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Swanage Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Rumpole, Oct 10, 2012.

  1. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Good selection of headcodes in use as well from what I have seen on the webcam. With the damp and humid atmosphere here in a different life I would have been out there with the camera.
     
  2. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

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    Just looking at the webcam. The dining set being propelled into the bay. Seems little Jonnie has been active with his spray can. Little bastard!
     
  3. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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  4. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

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    I understand that the future of the M7 on the railway has been questioned. It is a branch line loco and Swanage is a branch line. It has shown that it can do the job and is a popular loco, so why is there any doubt? I spent many hours at Clapham Junction watching this type of loco marshaling the mainline expresses coaching stock before taking the empties into Waterloo. You can guess it is a favourite of mine. Please keep it!
     
  5. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    The M7 can manage most timetabled services, so why should it's future be questioned? it seems to not have any issues over its coal capacity, or water , its clearly not under powered either,
     
  6. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    Where is it being questioned? First I’ve heard of it. It’s a popular loco on the line, and I thought the Swanage Railway had fairly recently committed to completing its overhaul.
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2020
  7. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    I didn’t know there was any doubt. It’s a lovely loco and of course very appropriate . I too got lots of shots of them on empty stock workings of up to 13 coaches to and from Waterloo including at least one from Walton on Thames on a Summer Saturday in 1962. They were preferred to the GWR panniers.
     
  8. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

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    It is strange that work has stopped on the carriage shed until 2021. The funds are there and the carriages need protection from the coming winter weather. Maybe there is something that is happening that could effect the need for the shed in that location. Is there the possibility that the Perenco Sidings could be available next year for the funds to be spend there on a shed? Time will tell why these strange decisions are made.
     
  9. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    In the current climate if you have funds then perhaps better hanging on to them for what may happen next.
     
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  10. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    What's strange about the decision? Not taking on liabilities at this time seems an eminently sensible move.
    There's a dip in the number of volunteers, a complete collapse in income (with a risk of long-term reduction in earning capacity), imminent end to the furlough scheme, steam engines sitting there costing money.

    How long is the build going to take? Unless its less than 8 months, the carriages will be outside in the worst of the winter weather anyway, so you commit to a bunch of costs (which will be more than the initial figure anyway) and won't even gain much benefit from doing so.

    Why do you think it strange?
     
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  11. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

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    It is called getting Britain Going Again. Sit back and do nothing achieves nothing. It certainly does not inspire volunteers to come forward. One thing for certain, the longer it is left, the more it will cost and it very much sounds as the railway will never be able to afford it. The liability that will be taken on will be that the maintenance of the carriages will continue to be great.
    Whilst the worst of the weather occurs during the winter, in Swanage the salt in the air exists nearly all the year, so protection for the carriages would start as soon as the building was complete.
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2020
  12. Strail

    Strail New Member

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    Swanage has run for 40+ years with out a carriage shed so one more winter wont hurt.
    As Bikemike has said might be a decision to hang on to what few pennies the railway has to ensure it survives...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 25, 2020
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  13. 007

    007 Member

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    30053 future at Swanage is assured. Please don’t worry or start spreading fake rumours stating otherwise.

    As for the carriage shed. All spending was stopped on all projects following covid outbreak. It’s constantly under review but at this time money must be kept back to ensure survival. Once we are through to May 2021, and we have made it through ok, work will restart.

    It was a painful decision to pause the carriage shed, but ultimately the correct decision to take. It meant that the whole railway could focus on the immediate challenge ahead of it. For a change we are united in one aim.
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2020
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  14. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

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    Sorry, as a friend of the late Mike Stollery whose baby was the carriage shed, I had been under the impression that following the past collections of donations and then a grant for the carriage shed, there were sufficient funds in a restricted account to cover the costs. After a little research, I see there is a very large amount still to be found by the company. The decision to hold back on building the carriage shed now makes full sense.
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2020
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  15. Southernman99

    Southernman99 Member Friend

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    Any large project will have stalled during this period. It wouldn't matter if the railway had the funds to complete the carriage shed if the main contractor had to furlough their staff thus creating another stoppage in the project.
     
  16. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

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    In 1993 the M7 pulled my silver wedding anniversary train here in Swanage, and when I heard someone recently questioning its ability to pull 6 coaches, I was concerned. It is Swanage Railway's own little "Flying Scotsman" having being rescued from the States just like it's big counterpart. Sorry for being concerned
     
  17. twr12

    twr12 Well-Known Member

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    The person questioning the M7’s ability and role at Swanage Railway, is no longer involved with decision making at Swanage Railway.
     
  18. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    A trip to Boots to collect my wife's drugs caused a very rare town visit this morning.
    The U on the stock for the 10:30, 257 Squadron in the loop and the "see thru" CCT in the bay. IMG_4878.JPG
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2020
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  19. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    As I have mentioned before I really only go out if there is a need (due to my wife's health issues) but the torrential rain this afternoon seemed a safe bet for no other idiot to be standing in the rain.
    Rain was so heavy had to make do with Haycrafts Lane Bridge at Harmans Cross for the 15:00 from Swanage.
    One shot approaching the bridge and one with I guess a wet Harmans Cross signalman in the distance. IMG_4886.JPG IMG_4893.JPG
     
  20. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

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    Thank you. Love shot number 3. What a great little station Harmans Cross is. I am thousands of miles away but can just envision sitting there in the rain with a nice strong cuppa and nosing through the book offerings!
     
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