Swanage Railway General Discussion

Next Friday 21st, seven round trips with DMU training from Corfe to River Frome Bridge! A big effort to be able to run to Wareham this year? Rest of railway shut for New Barn Bridge inspection.

 

Guessing said DMUs and crews are from the b8g railway?

 

WOW! Seven round trips from Corfe Castle to Frome in Somerset? Love to see the timings!
However the River Frome does happen to flow under the Swanage Railway not far from Worgeret Junction.

 

Testing the DMU from Corfe to the river Frome is more likely.
No doubt SWR and the SR will be keen to replicate the success of the 2017 service with SWR passengers changing at Wareham, but with SR crew and DMUs running between Wareham and Corfe.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-41656613
Also to run a Summer evening DMU service to Swanage.

 

Standard DMU testing to the River Bridge, limited to Corfe Castle due to engineering work at New Barn.

 

Mike Streeter has posted several pictures from Corfe on Facebook, including this of the DMU looking good and raring to go.
and to requote from the Llangollen thread

 

A few from the Eddystone loaded test runs today, none of them overly special I am afraid. Having spent over 90 minutes at Washpond Lane (Herston Halt) waiting for the first run I had to move as they were moving an articulated lorry down the road, hence a quick relocate to Harmans Cross. I was mid lunch when the second run left Swanage, so another rush! The Bulleid coach looked good next to the loco.
First two from the first run at Harmans Cross and Bridge 21
Then the second run approaching Afflington Bridge and leaving Norden.
Finally the ECS being shunted at Swanage.

 

Nice shots. It’s Bulleid!!

 

Is there a 'Heritage Railway' better positioned to benefit from "Re-Connecting Britain". If i were in the UK (and younger!!) Swanage Real Estate would be looking good!

 

can a techy answer My Swanage Railway webcams question. When I activate that function I constantly get a still picture with three flashing white dots. Logging in to the Talyllyn site I get perfect moving images.

 

31806 leaving Swanage with today's 11:45 service to Norden, passing 34028 being readied for its first loaded test run. Not bad, when you think that both locos have returned to steam with fresh 'tickets' already in 2021!

 

Are the smoke deflectors going back on? Doesn't look right without them!

 

That’s when it returns as ‘James the Red Engine’

 

The SR seems to leave events like Thomas to the MHR so probably will not go red.
Other than a transport rally in September, there is a lack of events listed for this Summer.
https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events
In a way best to concentrate on getting steam, dining and Wareham/evening DMU services running safely and making progress with the carriage shed.

Seems OK today, the webcams do not seem to like heavy rain?

 

The Swanage railway does not have a licence to run Thomas events. Very few railways do these days, following a crackdown and demands for more money by the trademark owners. That’s why Swanage leaves it to the Mid Hants.

 

I have no knowledge of what the railway may be planning.
However my take on it would be that any organisation that is in a financially difficult time, like all Heritage Railways are due to the pandemic will probably do what most companies do in such situations, and focus on their core business rather than look to expand this year.
Has the railway even started the licence application with the ORR which I believe was put on hold due to Covid?
The governments message to avoid trains in the pandemic has led many to believe train travel is "dangerous", will this go away easily, & do people want to travel for some time in a mask that they would not have to wear in a car?. There is an opinion that masks may remain a requirement for public transport even if June 21 does happen fully.
The new SWR timetable has these times at Wareham, the down train at xx28 and the up at xx53 so connections are not great. Remember back in 2017 there were two trains an hour west of Poole so connections were better.
I would not want to be the Finance Director deciding what to do regarding the Wareham service this year.

 

So far nothing on the updated feasibility study and business case they had funds for. Can see the public resistance to travel on trains and the challenge with the timetable. But on the positive side running costs are now lower than in 2017 with the SR owned DMU with "panoramic qualities' and volenteer staff so the break even point is perhaps easier to reach? Especially as Dorset may have a larger number of holidayers/ "staycations" this year.
https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ne...overnment-grant-for-updated-feasibility-study
There is also the "economy benefit to the local area" which is harder to measure and taking some traffic of roads.

 

They should go ahead with it. People aren’t scared to go on heritage trains as lines are being busy already and the railway that doesn’t do anything will make the least money I think. The gwili railway has a different loco though I found out that trecatty got scrapped and Swansea jack. The bluebel railway is also running now. Swanage should have some events as it’s the place for people in Dorset and Devon to go if they don’t like gwr all the time.

 

https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ne...-feasibility-study-into-wareham-train-service