Swanage Railway General Discussion

Maybe its because I spent nearly two decades thinking Swanage was the bees knees? And that I have tried my best to support it including being a TTI for awhile before employment changed that. The feeling thats washed over me the last few years that I should never have bothered really really depresses me and is causing a lot of frustration.

I did intend to renew my membership and indeed I still have the form on my desk. However was urged by others on this forum to write them, I never got a response made me wonder 'what do I do now?'

Also while my has membership lapsed, I still did donated to that carriage shed project. I would thought that was good enough reason why I still wanted know whats going on with at least that aspect of the railway.

 

To be honest, if you took the trouble to write you should have had a reply.

I don’t think you need to have volunteered or donated to be allowed a viewpoint. We all need to understand that as Charities we look after our railways on behalf of the whole nation. That’s a high bar for behaviour, and not one always achieved by any railway.

 

While I understand that after investing a long time (and money) in the railway, and you should have had a response to your letter, the SR seems to make your blood boil and I would respectfully suggest that for your own mental wellbeing that you should move on and close the book on that chapter of your life.
Other railways are available.

 

One to annoy the diesel fans, seems the loco on the back is doing all the work.

 

Is it necessary to run in top 'n tail mode at the Swanage Railway if a train is 6 coaches in length? TIA [BJ]

 

It has already been explained up thread somewhere, but it is not possible to run round a six coach train at Swanage.
The alternative is to either have a turn over locomotive, as with the recent steam gala, or stop the incoming service at the inner home signal, detach the steam loco and run to the goods loop, use either a 350 shunter or class 33 to attach to train and haul to the stop blocks and the steam loco then can be released and go on the front of the train, However by this all takes time and by the time the steam loco has taken water there is the risk of a late start on the next departing service. So top and tailing throughout makes sense to me.

 

It’s probably a good sign that six coach trains are required.

 

It’s been running as 5 coaches so surely doesn’t need 6 unless 5 haven’t been enough

 

Why else would they be doing it?

 

er...yes.

 

Only the railway will know if it is the right decision or not. But historically Easter would have been a 2 train 45 minute interval service. So if yo assume that level of demand them 6 seems logical decision for a one train timetable. Now with the financial situation you are unlikely to get that previous demand level I suggest so someone less means 6 gives some cushion.
Only Saturday had a two train service due to Wareham trains operating.
Now Friday and Saturday were nice days weather wise, yesterday good early, but getting poorer as the day went on. Today very wet early on, due to improve a bit.
From my lineside observations , a couple of trips to the town, and the volume in the main beach car park, it seems nowhere near as busy as an Easter pre Covid to me.
Could the railway have gotten away with 5 coaches, maybe from what little I have seen in the flesh or on the webcam, but that is hardly a scientific analysis.
A quick look at the railways Twitter and Facebook pages showed no complaints about the use of the 33.

 

Thanks for your observations. Obviously the railway has to cater for the general public and not the enthusiast during the present difficult climate and I fully understand that. Personally I will not be making my regular 70 mile trip to Swanage to travel behind a diesel / steam combo. I've enjoyed three out of four trips to the railway already this year - perhaps another railway beckons. <BJ>

 

Looking at the webcam still a 6 coach top & tail train with plenty getting off at Corfe.
Presumably the wiring is still faulty?

If the MK1 coaches get mainline approved with door locking, might see this 31806 and 33 combination on the Wareham service sometime?

I see the mainline approved LU 4TC rake will be at Swanage for the diesel gala, at least might work push pull with a 33, but maybe not from Wareham?

 

I am still surprised that likely demand means 6 coaches are needed. Never know it before. We will be there again towards the end of April and again in July, staying in our favourite hotel the Morton’s Manor in Corfe. We love the area with the railway, good walks and RSBC at Arne

 

The 33 can’t work with the 4TC rake unless it’s
a) Top and tail
b) a 33/1 equipped for push pull working.

 

As the ORR figures (in 2021 pounds) were £230K for a 9 coach set for CDL do you have a spare £127K kicking around?

 

In the previous issue of Trackside Robert Patterson the then Chairman, stated last year the two train service had been running on average 70% empty, hence the one train steam service for a lot of this year, so I agree that it is a good sign.

Sent from my XQ-AS52 using Tapatalk

 

So about £4k a door (with some cost for a control panel and battery)? Presumably with volunteers doing wiring and installs the cost can be reduced, but obviously not a priority at the moment, but perhaps something to aim for for a Wareham service long term?

 

Think you have missed toilet retention tanks and of course the Swanage Railway having to provide facilities for emptying them!

 

Think I am right in saying that the LUL 4TC has to be loco hauled throughout when working over Network Rail, I think it is to do with "Crash worthy ness issues". Certainly the two 3 Cig units that SWT retained were only permitted to carry passengers between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier.
There are no Push pull fitted 33's including 33111 that are passed for mainline running.
I know that the former Southern Region General Managers Saloon TDB 975025 "Caroline" can work in push pull mode with class 37/4's and I also
remember seeing a rake of ex Gatwick express stock sandwiched between two 31/4's leaving Weymouth for Bristol. The rear Loco was working under power driven from the leading 31/4. I do not know what modifications had to be made to the 27 way jumper system on The Gatex Stock or Caroline, but
obviously it can be done.