Swanage Railway General Discussion

At times some sunshine in Purbeck over the weekend, and 80104 made an appearance today on the Santa service, and sounded excellent both times climbing away from Corfe. SKP handled the Dorsetman both days
257 did a fine job a number of times not only obscuring the observation car but the the complete train with an excess of steam. Annoyingly for some reason the NT did not turn the lights on the Castle on tonight before the final train as they usually do. Finally 80104 the town's Christmas tree and some happy passengers.

 

Deleted - replied to wrong post.

 

I am not so sure there might be a 2020 Spring Steam Gala as such.
The town is planning to hold commemorations for the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, I believe, and the Railway has been invited to take part in them.
However, I have no idea exactly what this might entail.
Unlike other heritage railways, Swanage does not have much experience of militarily-themed events.
We'll just have to wait and see I guess.

 

It has now been anounced there will not be a spring Steam Gala, so for May celebrations how about Sir Keith Park with a victory formation of Spitfires? Celebrations don't come much better than that unless 257 Squadron and Manston can join in too! A static Spitfire in Corfe Goods Yard with one of the Loco's in light steam( a bit like Flying Scotsman event there) ( See https://www.spitfiredisplayteam.co.uk/hire-a-spitfire/)

 

Some chap 4 doors along from my son has an ex Russian T34 tank in his back garden.

 

WIBN. One or two of the S160s. USA 0-6-0T and a tank or two on warflats!!

 

Does he have any ammunition??

 

Unfortunately, my understanding is that if you buy a tank or similar they will 'disable its offensive capabilities' before delivery.

 

Not sure the chap who owns it is an ex Hells Angel from the infamous Windsor chapter and tends to keep himself to himself, although information gathered is that he bought the tank from somebody in Sissinghurst Kent.

 

Well, I have a list of targets.............

 

Herston Halt Sidings look to have been lifted and all the undergrowth cleared. Could it be that Swanage Railway are finally going to give their coaches a well deserved and long overdue Christmas present and build a carriage shed?

No pictures I'm afraid as from the bridge it looks a way off in the distance on the phone camera.

 

It is hoped to have the Carriage Shed finished before the start of the 2020 running season. Let's hope it stops raining soon.

 

The site off the former sidings with 257 passing with the final Santa working of 2019.

 

If you are not all bored by now a few images from the last two days of the Swanage Santa season. Interesting to note that the headboard had a different home on the two Dorsetman runs.

 

Try this https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K23452/2020-01-02/detailed

 

….and the morning class 33 light engine schedule to Eastleigh. <BJ>
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R26376/2020-01-02/detailed

 

I hadn't spotted that and hadn't looked for it as I assumed that the 117 would be travelling under its own power. It would make sense that the BIG railway would like to see that the unit is reliable before letting it out in amongst the money earners.

 

Here are the times of the wareham trains for the first two weeks in May (No Mondays and Fridays).

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P90115/2020-05-02/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...20-05-03/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

Real time trains have a habit of not taking down old timings, I think you will find that these timings are for the WCRC trips that ran in 2017.
If you look at the daily Wareham station timings on RTT,You will find they disappear each day from the timetable.

Re the class 117, Yes, It would certainly be nice for it to work from Eastleigh to the Swanage railway under it's own power but there are a few
obstacles like there almost certainly are no mainline drivers that know the class 117. The unit has not been run in yet, though I am pretty
much certain this will happen within the confines of the Swanage Railway.