Swanage Railway General Discussion

There is a great app that I use called plant net. Take a pic with your phone and it will tell you what the plant is.

 

I tried it a moment ago on a JCB, nothing happened. Whats that i hear you say not that type of plant, oh well.

 

Steamed Spam for tea at Swanage. 15/8/20

 

Ilfracombe portion of the ACE In 1960,

or Harman’s Cross 16.8.20?

I can feel a postcard coming on.

Robin



(My photos with the sky just blued a touch in photoshop by the very skilled Geoff Smallpeice.)

 

Yes it is, slowly as funding allows. This is externally funded by public donations raised by the efforts of the group responsible specifically for this project.

I'm sure the N will also be worked on. As funding allows. This is being funded by the Swanage Railway Operating Company and as such progress has been impacted by the Coronavirus Crisis.

In the current circumstances dates would be wild speculation but I cant imagine a boiler being ready in less than a year and say another 6 months to fit, test snagg etc so 18 months minimum after 806 boiler is finished in 'say' Jan 2021. By this reasoning you would be lucky to see it towards the end of 2022, More likely 2023.
Sorry we weren't able to turn out your favorite in 2021 but the essential needs of keeping the business afloat and getting locos working had to come first. It is simply impossible under charity commission rules to divert funds raised for the T3 to the N.

Look on the bright side @Gladiator 5076 gets another year to get that elusive shot of 806 passing the carriage shed site. That is until the shed is constructed.

 

Wow love the black and white at harmans cross thanks for posting

 

But its incredibly frustrating. Being told at the start of the year it was 'nearly there'.

I mean last year I was really down in the dumps when the chance to do a 'Brighton' K class was thrown to do yet another express engine. Now the sole surviving equivalent now been knackered, but yet another express engine is still 'under-way'. Whats next? Is Burgundy going scraped to raise funds for a new Ryde?

You lot can think of me as an arse-hole of you want, but when only been mostly 'Southern' rather then mostly 'Western' for last 3 years and the net result is most my 'Southern' favourites seem to then get 'smacked' and lots of disappointments. Plus called me predigests but Im not keen on the way express engines always get the lime-light.

Not only I beginning to think I gone down the wrong route, but I really angry I can't do anything about it...

 

Had things gone to plan, the boiler for the N would have been done and the engine back in service now, but life isn't like that, swopping the boiler onto the U class actually makes sence, as it will be easier to plumb up, as everything is already there, then at least when the time comes, the N will be just boiler work, as everything is all ready done, the problem with the boiler shop was out of your hands, so you can't be blamed for that, its a shame Ropley doesn't have any spare capacity , politics aside, because they would be the best contractor, to use, if the railway were allowed to sub contract repairs on either boiler but it might re open old wounds .

 

563 is fast becoming an extremely important part of the motive power planning on the railway. The group are hoping to have it in steam by 2022 but that is all down to how quickly we can raise money.
If you noticed, the railway shut down promotion of functional group fundraising although actual fundraising is still on going.
Covid has wrecked our plans and although it is gutting for everyone about 31874, it isn’t the end of the story. We will keep 31806 running and in the shortest time possible 31874 will join it.

Covid is responsible for this not the railway. Enjoy 31806 when it keeps running , after all the N looks almost the same with smaller wheels!

 

Be grateful you can look forward to it. I'd like to see a Gresley K2, but I doubt I ever will.

 

Any news on 120 and what will happen when the current agreement with the NRM ends shortly?

 

I'm looking to go in September. Just one question though - is a return ticket good for the day or one trip only?

 

Never mind, have another piece of cake.

 

I am also going in September
The price is at
https://swanagerailway.co.uk/re-opening-services
Which is £25 for 2 return for one trip only. Makes it £12.50 each rather than £17 (I think?) for an all day rover ticket.
Not sure it means if you park at Norden to go to Swanage you can"t change at Corfe for a stop?.
Also the Norden Purbeck mining museum is still closed.
Presume Santa trains will be back but no confirmation?

In 2021 the Wareham service should finally be in operation, and SWR offering special combined SWR/SR tickets which could bring extra revenue to the SR, especially if 31806 will run some ocassional trains from Wareham.

 

While I share Ady's enthusiasm to see 31874 in action, we are in a different world from anything we could have imagined at the start of the year. The absolute priority has to be the railway's survival and the second must be to ensure that it has sufficient motive power. If putting 31874's boiler on the bottom end of 31806 will save the railway from having to hire in a loco, then I can't see how any reasonable person can object. There's plenty to look forward to - including the T3, the other two moguls, the return of Eddystone and Manston, the Wareham services and the carriage shed. It's just a case of recognising that things will take a bit longer than had been envisaged and being patient.

On a different note, does the railway offer tickets for just one person yet? I couldn't see any mention of this on the website, but would like to visit the line at some point this year and it's a bit too far to take my long-suffering wife. After not having visited the line since last October, however, I'm beginning to suffer from Swanage withdrawal symptoms - and would like to make a contribution to help the railway survive.

 

Whilst I am as likely to be wrong as you are correct I have always read that differently.
To me it is no individual fares £25 for one round trip for a table for 2 (pre booked normally). So I guess you pay £25 if on your own. I see no mention of all day rovers.
So bottom line is perhaps it could be clearer so either ring the railway (best idea) or wait for a member to confirm what is correct.
The timetable shows set down at Corfe on a train from Swanage and pick up only on a train from Norden. From viewing the webcam only the up platform is in use which I guess helps social distancing controls.

I admire your optimism on 2021 but I suspect COVID has a few more surprises up its sleeve for us all first.

 

Highly likely I would think Al as it only started this rotation as the steam service loco in use last Saturday. But I am sure someone on here will know for sure.

 

The intention will have been to put it in for a week minimum I would suspect to give time for washout & maintenance on 806. Unless Squadron develops a fault I'm sure it will be in for a few days yet.

No news but I'm sure Swanage will want to give it a good home. Just a matter of finding the wherewithal given the C word and the N and not wanting to upset @ady any more.

It is nearly there and there is something you can do about it.
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