Swanage Railway General Discussion

The ongoing saga of Swanage to Wareham service is no worse than Crossrail. The term "Crossrail" was first used in 1974 (although idea to link west with east goes as far back to 1944). Crossrail is now delayed until 2021. Here is hoping that the ORR has good news for Swanage at the end of February.

 

Presumably all the paperwork and training is progressing?
Would be good if some ticket deals with SWR could be sorted? I notice First are heavily promoting GWR on TV with the "famous five" the ad could be modified for SWR with Purbeck's famous fives links?
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/apr/13/enid-blyton-famous-five-75th-anniversary-dorset

Any news of the 117 railcar returning as a photo from September at Eastleigh looked it it was complete and ready to run to Wareham (with also 121, 31806 and D6515?)
http://www.carlswatson.com/Trains/Galleries 2019/Galleries 201909/20190914ICRSEastleighWorks/class117s5138859486and51356eastleighworks14thseptember2019.jpg

 

Would be good if some ticket deals with SWR could be sorted? I notice First are heavily promoting GWR on TV with the "famous five" the ad could be modified for SWR with Purbeck's famous fives links?
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/apr/13/enid-blyton-famous-five-75th-anniversary-dorset

The only steam locomotive, mentioned in Enid Blyton books, is in "Five go to Mystery Moor" and I believe that it is the remains of "Tiny" the Lewin locomotive used on the Norden to Goathorn Railway (The NGR). One piece of this loco is still exists! As you say, SR could use this as publicity.

 

Remembrance Sunday Dorsetman on its second run.
Unsure if the three discs represent V for Victory, as the only reference to that three disc code I can find is a Breakdown van train. Unless of course a little rerailing is now one of the desert options on the Dorsetman.
Loco looked very clean and shiny today and a credit to those who cleaned it.

 

Presumably a V for Victory in this case - the same head code was used on Churchill's funeral train.

Tom

 

Recent coverage on 9 News Melbourne: https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1193077508708519936
Not sure it'll result in more volunteers (topic of piece) but is useful publicity for general visitors nonetheless.

 

On Facebook:-
CANCELLED - Flour Mill Open Day.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the open day planned for this Saturday 16th November has unfortunately had to be cancelled.

We apologise for the late notice and we will be working to have an open day during Spring 2020.

Please share! If people turn up I'm afraid they will be disappointed!

 

SKP on a November Saturday that started sunny and got duller.

 

The Swanage Railway's annual 'Winter Warm Up' event returns on 28 December 2019.

After taking a bit of a low key last year due to an awkward temporary speed restriction making a more intensive timetable inappropriate, this year's event returns to its usual format with one steam heated set, one ETH set and a freight running an intensive three-train service between Swanage and Norden.

Locos in use will be 30120, 31806, D6515 and 33111, with all locos getting a turn on the freight, and a couple of double headed workings with the 33's.

Further details, including the timetable with loco allocations, is available at:-

https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/detail/winter-warm-up

 

Pleased to be able to say that as of today, the bottom end of 30053 is in Herston Works for overhaul and 34028 has been reunited with its boiler.

 

Pictures of this can be seen in the latest newsletter to be found here https://swanagerailway.co.uk/volunteers-diary

 

DMU 121 training on coming Friday

 

As of today (Monday) the M7 is off its wheels and well stripped with lots of parts cleaned and ready for painting.

 

That nice Mr Corbyn used Swanage Railway in a question and answer rally at Southampton today as a way of opening up the Purbecks as a national park without burdening the road system.

 

While the Purbecks could be a great national park, brilliant in fact, I think it would have to wait until part of it isn't being used as a bloody firing range. And is that going to happen?

And although I not a fan of him personally, considering the over the top way some people do dislike him (to the point its slightly unreasonable) and he probable won't be voted for in Purbeck; if he gets in anything he suggests will be treated with cynicism and probable blocked from happening even if it is a good idea or not.

So I don't think the Purbecks will ever be a National Park

Besides I'm sure the railway would prefer to wait until the planning permission for various things they planning were granted first as becoming a National Park could complicate matters on that front.

 

I think it's almost certain that the Purbeck will become a national park in the next decade. The Swanage Railway will obviously reap the benefits of this in addition it will also have to deal with the challenges it brings.

 

I think we should point out that the Isle of Purbeck will only be a small part of the proposed Dorset and East Devon National Park but will still benefit from something that was first proposed in 1949. It is taking longer than the SR rebuild.

Oh and another small point - Many of our National Parks already contain firing ranges.

 

Up in the Lake District / Western Yorkshire Dales Warcop Ranges seem to co exist with the National Parks.
As does Bellerby ranges above Leyburn in the Dales.

Admittedly may not have the firepower in use as at Bovington.

 

Not to mention much of Dartmoor