Swanage Railway General Discussion

Hope the refurbuished 60 old diesel engines are reliable so operations can start next year.

Ideally can at some time be retro fitted with a cost effective more emviromentally freindly hybrid battery electric engine setup like the class 231, but might a few years yet?

 

Not sure you have quite got the idea of Preservation!

 

Can't remember them all but rather more than just 121s and 180s.

 

One of our machines is from the last Century - 1984
Busy out working last week.

 

The far more likely option is that in 10 years or so, when the 117 and bubble car might need further major work, that they would be replaced by Sprinters or other more modern DMUs that would then be available.

 

Perhaps SR should take a leaf out this Aussie Project https://byronbaytrain.com.au/sustainability/

 

Pacer for @Victor ?

 

Oh come on, let's not kick a man when he's down

 

I dunno, I suspect @Victor will have thought it was the morphine reading today's news about the first one going for scrap!

 

Although some pacers are being preserved the 117 and 121 are better engineered and more suitable for the SR.

An interesting project. Was thinking of pollution when on one of the summer 4TC/73 Swanage tours which were electric, then diesel for the last leg past Wareham.
Once the DMU service starts should help reduce some traffic and pollution on the A351, if a long term cost effective way of reducing diesel emission from the DMUs, and later 4TC/33s, could be found, but still keep the "60s" preservation look?

 

Bloody stuff is lethal, I'd no pain but I could barely speak.

 

Duchess of Sunderland Bath Christmas Market Charter Train has been cancelled.

 

From the discussion in 'What's Going On' the loco has failed with no replacement, guess from previous posts 31806 does not have the capacity to get to Bath?

 

Unless it was in use on Sunday when I was not here the last day it was used was the final day of the gala on October 13. It was steamed briefly last week, but as it has not been mainline since the 2018 GB I suspect it would not be ready to go at the drop of a hat. I suspect water and coal capacity would also be an issue, plus it does not have a support coach or as far as I know a mainline approved support crew (but could be wrong on that last point).

 

As you state, 31806's smaller Coal/Water capacity would not be sufficient to utilise the water stops scheduled for Salisbury each way; also the load would be well over permitted limits I've no doubt and, finally, 31806 is restricted to 60mph which would have ruined NR's timings/paths.
Regarding a support coach, perhaps main line registered Mk1 BSK 35464 [as used in the convoy to Eastleigh 100: from around 5' 30" ] could fit the bill.
I believe the Railway does have suitably qualified support crew - whether sufficient for a long day's rail tour, however, I have no idea.

 

Link does not work Pete

 

The Swanage Railway has been awarded the prestigious Abellio Signalling Award at the National Railway Heritage Awards 2019. The award was presented by HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, at Merchant Taylor's Hall in London on 4th December. Swanage Railway won the award for the Norden Token Block Signalling System. Congratulations to Dr Mike Walshaw and all those who were involved in designing and implementing the system.


Mark Woolley and Dr Mike Walshaw receive the NRHA Abellio Signalling Award from HRH Princess Anne in London on 4th December


Runners up in the Signalling Awards were the Amberley Museum for Billingshurst Signal Box and the Downpatrick and County Down Railway for Downpatrick Signal Box.

 

you have to view it on u tube I believe , I don't think there would have been enough time to FTR 31806 anyway, plus the load would be over the limit for the U boat, the only option may have been to have operated it with the 33 coupled inside but as has been pointed out, the U only passed for 60 MPH

 

Sorry about that Steve.
I went to You Tube and typed in Swanage Locos at Eastleigh for Eastleigh 100! and up came the video in question.
I copied it's hyperlink and inserted it in my post - so don't know why it didn't work.

 

Yes it does. The Swanage railway has a mainline registered set of 5 Mk1s. The brake coach of which would be used as 31806’s support coach as and when necessary.