Swanage Railway General Discussion

Still air braking to fit too...

 

Cannot wait for the air smoothed casing to go back on

 

First mock ups appear for approval of livery ...

Tom

 

Needs more stripes.

 

Maybe a what if livery . Swanage sign an agreement with SWR to use it to run Swanage to Waterloo daily service and agree to use SWR livery!!

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Would this by chance be the Waterloo in cloud cuckoo land?
Has April the 1st come early?

 

Either that or someones been chewing the crayons again, besides that loco looks more like an V schools class,
Now, on a serious note, will the assessment of 30120 be done at Swanage, or is the plan to ship it to the flour mill for a strip down and evailuation there.

 

The latter I believe. Also I hear the plan is to return it to SR Green rather than BR
Black, which is welcome news.

 

The 563 loco group are working through the paper work yet and are making arrangements for the next steps with 120. Its just taking time and there will be an announcement in the near future.
The 563 have publicly stated that 120 is the next project and the engine will be outshopped in Southern Railway olive green.

 

Hope there is a railway to run it on

 

Well, that's got the difficult job out of the way. A pack or two of body filler to sort out the cylinder block and it's good to go!

 

Nathan Au is quoted in Trackside magazine as saying the cylinder block issues are a bit of an old wives tale. Following the stitching repairs a few years ago, apparently it may well be good to use going forward.

 

It was extensivly stitched when it was restored by MHR, was the recent work due to that repair failing, or was there more cracking of the material, over time, metal will crack as it weakens,

 

How have they examined it in situ?

Genuine question - the reason for asking is that the Wainwright H class (somewhat similar design, i.e. inside cylinder slide valve engine) had a stitched repair to the cylinder castings around the valve chests, and it was only apparent by dropping the cylinders out and splitting them as to what the actual state of that repair (and associated wear and casting thickness for machining) actually was - i.e. a decision about whether to repair or replace the cylinders couldn't be made until the locomotive had been extensively stripped.

Tom

 

I don’t think it’s been properly assessed, but there seems to be some confidence it might be ok. Not sure what that is based on.

Once they strip it down it can be properly assessed. Nathan also mentioned the possibility of a new cylinder block if that did eventually prove necessary.

 

Afternoon of test runs (or is it rehearsals for a P.E?). Stuff was happening when I came back with my Dad from his eye consultation around 13:30 and as I had a letter for his GP from the eye doctor seemed rude not to drop the letter into the surgery and try for a couple of after dark images.
Looks like a very professional opertion underway, my only thought was that whatever they are paying the actors to stand on a platform in a shirt and waistcoat in November and December it is not enough.

 

I sense a bit of sarcasm, but be under no illusion the 563 group know the overhaul of 120 won’t be simply a paint job. Stating livery isn’t actually important at the moment but it drives interest and helps with the vision amongst supporters, which in turn helps to get the cash flowing!
The loco was running really well before it was withdrawn for firebox stays so there is confidence surrounding the cylinder block. However nothing is off the table and it will be the major focus of the chassis work. The group won’t hedge its bets with it, it will be properly assessed and a decision made in line with its owners.
It was examined and stitch repaired during the last couple of years of its previous ticket but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be good to go again for 10 years. The group is eyes wide open with 120 and is confident of support going forward.
As for the railway not being there, well all I would say to that is the risk is real, but our supporters are strong.

 

What! No cow catcher or centre light?

 

So I finally had chance to read his letter in the copy I get for my Dad on subscription.
You would expect Dorchester to know about it as they are part of the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership.
His letter claims it was station staff talking about the price of the bus, this must mean the station was manned when he visited, so he or anyone else could have asked when the next train was or which platform it went from. Of course even that would not allow for the 10 occurrences of re platforming on the day ( at the last minute) due to late running SWR services I recorded over the course of the trial.
Yes I would not expect SWR staff to be "pushing the bus service" but if someone found £25 too expensive are they just supposed to lie if asked about alternatives?
He also mentions those starting their journey at Wareham. Well locals would have known, anyone going specifically to use it must have known, I am unsure who else would drive all the way to Wareham and park there if they wanted to go to Swanage or Corfe and not drive the other 5 mile.

 

SWR do promote the bus service as evidenced by the on train announcements for it and the signage at the station. It may be somewhat annoying but I do not think it unreasonable for a member of SWR staff to mention it especially when the fare differential is as wide as it is. The alternative would be that SWR do not mention the bus service which would not endear SWR to a member of the general public if they found out about it subsequently.

To me the real issue is that not enough effort has been put into the Wareham service to generate as much traffic as possible whether that is SRC SWR or PCRP. I do wonder what practical benefit PCRP is either to the general public or the member organisations.