Swanage Railway General Discussion

I didn’t say if the rumour mill was correct or not...!

 

Might Raxstar being based at Eastleigh have any bearing on the three 142's arrival? https://en-gb.facebook.com/RaxstarLtd/

 

Perhaps so. At least we can now look forward to some Thumpers arriving at Swanage instead.

 

"Nice to have" maybe but not sure where they might come from and suspect there could still be limited siding space issues.
Several un-restored wagons departed a while ago to not only create some additional space but also, no doubt, because they might have been near/at the back of the 'will-take-ages-to-get-restored' queue.
During its visit to Swanage between 1990 and 1993, I thoroughly enjoyed driving the Hastings Diesels 3-car unit [similar to Thumpers] on several occasions.
Would be nice to hear an EE 4SRKT 'thumping' again at Swanage.

 

They would be much better than pacers. Pacers are absolutely the wrong choice it’s stupid I can’t believe they are thinking them. The thumper is a good idea to run there and they used to run on the mainline there in the passed so they are used to them

 

I am just a member of the Swanage Railway but have heard no mention of Pacers coming down south.
I think some people have seen these three 2-car units going to Eastleigh and 'assumed' they must be destined for Dorset.
Until anyone official on the Railway posts to the contrary can we please leave it that Pacers are NOT coming and end perpetual rumours.
Thank you.
In the meantime, so there will be a railway to run anything on, would forumites who've not yet done so already please consider donating to the survival appeal: https://www.swanagerailwaytrust.org/giving
Thank you again.

 

Please provide a link to a statement from the Swanage Railway that they are considering Pacers.

Keith

 

Dartmoor according to Dadddsie’s post above. However my comment was very much tongue in cheek, there is nothing to seriously suggest this is happening.

Pacer’s would actually make more sense wouldn’t they? Ready to use on the mainline straight away (if third rail issue was resolved)

But again all just idle rumour and speculation. No serious suggestion that Pacers or Thumpers are actually coming.

 

where they driven

 

Bearing in mind the date, just realised that the GBRf driver must have forgotten that the Pacer's movement for the Railway's Diesel Gala had been cancelled

 

From the front I'd say .

 

Idle rumour Sir? Its a vicious rumour Certainly as far as the Thumpers are concerned.

 

Haha. Well I’ve got my fingers crossed that vicious rumour turns out to be true. I’ve always felt that a Thumper was a gap that would be nice to fill in the Swanage Railway’s collection.

 

The Swanage branch certainly is lucky that it can portray most of its motive power history from the M7 to the BRCW type 3's with everything in between.

Apart from a black motor most of it is available.

Whether there is the will is another thing.

 

Haha April 1st joke re Pacers and Trumpers!!

The 2 railcars have been refurbished to a good standard, but are 60 years old, so will need ongoing maintenance.A Pacer has no heritage on the line, but might be useful as backup in case in the low risk event both railcars fail, but has bad ride quality compared to the railcars and might take support resources away from the railcars when the Wareham service eventually start?

A "Thumper" has heritage at Swanage. So far looks like the Dartmoor Railway is still for sale as a whole, but the administrators so far do seem to have not allowed a part sale of stock. The 2 Thumper units it has need a lot of maintenance (the one at Mid Hants is also out of service) , and the working one may be needed when the railway is sold and gets working again, It is possible the non working unit will need a lot of work and might possibly be sold. The Swanage railway has a big task to fundraise and get the T3 loco and 4TC units finished (as well as keeping other rolling stock in good order), so may not be able to release resources to also work on Thumpers for a long while?
But maybe sometimes one of the working Thumpers from another railway may be able to visit?

 

The Dartmoor railway was a fright line and isn’t ever going to be good for passengers they should move the thumper to the Swanage instead of the stupid pacers

 

It has been stated that there is no truth in the rumour that the Pacers are destined for Swanage; can we move on please?

In any event, minds of those at the Swanage Railway are exercised with far more important matters than four-wheeled rotbox bus-offspring. While the railway’s SOS appeal has raised the sum of £24,478.62 as at 3 April, there is still a long way to go to make up for the loss of income at such an important time of the year. Please, consider how you can help to ensure the ongoing survival of the Swanage Railway, and we can then look forward to the numerous other projects that we would like to see happen. Without a successful railway though, these are all just pipe dreams and fantasy.

For more information, and for the ability to make an online donation, please visit the appeal’s dedicated website at https://saveourservice.co.uk/

Thank you.

 

Tickets please !!

 

Just about every Heritage Railway and preservation project in the UK has the same message. HR managers are going to have to realise that many supporters are just about 'appealed" out. I do believe that post COVID reality will set in with a vengeance.
For instance with a Tory Government who is to say that "Voluntary" labour from the Prison Service will not be used. Can HR continue to pay full time workers with or without government support?? Can HR run operations completely devoid of any connection with the National network. Personally.if it were feasible,I do not see anything wrong with a Pacer trundling passengers from Bournemouth to Swanage. The HR movement is going to have to think outside its comfortable but perhaps outdated box.