Swanage Railway General Discussion

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.

 

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!

 

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...age-railway/&usg=AOvVaw28JXnuXhUPDnwfBoDzRssr

 

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!

 

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,

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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?

 

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.

 

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...

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!