afternoon all except the Standard Tank face away from Swanage. T9 was turned today.

 

I don't quite get the logic with facing all the locos out of Swanage. This means all the runs back from the over the road runs will be tender first as the smelly will always be on the front leaving Norden. That's a real shame!

 

My guess (and it is just that) is that it makes the watering of the locos at lot easier. With the loco off the platform end on a 5 coach train then if tender locos face Swanage I do not think the bag from the column reaches the tender. I am sure on of the Swanage guys can give us the actual reason.

 

I think under normal circumstances that would be the reason but it looks to me like locos exchange at Swanage so there should be time for watering off the stock in between services. As you say someone from Swanage will explain, there is normally always a good operational reason for these things. I just thought it was a shame that everything but the standard 4 will run the extension tender first. If the T9 hadn't been turned it would have been nicely balanced.

 

That's not good. Our usual pattern is travel morning and lineside afternoon. But lack of accessible spots on the climb to Harmans Cross and only hourly to Norden. If I hadn't already bought tickets I wouldn't be going