Swanage Railway General Discussion

So, just out of interest, how did the SR management respond to your offer to edit such a regular supporter's missive? After all, with the internet, physical access to the railway isn't needed, so it's a good way to volunteer even when you're living a long way away...

(Like Tom and D1039, I've edited newsletters in the past, so I know what's involved...)

 

Printing at sufficient resolution for colour photographs and then posting 13 pages would be expensive. If - and it's an if - the SR wanted to widen the distribution of Swanning Around beyond staff then they could just include a link to https://www.srstaff.co.uk/swanningaround/

Or email a link to its database (assuming it has the necessary permissions)

 

Swanning Around is not staff only, it is available to all being on a non password part of the staff website.

 

Yes, just read Swanning Around. Did you see any mention of the Carriage Shed there?\
Being a PLM and one who has contributed to appeals,member of the 200 club for yonks I would hardly think I should be writing missives.
Such missives must surely come from the SRC/SRT who have collected our funds(quite a while ago!!). As a constituted body that is their responsibility.!
So,without this board tying itself into Gordian Knots
Is the Carriage Shed going ahead in early 2023
To paraphrase the USA raison d'etre
"No Donations without communications!

 

An excellent suggestion which will be completely ignored. Im sure we will see further demands for answers/actions from forum members within a few days.

 

He appears to regard this forum as some sort of proxy for the Swanage Railway, with forum members required to not only explain why certain things have/have not been done by the railway in the past but, by some mysterious process known only to himself, also ensure that actions he considers essential are carried out by certain dates in the future, regardless of overriding external factors which have been explained to him on numerous occasions.

I can only assume that he has already tried his hectoring, arrogant and entitled attitude on at the railway, been given short shrift and, for whatever reason, considers this the next best place to vent his frustration.

It’s all rather sad really.

 

Non public lights trains this evening prior to the start tomorrow. There was also two runs behind a Class 33 last night as well which I missed.
Some seats were made available to volunteers of other charitable groups in the area which was a nice touch. My wife enjoyed her trip although not sure the bottle of Cava she and her friend shared was the best idea they have had!
Anyway a few images. Nice set of lamps in the second image and the new repeater for the Swan Brook signal lit by the train passing the park in the final image.
Second run was a blow out as I ended up somewhere that this year, unlike the past two, the lights were off.

 

Steam and Lights test trains ran on Thursday 1st December for volunteers and invited guests - seen here waiting at Swanage for the 17.15 departure. Public services commence on 3rd December.

 

A classic case. Nobody has notified volunteers or members of this change at the top.

 

R***y I feel your pain, However, you have thrown off your shackles and can (with COM) approval) carry on the task without being tied to your previous responsibilities. You can report what you see, not what you are told.
Steve

 

I believe he has left the (carriage shed) building

 

Such a shame.....

 

Why a shame?

I think 99.9% of people would regard this as good news.

 

Absolutely

 

Not a shame really. The Swanage Railway already have 34028 and 34070 currently available. There wouldn't be enough work for 34072 and 34053 there as well. For Southern Locomotives Ltd it's a win, win really because they will probably have a more sustainable income stream from the two railways.

 

Makes sense. SLL have far more Bulleids than the Swanage Railway wants or needs. To be honest 34028 and 34070 is probably still two more than SR management would ideally like, if they had sufficient smaller locos available instead.

 

Leaves Swanage with 3 working steam locos: 31806, Eddystone and 34070 Manston, which will be tight for the Summer services, assuming all are working well.
I see that some locos being worked on might be back in 2023, but not guaranteed: 30053, 563 and 80104.
On Facebook the firm working on 30053's tanks and cab ceasing trading and are being fabricated in Herston.
563 is making some progress at the Flour Mill.
and on Swanning around 80104 is making progress at Tyseley, but needs more funds.

 

It is a massive kick in the nuts to Swanage

 

Not sure I understand your comment.

Did the SR want a 3rd or 4th Bulleid?
As I understand it, SLL is a separate company from the SR and pays its own bills. Why would the SR expect to benefit from a deal between SLL and another railway for locos that the SR doesn't want/need?
And there's nothing in the statement that says that 34072 or 34053 could not return to Swanage at some point