Swanage Railway General Discussion

I also think that it depends on where you came from. By that I mean that railways that have a fairly stable offering have seen some stagnation or reduction. But when you come from a lower starting point the figures can look very good.
To give an example. Passenger figures at Oswestry are way ahead of previous years and the best ever. Why? Well because before the offering was very different, now there is a railway and a destination.

 

Exactly. Heritage traction (steam and diesel) to a worthwhile destination (Stonehouse brewery/Henstone distillery)...

 

Sounds to me as if the bigger issue might be extracting someone from such a worthwhile destination.

 

Sounds ideal to me… two of my big interests in life!

 

Isn't that three ...... counting the train trip?

 

I’m not fussed about the distillery

 

Stonehouse brew some lovely ales including Cambrian Gold, and Off The Rails. They have also been promoting using the railway to visit the Brewery.

 

Time for some photo's? We bought freedom of the line rover tickets for the mini-gala weekend 9/10/11 September with the old cars at Harmans Cross. Plenty of riding, some walking, here are the results of the Eddy and Hughie show !

 

They swapped the tenders on the U class again

 

July 11th

 

I thought the Eastleigh 4,000 galloon tender had been fitted with the Mainline gubbins by now? So why have they swapped back to the Hybrid?

 

Whatever the answer is, why is it I get the feeling this will be another stick to beat those in charge at Swanage with?

 

Both tenders are fitted with GSM-R equipment. So it doesn't matter which one it hauls, its still mainline certified.

 

Eddie = Eddystone - right?
So how does Hughie = Golipper.
Maybe it's too late for my brain, tonight.
Pat

 

not in this case I long given up seeing 31874 in use so it doesn't matter anymore what tender they use

 

I wouldn't know for sure, but I imagine the derivation is hUghie.

 

Blame my wife, she suggested the U Class /U-boat (she didn't like the last one) and suggested Hughie and Eddy show!

 

One from the first driver experience trip at Afflington and the last trip at Herston, plus the newly out shopped Maunsell coach S1346S which can be seen on the webcam.

 

Heres my attempt last week in trying to get both Maunsell carriages in shot with 34072 (before it leaves for the Spa Valley railway), both carriages are looking good, and highlights that some of the Mk1 carriages now need a bit of attention.
The observation carriage will be back for the Flying Scotsman, it's not clear if the Maunsell carriages will also be part of the Flying Scotsman train?.
My observation of the Maunsell carriages are they are Southern era, rather than the current 50's BR theme, they also perhaps at first sight do not seem appealing as Mk1s as the windows are smaller, and part of the ride is to see the countryside.
Perhaps the Maunsell carriages need yellow lining painted on, like at the Kent and East Sussex and Bluebell Railways (is this how they were in Southern service?), to make them a bit more externally attractive and distinctive to the Mk1s?

Edit looking at the ticket booking page on the Flying Scotsman, coaches A and B are Royal Wessex (Maunsell) Premium tickets, and getting well booked, so people are paying extra for the newly refurbished (and better) interiors

 

sit inside one and you can tell the difference. Also the windows are good as they drop down fair way