Swanage Railway General Discussion

Apparently not staying at Swanage now. Going back after this weekend.
Enjoying haulage behind it as I type

 

Spoke too soon. Stuck at Norden now

 

S&T issue not the engine

 

419 left Norden 30 late.

Glad we went as had two runs behind 419 with the BR tank and got some lovely shots in the beautiful sunshine. We also had two runs behind the T9 (what a star this engine is) and one with the stormy Ivatt. Quietest Gala I can remember there with only one train we were on fairly busy the rest we could choose our seats and no queues for FS that we saw. Hope the railway made some money from the last week.

 

They didn’t get the authorisation to run it around at Nordon... Pity because up to that point the timekeeping wasn’t too bad, there was lots of confusion surrounding what it was going to do at Corfe, we expected it to stop, where then told it wouldn’t. Then it was going to be non stop to Swanage, then it stopped at Harman’s cross after waiting at the signal for ages! I think 3 coaches would’ve been more suitable, but I don’t know what was available and if it could take them. The idea of replacing the freight with a branch line train as the guard put it, was a good one though

However it was a lovely loco and by the end of the day things weren’t running too late. Pity there aren’t any freights tomorrow, but I would still recommend the gala to anyone on the fence about going tomorrow.

 

Authorisation to run round? This is NR talk. No place here. What actually was the problem? Yes a lovely loco and worth going to see.

 

Well, I picked up first born at Wareham having bought second born a new bike seat - the bike shop staff at the station were very nice, only to bump into someone I drove with at Wolsztyn 20 years ago!

Anyway off we all went to Norden for 419 & the Standard 4 to Swanage, back to Corfe with the Mogul for lunch in the picnic area - good to see one mum had her kids picnicing on a quiet part of the platform so they could watch the trains. We were surprised to see 419 instead of a goods heading to Norden - and even more surprised to see the Mogul head off towards Swanage accelerating at a rate that would have made a Phantom taking off from the old Ark Royal look tardy. Waiting for the late return of 419 we admired Flying Scotsman from the footbridge. My father talked about going to the British Empire Exhibition so must have seen it there - and could probably never have imagined 95 years later two of his Grand Children looking at it.

We then went for a break from the trains - ice cream at Chococo in Commercial Road and down to the beach before recapturing my youth sitting on the end of the platform looking at a 33. This was followed by a veritable Edwardian Steam Fest - 419 & the T9 back to Norden

 

That’s what the guard said

 

Perception is a funny thing.
The queues for Scotsman were up to 40 minutes in the middle of the day, and all the trains I traveled on were busy, but the further down the train you went, more seating was available.
As you say, what a star the T9 is, give me that over Scotsman any day, made a lovely noise dragging 6 coaches up through the Wilderness, the feisty little Ivatt was very noisy as well.
Spent a couple of hours at Harmans Cross listening to the birds and the locos, plus enjoying the sunshine.
What a lovely station this is.
To think that there was never a station there originally, most people wont believe it.
Lovely day.

 

Smaller firebox, so smaller steaming capacity. But also bigger driving wheels, so wants to go fast but not so keen on hill climbing...

 

It never was going to stay. It has been booked to be at the NNR next weekend for a while

 

Thanks for the rebuff, good shout out for the NNR.

 

A coach has been removed from the service train at Swanage.

Ivatt class 46521 to depart with the 5 coach 14:00 service to Norden. <BJ>

 

I doubt the 2” difference in wheel diameter makes much difference between M7 5’7” and 439 5’9” in terms of hill climbing ability.
The T9 doesn’t do too badly on Swanage Railway’s medium gradients, and that’s got huge wheels.....

 

Yes it did very well on the 1400 from Swanage on Saturday. With 6 for 212 tons tare, 230 tons full it accelerated from 14 over the tsr near MP 134 to 21 at MP133.5. The T9 is my favourite loco on the Swanage line.

 

Quite agree Don. It made a magnificent sight as it approached Dicker's Crossing.

Weather-wise the railway has certainly chosen the best time to hold their Scotsman and Spring Steam Up events. <BJ>

 

Anyone know if Carry on Chuffing will be shown at cinema or straight to dvd

 

Yoy refering to the Aprils Fool Post?

 

I think boiler power is the main determinant with those kinds of locos on hilly lines, rather than tractive effort. The Bluebell's H (with only 17,400lbf TE) class does fine on our line with loads of 140 tons on gradients up to 1 in 55; but it dies below 140psi, and the red line is only 160, so you have to keep it near the mark all the time. The grate area is 16.7sq ft, 1,104 sq ft of heating surface in comparison to the M7's 20.5sq ft grate, 1,192sq ft heating surface.

Tom

 

You and I must have travelled on the same services, I was on that one as well!