Swanage Railway General Discussion

LMS / LNER and even GWR locks transfer easily. Moving a BR lock can take hours. Especially from an aluminium door to wooden. Everything can be thrown out of alignment.

 

In the late 90's there was a West Coast MK2 a-c set used on Temple Meads to Weymouth services that had central door locking

 

I must admit I've found some of the MK1 internal door releases unusable. It's often easier to open the window and use the outside handle!

 

Looking at wiki the mk2s were replaced by Sprinters.
A lot of the Mk2 coaches were sold overseas, but WestCoast Railways brought some for mainline charters. If updating Mk1 coaches for mainline is now too much of a task a short (day?) rent of mainline coaches from WestCoast Railways is possible or perhaps the GCR Cromwell Pullman coaches for special trips?

Not ideal but maybe if Mk1 coaches are not updated the best way for 31806 to occasionally meet people coming of SWR trains at Wareham so they can ride into Swanage in style by steam during 2020?.

 

Nothing is impossible but there is the little (actually quite large) question of money for either of those suggestions.
WCRC stock would have to come from Southall or maybe Carnforth. The GCR coaches as far as I know are not main line approved so would have to move by road on a number of low loaders and still could not access the line between Bridge 4 and Wareham.

 

Lots of wild speculation here about what stock the Swanage Railway might bring in to run steam to Wareham.

The reality is that they have 5 mainline registered MK1s which they intend to use for this purpose, once door locking is fitted.

Any changes in regulations requiring internal door handles is presumably a few years off still. Even if it does happen, there are numerous operators still running MK1s on the mainline. I’m sure they would work together and find a cost effective solution.

 

An interruption to my afternoon plans.
SKP test run in the gloom this afternoon seen at Afflington on the return run, and a shot of the Friday afternoon "mini gala" in Swanage Station as the 16:40 service departs. Finishing with SKP on shed.

 

That all depends on the set up of A. The lock itself, B. The strike plate positioning and its angle relative to the lock face and C. The door itself.

 

And the test run obviously went well, as SKP looked excellent going under Afflington bridge this afternoon on the 12:00 ex-Norden.

 

Had a nice ride behind it on the delayed 1400 but unfortunately withdrawn on arrival at Swanage and D6515 did the last two service trains. Not sure of exact issue, did hear "a slightly warm box" mentioned.

 

Yes, looked like I tempted fate a little there! That tallies with what I was told by the Driver, taken out of service as a precaution so it can be looked at in the morning. If this turns out to be incorrect in any way, I’m only the messenger!

 

Discussions have taken place to see if the overhaul the M7 locomotive no. 30053 could be done in Herston Works and it will be moving in soon when transport is available. Boiler will be done at North Norfolk.

 

It is hauling the Dorsetman today (Sunday 6th October)

 

What a great start to a good weekend despite the weather

 

I noticed the recently restored Maunsell Third class coach number S1381S wasn't running. Hopefully it nothing major wrong with it...

 

Minor issues that unfortunately there wasn’t time to resolve in time for the gala.

 

Bugger, that was going to be my arm chair today

 

Amongst all the great gala photos, almost hidden on facebook I see there are some of the DMU on the finished inspection pit Credit Andrew P.M. Wright (with the 4TC first carriage behind)

Although a lot still to do things are looking better for 2020.

Good to see 31806 was running in the gala, are there funds for the central door locking system on the mainline registered mk1 coaches so they can take passengers with 31806 to Wareham, or does it require extra fundraising or grant?

 

A couple of images from either side of the gala weekend.
On Thursday afternoon Swanage resembled Clapham Yard with coaching stock being moved and reassembled for the weekend, all juggled around the one train service. One of the more unusual moves was with the Observation Car in the middle of a set.
Yesterday was the first day of Winter Driver Experience. SKP at a very dull Swanage, although I did hear some participants raving about how good the experience was so the weather did not matter.

 

On the local brew was we, you could drop Swanage into Clapham yard at least about five times and still have room, never the less liked the photos.