Swanage Railway General Discussion

One would like to hope that may be the case, but path's out of Waterloo are as rare as rocking horse droppings (even if the Windsor's do go from there).
Of course the U does have a smallish water capacity so I imagine any tour with a decent load would need it to doublehead with something. Topping and tailing on a DCE or Swanage Belle for example would mean it would be impossible to water the back loco at Winchfield and Beaulieu Road without drawing the train forward and hence at least doubling the stop time. Whilst Winchfield is not that far from London by the time the loco has come from Southall, stood at the terminus and then run via Staines it has been brewing for a very long time.

 

I think now the ex Eurostar platforms and lines are fully in use the 2020 Swanage Belle (and other tours) might be able to use Waterloo platform 19 easier.

The Swanage Belles Union of South Africa loco presumably has got good water tanks.
https://www.railwaytouring.net/uk-day-trips/the-swanage-belle
Not sure why the return trip has to be diesel to Southampton then steam? Is the turntable at Swanage too small?
Also the SR website does not mention it?

From the mogol website
"We also intend to run 31806 on the mainline again in 2020 and to this end, the engine has to be in the best mechanical condition possible. It may well run a mainline tour or test run in 2019 but we will have to wait and see how things pan out with the reassembly."
So guess the U 31806 might be restricted to shorter mainline tours from say Weymouth and Bournemouth if it's is ready for 2020 after the test in 2018,
https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ne...t-dorset-main-line-passenger-train-since-1965
and there is the will to organise them (think they might be popular if they could run?),

 

Ah, but will any website or social media tell me whether the M7 is likely to emerge in a nicer livery than BR black? One can only dream...

 

Swanage turntable can only handle a tank loco without splitting the tender and loco to turn separately (not even the U)
Union of South Africa still waters at Winchfield and Beaulieu Road outbound on the Swanage Belle and now at Brookwood on the return (having been dragged from Swanage to Southampton and hence using less water).
If you look at the attached shot the tank would fill most of the turntable FS would overhang by a long way.
Not sure if the planning permission that was obtained for a larger turntable at Herston has expired or not.

 

I'm sure I saw somewhere that the M7 might be turned out in Maunsell Olive Green for its next ticket. Would be nice if she does as it's a favourite livery of mine.

 

A 76xxx standard will fit (just)

 

As long as it has the right tender! Although I’d be interested in seeing one get past the patio extension that’s been put in since 76079 was turned.

 

The other surviving M7 at HRM looks good in green, but doubt if either M7 will be working soon. Unless the boiler at the NNR is being worked on, but it has been about 18 months since an update.

 

30053 Boiler is being worked on and the SRC and DLL are about to finalise details for the rest of the Loco. It's not been forgotten about, it forms a key part of the railways motive power plan, it isn't going anywhere and will return to steam.

 

Glad to hear it, I figured there would be nothing to worry about in the end, as you say the M7 is a key part of the railway's motive power and dare I say by all accounts is it's true flagship locomotive. Few engines are as naturally at home then the 30053 on the Swanage Railway, except maybe perhaps the T9, though that is another matter entirely. As is the T3.

 

We can be sure that when there's something substantive to report, we'll get to hear about it, as they've a pretty good track record at Swanage in this regard. In the meantime, let's not forget that the more donations winging their way to Swanage, the quicker we'll see a living M7 back where it belongs.

 

Drummond Locomotives Ltd website has been in limbo due, I understand, to the person authorised with passwords, etc. unfortunately passing away before letting anyone else know them.
They have been trying to explain the situation to the website host but without success so they've been paying annual charges but having no way to enter updates!
I believe they are planning to go to a new host asap and hoping they can get historic entries, photos, etc. transferred across.
In the meantime, as has been written above, the loco has not been forgotten with work being undertaken in various areas.

 

It is 121 crew training this coming week.

 

Perhaps the Executors for the deceased would be willing to sign a letter explaining the situation and get access to the website.

This is a lesson many organisations would do well to learn. Alway ensure that more than a single person has access to any websites representing you. Arrangements for access to the source files for any website would also be useful in such circumstances (i.e. If you are the webmaster and noone else has access, at least leave a note with your will asking the family to allow Fred to visit and take copies of any relevant files from your home computer. You could even leave the login details including password in a sealed envelope for them).

 

I have a photo somewhere of the M7 parked behind the tender of an immense North American loco taken at Steamtown Vermont. It was with LSWR lettering. Travelled on Sunday School outings(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) behind M7s on the Swanage branch and used to watch them shunting Poole Yard whilst their compatriots headed to Brockenhurst over the "Old Road" to Brockenhurst. On another site i wrote WIBN for a reunion/display of former Poole Industrial locos. Do Swanage based Beryl and May have any Poole History? I certainly remember their types operating at Poole Gasworks with an M7 bringing in wagons from the main line.
Add Bonnie Prince Charlie;Henry Cort(George Jennings brother) a B4 and we have the makings! Where do we send donation for the M7 restoration?

 

You would need the password to update the website but you shouldn't need one to download everything there and re-upload to a new one. And once you stop paying for the old site to be hosted you should be able to have the old URL assigned to the new site.

 

Looks like someone has re registered drummondlocomotives.co.uk but not clear from whois who? Hopefully someone from the society.

 

Won't be able to make it to Swanage on the 12th to see the Union of South Africa, but hope to see it on route. Should make a good photo opportunity
Also noticed on FB there is also the Mayflower day tour on the 26th.
https://www.steamdreams.co.uk/tours.php?tourid=72148
The Wareham link is getting some use and good the 121 crews will start training

 

Found the detailed times for the Thursday tour to get a photo
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U52355/2019/09/12/advanced
There are also some other "Unadvertised Ordinary Passenger" Wareham Swanage slots presumably railcar training?

 

They are the Q paths that have existed since the Wareham trial 2 years ago and get activated if needed to be used.
The training runs only go to River Frome (Bridge 4). As far as I know SR is not yet a TOC and hence can not operate on NR metals.