Swanage Railway General Discussion

To be fair, they are/were also fundraising for 34010, 34070, and I'm guessing low key for 35025

 

Appears 78018 might be due to leave Swanage metals on Tuesday 21st with, no doubt, many grateful thanks for helping out during a busy summer.

 

A busy time just before 78108 was due to depart Swanage. Now the weather has improved the roofs are going back on the buses!
The 33 then moved the Standard to Norden seen approaching Afflington Bridge.

 

And 78018 has already been loaded and left; I passed it going through Sandford on my way home from work.

 

Based on the TFL experience, as that is what they have had to do in the absence of backing law, it would be a waste of time.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-face-masks-tfl-b956352.html

 

Three observations. Firstly, the ability of staff to influence customers and use conditions of carriage to deny entry is much greater on a preserved railway than the minimal contact that there is on the Tube. Second, the behaviour of those visiting an attraction differ from those using public transport. Third, any decision needs to consider whether requiring masks will help or hinder the relationship with customers, and especially whether it might provide a flashpoint for conflict.

 

I think the conflict issue is the biggest one. Even at the height of things the TOC/RMT were telling staff not to get involved with enforcement, so not really fair to expect volunteers to have to.
TFL of course say this on their website/journey planner
"Face coverings must be worn for the full duration of journeys on the TfL network, including inside our stations and bus stations."
But of course that is not enforceable despite the tone.

 

With respect, it is enforceable - but the will to enforce isn't there. The discussion "mask - no - leave - no - criminal trespass" is no longer than one that involves the absence of the mask being an offence in itself; the issue is over whether people will enforce it. Which takes us back to conflict, and the situation of a tourist attraction dealing with truculent customers.

 

I have no idea how much of a public relations disaster that would be, but I’d think “significant”, and as you say you’d presumably be asking railway-enthusiast volunteers to take this approach with people. As a volunteer, I wouldn’t be going down this route with visitors.

 

I see on the website Christmas dining trains will resume where it is impractical to wear masts, unless moving about on the train.
On the webcam the crimson/cream coach that was in service (set B?) has been replaced by a green coach but will be a while till the crimson/cream coach will be needed for the dining train?
Guess the next busy period will be half term, and galas plus Wareham service to return 2022?

 

I see SP has appeared as a TOC (Swanage Railway) on RTT. Does this mean all the approvals have now been given?

 

Hi Gladiator 5076
It's been there for a while as timetabled service trains between Swanage and Norden are monitored.

 

Thanks, must be having a funny 5 minutes. If I had thought more about it I would have realised I had noticed that on the current service trains, although I only ever search on Swanage or Norden so I must have never noticed it in the drop down before, or maybe it just caught my eye under SLC Operations entry.
I will go back to sleep!

 

Use of 4 coaches today from what was the summer set B put a Bulleid coach behind a Bulleid loco.
So for fans of things Bulleid the 16:30 from Swanage today approaching Harmans Cross.

 

Good photo.
I notice on the webcams some maintenance and shunting of carriages where the railway has a quiet October.
from http://srstock.co.uk/
There can now be as well as sets A (mainline certified), B and D (dining train), the new set heritage C with the 4 completed Bullied and Maunsell carriages,along with the 60s/70s era 3/4TC/33 pushpull set and heritage mainline certified DMU, for use in events in 2022?
With Manston and 257 Squadron due to be back things are looking good.

Still needs fundraising for the other steam locos (30053, 563, 80104, 30120, 31874 and 31625) to be overhauled.

 

Having taken some rubbish to the tip I thought the autumn sun looked nice go and photograph a train. However the last train of the day was about 5 late and of course by then the sun chose not play ball. Still it was at least shining on Nine Barrow Down.
34028 climbs past Quarr Frm Crossing towarda Hasrmans Cross on a stil after noon.

 

Beautiful photo of 34028!
You know, I've been thinking back to when Swanage used to hold two steam galas and a diesel every year, it's a shame they had to stop it.

I miss those events.

 

Sir, you have posted on no fewer than five heritage railway threads all on the subject of galas. There is no doubt that a successful gala can be a most enjoyable event if everything works well. I attended both the Watercress Line's 2020 and 2021 autumn galas and came back from both thoroughly uplifted, likewise from the Bluebell's Giants of Steam event earlier this month.

However, especially given the events of the last 18 months, some heritage lines have not felt it to be a good use of their resources to go through the immensely time-consuming process of organising a gala, especially as if things don't work out as planned, they could end up making a loss. This is the last thing that any heritage railway needs at the moment. I cannot say that I am privy to the Swanage Railway's thinking on the subject of galas (or lack of them) as I'm only an armchair member, but the line has been stretched for motive power this year and yet has managed to operate regular services every day now for some months. I think this is a considerable achievement and let's face it - you can have a perfectly enjoyable visit to a heritage line on a regular operating day; there's more to life than galas.

 

I do apologise.
I know there's more to life than galas.

Guess I am just a bit hap hazard when it comes to information.

 

No worries! I can fully appreciate your enthusiasm for galas which indeed many of us share and what's more, there has been nothing official to say that the Swanage Railway has stopped running galas permanently? Let's see what next year will bring.