Steam Dreams Excursion to Swanage - 26/09/19

Times are available for this Thursday's trip to Swanage, with 61306 as motive power as expected.

This trip looks to be diesel free as there is LE moves to and from Acton Lane Sdgs at Victoria, plus a LE move from Southampton Central to Swanage in the evening after tour leaves for London.

Outward:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10864/2019/09/26/advanced

Return:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10866/2019/09/26/advanced

LE Moves to and from Acton:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10865/2019/09/26/advanced
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10868/2019/09/26/advanced

LE to Swanage:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10867/2019/09/26/advanced

 

Is the loco from Swanage to Southampton the U class or the class 33? As the return l/e is booked at 45mph it seems to be steam to me but am I just hoping without foundation?

 

Most likely the 33 I'd have thought.

 

Not sure why the 33 would be limited to 45mph, but I guess the path was entered in the hope that the U was available.
Despite the RTT paths I expect it will arrive in Swanage with a WCRC Class 47 (or 33) on the back. But then I could be wrong.

 

Yes the LE paths are Q paths. It will almost certainly have a DL on the back.

 

Shame, oh well.

 

Well, the Q paths weren't (at least the morning one wasn't) activated so I assume there is a wretched diesel on the back . . .

 

.. . and there was. For some reason the B1 kept losing time and was stranded at Eastleigh for a while. It then powered past me at Lyndhurst Road and also Brockenhurst having apparently abandoned its water stop at Beaulieu Road about 30 minutes late and, I see, it arrived at Swanage 26 minutes late.

 

I hope everything is okay with the loco (I'm sure it is) as I'm already on my way to Hampshire from Essex to see her.

 

I know what you mean - I've only done Swanage by steam once. It was an RTC trip with a different loco in each direction - very good it was too. Not really interested in doing it in the current format. Likewise the Windsor trips - they have no interest for me as an enthusiast but glad to hear they are doing well. I've actually never had a trip behind 61306 as it always seems to run diesel assisted. May need to go to the Bluebell gala for an unassisted effort!

 

I was told by one of the stewards the delays started with the loco being signalled down a line it (maybe steam?) was forbidden on. Then of course out of path conflicted with service trains. Three shots.
At Furzebrook foot crossing
On shed at Swanage
Coming back in with the ECS

Personal highlight of the day was to get some 08 haulage from Swan Brook into the station, maybe only about 1/4 mile but a rare loco on passenger trains.

 

Mayflower on the return from Swanage, seen blasting through Andover and strolling through Barnes.

 

My shots of the 26th September Swanage-bound train:

 

Although not strictly related to this thread but as it was WCRC operated and only happened yesterday anyone have any idea about a change of policy in visits to Heritage Lines?
This has been posted on the Charity Railtours site and I have seen similar discussions on other rail sites.
Plans for this tour have also had to be cancelled due to a change in WCR policy towards visiting heritage railways.

 

Interesting, but probably deserves a thread of its own

 

Just realized I had not posted my images from Farnborough here yet