Swanage Railway General Discussion

Not sure Pete's own FTR is covered by Riley's, poking and prodding is extra

 

Apart from comments about the price I see little negativity.
You need to remember that even for enthusiasts there are two elements. What they can afford to pay, or what they are prepared to pay.
So yes for this loco I have an unfair advantage in that I can see it from the lounge window, but for example whilst I could afford to go to the GCR Gala this weekend, I am not prepared to spend that much (400 mile of petrol, two nights hotel, food and a ticket) on a few rides and some photographs.
Add to the fact for this launch on Sunday the earliest you could get to Swanage by public transport from anywhere east of Southampton is 12:42 and that assumes a tight connection at Bournemouth off the RRB from Southampton.
So everyone would have to drive so add another £10.50 return if you use the ferry or extra time to drive around the harbour. Sunday is forecast to be "a summers day" so the ferry is probably best avoided unless you like sitting in a queue.
Then as I and other have mentioned there are two conflicting galas as well. So maybe it is not a surprise it has not sold out.
I note that it was only yesterday that the 2 coach Fenchurch all line trip sold out on the Saturday of the MHR Gala, and that was only a £2 supplement on the gala ticket, and is also quite a unique event for the MHR.

 

Requiring additional payment to get from Norden to Swanage before you can ride behind the T3 does seem perverse. That alone might not prevent my coming, but the additional hassle of having to use a bus from Wareham after the connecting train service has finished tips the balance further. I'll wait till next year.

 

Bournemouth is often easier than Wareham using the 50 bus depending on time of day, especially if you are coming from the east as you have the Poole stopper, a Bournemouth Winchester stopper, XC hourly, and then the two Weymouth's that are the Wareham trains.
All assumes of course no strike day or O/T ban day.

 

The T3 was getting a "wash and brush up" when I had to go to Boots this afternoon. Had to take the wife down to the town for a presentation so thought I would see if there was enough light for a night. There was not, but luckily the wash and brush up was still on going.

 

Still lots of availability on the T3 tomorrow. Why is Coach C unavailable to book?

I can't wait to see the T3 tomorrow, lets hope a lot of walk up people end up buying tickets but I would have thought majority that want to ride the T3 would have booked it up?
All you need is one or two BBC news rounds and the T3 could make a lot of money in October.

 

BBC South has not even mentioned the T3 but yesterday did do a good piece on the Terrier from the Hayling line now in the gala on the MHR.

 

Tim Dunn was at the launch, so I hope it will get some media coverage. Having HM Lord Lieutenant for Dorset might help!
Loco looking fab, BTW.
Pat

 

I wouldn't bet on the LL being present being that helpful - they're good to have at an event, but don't necessarily draw the cameras.

 

The two launch day trains, the first at Herston, the second on Corfe Common approaching Townsend Bridge.

 

Good to see the effort was made to have the two Maunsell coaches in the formation. A type of coach 563 might potentially have worked with in it’s later life.

 

BBC South today filmed last week and it will go out next week.

 

The engine looks lovely and is a credit to the railway and all those who have worked on it. Excellent stuff, they should all be very proud. The key word for me there is "looks".
Once I have climbed into the coach, slammed the door and the train has moved off, you might as well be behind any steam locomotive. Ok, so there might be some nuances in the exhaust beat, but to the average person it's all the same.
Its much more rewarding to watch the train from the lineside where you can really appreciate the beauty of the engine which you cannot do if you are stuck inside a coach. Certainly it's not worth paying that much extra to travel behind it.
Stands by and takes cover.
Ian

 

lets hope people do not do as you say as the future will be very bleak if everybody linesides and does not travel i am looking forward to my trip behind the T3 tomorrow sat in a lovely Maunsell coach

 

I have seen a number of photo's of inter war Southern Trains in the Salisbury area hauled by T3's or similar locomotives.

Again given when he was born (1916) and where he lived in that period - New Cross and Thornton Heath its the sort of train that my father might have travelled on, so being in an Ironclad behind a T3 is an experience he might well have had. So yes while I take the point I would like to ride behind the T3

 

I just like using my red pen…

 

Plus don't forget the engine is still running in, so whist I'm sure she would be more than capable on 5, the lighter rake, makes sence, especially as we are well into leaf fall season,

 

We will be doing both which is easy on this railway. I hope those only linesiding are paying for a ticket and not just freeloading

 

Chuffin' smart!
Nice to see something unique.

 

If you really believe that you might be interested in a surplus-to-requirements bridge across the Thames that I'm looking to sell.......