Swanage Autumn Steam Gala - 12-14 October 2018

A date for your diaries; the Swanage Railway 2018 Autumn Steam Gala will take place on 12-14 October 2018. After a year off last year due to well-publicised issues, the organising team are determined that this year we will be back in style!

An announcement will be out shortly giving further details of the event; in the meantime, feel free to discuss what you'd like to see. After all, even if you don't get it this year, we will be reading your feedback.

 

Starter for 10 .......
At least 2 current main line steam locos [preferably Southern of course] so that, with third loco 31806, a shuttle to/from Wareham can be arranged.

 

With 60009 and 61306 supposed to be at the Bluebell that weekend and a CME and the Jacobite running could be a big ask, assuming it has rained by then!

 

Well, 34052 Lord Dowding might not be working as Saphos don't appear to have anything planned in October. Other, non-SR locos, might also be available from the same stable.
I guess it also depends how much finance the Swanage Railway has available to sponsor the event in the first place.

 

Id like to see a western locomotive on the route, 4247 was underused due to issues that i can't remember

 

An evening service more extensive than a Wessex Belle!

 

Gauging.
Common problem with many types of outside cylindered GWR locos trying to run on the Swanage Railway.
It was OK going through Down platforms at Harmans Cross and Corfe Castle but would have fouled the Up platforms due to loco 'throw over'.

 

The SR Maunsell Q-class on a freight passing the T9 on a passenger service at Corfe please! and 41312 back as well!

 

70013 and 73082 if available.

 

Bluebell GoS same weekend as 71B ASG, so 2x suggestions above are ruled out.
Also Llangollen's gala, but they've not announced anything.

With it being the 70th anniversary of Loco Exchange Trials, be nice to see a Scot or Duchess return to LSWR metals. The GWR Dynamometer car used survives at South Devon for added interest... 35018 was also used officially for the ACE during this time (obviously in original form mind). And a WD 2-10-0 was used for the Goods part of the trials between Eastleigh and Bristol IIRC.

 

Like the idea of a WD (especially as I could lay in bed and hear it clanking away) and would look as good as the 8F did on the freight when it was down here. Duchess out of gauge for the Weymouth line I believe (as it has not done the DCE) and not sure they allow it on a low loader.

 

6201 made it to 71B. Is there much difference in gauge between the pair? And is the restriction East/West of Wareham?

 

More than happy to be proved wrong, but I thought it was in the Southampton area somewhere, I guess perhaps those sharp curves.

 

If 63395 could be spared from the NYMR for a bit longer, I'd love to see it head down to Dorset after its stint at the Severn Valley. Am I correct in believing that it was requested as a guest engine at Swanage some years ago but couldn't be spared?

As a southerner born and bred, I've always regarded engines from the two biggest northern provincial companies (the L&YR and the NER) as somewhat exotic beasts. There's 52322 to enjoy for another month at the Spa Valley - only a few miles from my home - and 63395 or 65894 at Swanage would be a fantastic follow-up.

 

73156 from GCR would be nice.
Also assuming 34072 will be back for then too.

edit 76017/084 in guise of another - 76010 -014 perhaps?
similarly, 41312 running as 41270 or 41320?

 

Do a swap for one of the Bulleid's?

 

Am I correct in thinking BR 9F's would have visited the oil terminal, if not still like their smooth lines?

 

A return of steam top and tailing the extension with at least a couple of loco's facing chimney first for the return journey. Would love to see the Ivatt back for a blast up there!

 

43106,53808, a 4F, STD5,STD4 Mogul, pannier tank, jinty

 

All at once?
No seriously any of those would be good, but an all steam gala (i.e. not a 33 on one end to Froome Bridge) works perfectly for me.