Swanage Railway General Discussion

I was told, although I do find it hard to believe that where as the Poole Crossing is linked into the signalling and hence like any level crossing the barriers are operated by the signaler, at Wareham the crossing is not. If that is the correct, and it does appear when I have used it that the guy in the hut closes the gates, I am not sure what warning he gets to tell him a train is approaching, maybe there is a bell.

 

And there in lies the problem. The good residents of Wareham just wont buy into this legally correct but essentially bureaucratic NR argument that Poole is a Highway and Wareham is a foot crossing. To the man in the street (or indeed on the clapham omnibus) if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck then Poole and Wareham are comparable.
They obviously feel that an over/underpass is equally non-viable (for different reasons) in both places and the local council agrees.

That is true. I'm told the guy in the hut is provided with a timetable and binoculars. this is why the rail crossover and sidings can not be commissioned.

I think the issue is that the residents believed that the crossing could - should be linked to the signaling system in the same way as Poole is. This would also be an acceptable solution for the SR as it would enable the crossover and siding access to be interlocked and commissioned.

 

With due respect NR case is not "bureaucratic".

The reasons why the sidings cannot be used is that the signalling into/out of the sidings is not interlocked with the MSL's on the crossing.
At the time of the Poole to Wool re signalling the bridge was going to be built and therefore the crossing closed and there was obviously no need to interlock the signing to that of the crossings MSL's.

The guy in the hut has access to Open Trains Maps, Real time trains maps, National Rail Enquires as well as the CIS on the station so is in a very good position to see where the trains are.
He is not provided with binoculars....but they have supplied themselves with a pair to help viewing the CIS on the platforms.

Anyway...in 20 years time when the lease expires you can guess what will happen.
NR has put pennies aside to help pay for the bridge and by then it will be long gone...

 

I see the Swanage railway has just put it’s class 108 up for sale. No longer required due to impending arrival of the mainline registered units apparently.

 

When the wonderful worlds of Local Politics, Heritage Railways and Quangos collide.........

 

And those 3 organisations share the same individuals.....

 

But at this rate it might take 20 years for the SR to be able to use them.

On an entirely different topic some happier news is that there is a vicious rumor circulating that the end is in sight for 257 Squadron's commissioning and that it is hoped it will be fit to work its first service trains in late July. The T9's axles are back on site after going away for journal turning and the axel boxes are currently being machined to fit. Its thought it won't be to far behind 257 squadron in returning to traffic.

That makes a great Southern Summer line up of

• An original Bullied - 257 Squadron 34072,
• New mainline star - U Class 31806,
• NRMs Greyhound - T9 30120
• And the good old faithful Std 4 Tank 80104.

Rebuilt Bulleid Sir Keith... is being held in reserve on the bench at the moment. Serviceable but needing some preventative maintenance as engineering resources allow.

 

So is the rumour that SKP has an axle box problem untrue? Has not been used for sometime now, although does cost more in coal than the U or Standard Tank.

 

Like a lot steam locos (and many of us humans) SKP lives with many ailments of minor severity. Some of these get to the point where we need to take it easy. Some will need more severe medical attention sooner or later. I'm not here to confirm or deny rumors and don't want to speak for SLL or SRs fitters.

I will say I'm lead to believe that none of SKPs problems have yet developed to the point where it must be stopped now but will do so with continued use. The preference would be to carry out work now but resources are focused on the T9 and 257. If it were me, with only 2 locos currently available, SKP makes a handy emergency backup until the others are in trafic and the situation can be reviewed again.

Like many railways Swanage is working to ever stricter engineering standards. Particularly with a main line engine in the fleet and the aspiration to add more. This sort of loco management is business as usual for many railways and probably always has been.

 

It takes three to quango...

Wonder what it would take to resolve all this by simply using the Bulleids on the job and run to Bo'mo'?

 

Not used for sometime now? I was there the weekend before last (Sat 2/6) and it was working then, so it has not been out for too long - at least not yet!

Peter

 

Return tender first at max 45mph will probably cause a pathing issue so reinstating the turntable in the up car park would be good. Alternatively use the TC and a crompton push-pull.

 

None of the mainline registered cromptons are 33/1s and putting one of the 33/1s on the mainline would probably require a lottery win :-(

 

Designs for fitting adapter jumper socket & wiring and Westcode Unit to a 33/0 exist.

Even if that came to fruition, what about the cost of TPWS, OTMR & GSMR in the TC cabs?

 

Only one cab needs fitting. If you can justify 4 sets for a 3+1 car 117 & 121 combo and a set for each steam loco I don't see why justifying one set for a 4TC would be an issue?

But then I think you know that

Interesting that the costs of using the TC draw comment and not the turntable in Bomo carpark.

I see the latest in the Wareham crossing saga has just hit BBC news.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-44485533

 

I was on the first SWR feeder DMU in this morning, and the last one out this afternoon, between Wareham and Corfe Castle, and it was very well filled. I did overhear a Swanage member of staff say that if the SWR strike goes ahead next Saturday (23rd) the feeder train will not run - double-check if you were intending to use it!

 

I passed Eastleigh Works yesterday and 3 Swanage Railway DMU vehicles were visible in the siding parallel with the Botley line.
All repainted and lots of fresh paint/replacement parts below floor level.
Piles of new seat cushions visible in 3 coaches, still in plastic covers.

So work for the dmu shuttle is stil progressing.

Cheers, Neil

 

Yes I noticed them the other day too, as I passed the works on a train to Hedge End.

Can’t be too long before they return to Swanage. Perhaps under their own power?

 

Reported on another forum that the SWR strike is off and Sat 23rd shuttle will now be running. But double-check for yourself before committing!

 

Running according to the Swanage twitter feed so I guess the got that from SWR.