Swanage Railway Spring Steam Gala: 24th - 26th March 2023

So 34028 turned?

 

Or did I mis understand and 31806 and 34028 facing Norden?

 

I believe it's just 34070 and 76084. <BJ>

 

I too was a little confused,

I too was caught out by the above post, It's the comma between 34028 and 76084 that you have to look for!
31806 34028 and 70000 face Wareham, 76084 and 34070 face Swanage.

 

Thanks. Late running already!! 31806 left at 1033 and 34028 only just on the 1033

 

Not making use of my ticket for this as for a few work and home reasons going out today wasn't going to be a fair choice, but have been following it on Railcam and RTT when possible. Hope it's been a brilliant day for everyone there even with the late running, and that whether you've been at the front window on the climb away from River Frome or out on the common/heath with a camera you've all enjoyed yourselves (as my day would basically have been spent getting a few hopefully noisy runs on the Furzebrook end in the morning then heading off line side for the afternoon).

 

They started making up some time during the middle of the day when the goods train wasn’t running, then started losing time when it started running again.

 

At least as tickets were sold for the brake van rides so the freights should not get cancelled, unlike many galas around the country where they seem to be the low hanging fruit to make up time.
The U does seem particularly suited to engineers rake in use.

 

So it seems but at least 20’minutes were lost after the 0915 got to Corfe on time. We will be there tomorrow and hope it goes well as it generally seemed to today. Just hope our train and bus connections work to get us to Corfe by 1030

 

Went to the gala today spent the morning on the trains and afternoon at the lineside Manstons afternoon run from the river frome was very noisy at Creech

i do like its weathered look.

 

Well, I will be doing my very best to try and have all the Swanage departures away on time tomorrow morning.
It of course depends on everything falling into place throughout the day and everything falling into place. Sadly, once you loose time it is very hard to get it back on a single line.

 

I had a great day today. Despite the late running my train and bus connections all worked out OK.
Also had my first run ever beyond Norden, it really does add to the experience with the very different scenery.

Really enjoyed the brake van ride, and the volunteers running it were very friendly.

Trains were reasonably busy, but you could usually get a table to yourself on most.
Thankfully the forecast rain didn't appear, although it was a bit blowy. Not many people braving the open bit of the top deck on the bus!

 

I was on the 09:15 from Swanage to Norden today. The delays started at Norden. The train was double headed by 34070 and 70000 and consisted 0f 6 coaches. After the train arrived at Norden 34070 went forward to run round the train. However there was not enough room for 34070 to pass 70000 to get into the loop. 70000 had to reverse the train, 34070 then entered the loop, 70000 then moved the train forward as I assume there wasn't enough room at the Corfe end of the loop for 34070 to pass, 34070 was then able to get to the Swanage end of the train. Obviously for safety reasons because passengers were on the train and the platform, this procedure took a little while.

Anyway, it's fairly normal for galas to run late

I had a really enjoyable day travelling on the trains all day including a return QM brake van ride and riding in the Devon Belle observation car at the front on the last train from Swanage to Norden having to look and listen to 34070!!!

I think 34070 looks quite clean! Nothing like in the last years of Bournemouth steam when us youngsters from Swanage spending the day at Bournemouth Central were quite often handed a rag by the driver on the train's arrival from Waterloo so we could clean the cab side number so it could be seen

 

That would account why the 1015 freight was delayed, the 0952 Norden arrives Swanage 1o13.
Will Bear that in mind today!

 

Excellent day at the Gala today despite running up to half an hour late meant we missed a run with 34070 in order to catch our bus back to Wareham. Best climb was 76084 and 34028 also very good. 70000 noisy but actually quite slow on the climbs. Looked very nice though and popular. Main cause of late running were definitely the freight trains . If it hadn’t been for them we would have been close to time on the 1130 from Frome River and the rest of the day on time no doubt.Not moaning ,just saying. Quite a bit of extra revenue as those we saw were well loaded . Thanks to all at Swanage

 

So today they did things differently - the train stopped just short of the points at the entrance to Norden station so that 34070 could be detached and run into the loop. 70000 then hauled the train into the station.

 

Don't know exactly what caused the lateness today, but it got worse later in the day when apparently there was a lineside fire somewhere, which meant that the 1533 with 76084 left around 50 minutes late.

The problem with gala timetables is that they are often compiled assuming that everything is going to work like clockwork on the day. For example, having the freight trains due to leave Swanage just 2 minutes after the passenger train arrives should work in theory but if the passenger train is delayed, it delays the departure of the freight, which delays the next passenger train and so it goes on. I also think they allowed insufficient dwell time at the stations, particularly Corfe Castle where it seemed to take an age for everyone to get on and off and change trains if they wanted,

Good day though despite the delays. First time I had seen 76084 - it performed well!

 

I know there was a lineside fire on the heath at Furzebrook just after the 1530 from River Frome, as it started close to where I stood to watch it pass! Swiftly dealt with by the railway and fire service.
Not sure what happened with the timetable late in the day. Britannia left Swanage with the 1630 about an hour late, then seemed to run through to Norden without crossing anything at Corfe Castle. After that I left as darkness descended.
I must also say that 76084 was in fine form, slightly heavier loads than it usually hauls in Norfolk especially with an extra loco on the rear working north of Norden.

 

The 1533 from Swanage was turned round at Norden and didn't go "over the road" to River Frome. So on the return it would have crossed Britannia at Harmans Cross not Corfe

 

Ah interesting, thanks. I did see 76084 going to Norden on the 1533 but must have missed it coming back. Wondered if the running 'over the road' would get disrupted by said fire.