Swanage Railway General Discussion

Time will tell. At least the timetable paths are there and should public demand decree then steam can be substituted for diesel. It is easy to overlook the fact that the railway is trying to raise £450,000 to stay in business. I wonder how successful this has been to date?

 

£120K was the figure quoted in the current issue of Swanning Around.

 

Yes last year there were as I understand a few services that were full to standing on the 6 coach trains. But they were I believe normally only the first service in from Norden. Certainly my experience from passenger counting (back end of August) was that yes the afternoon trains were at times well loaded, but there were usually seats, although sometimes folks seem to stand in the areas in the half brake. Nobody ever mentioned to me the diesel being an issue. Of course you do not know what you do not know, so it is a best conjecture how many "turned away" when they viewed a diesel. Although if you have already coughed up £4 to park not sure may would then plan to cough up even more to then park in Swanage, but who knows.
You seem to not grasp the issue of the financial situation the railway faces and seem to go with a" run it and they will come philosophy". Well the railway ran Wareham last year, and they came, but not in enough numbers to make it a viable proposition.
To me Swanage, the WSR and to some extent the NYMR all benefit and also suffer from the ride to the seaside issue. It adds many more imponderables. Places like the Bluebell and the MHR are more likely to have people who have decided they want a ride on a steam train (although there is of course the NT as well at Sheffield Park).
So both the Swanage and WSR have competing parallel bus routes, currently subsidised by the government to be no more than £2. Many families now seem to take so much from the main beach car park to the beach in purpose built trolleys, that you are never going to get them to consider using the train. Then of course there is the weather issue, rain may be good when folks are already here, as the train is dry, but morning rain or forecasted rain may stop folks coming at all if the main plan is to use the beach.
It is all a balancing act, and without hard facts in times of economic distress hard decisions need to be taken.
I accept it is not just rail enthusiasts at times that do not get it, I was amazed for example after 9/11 how many people, some of them even work colleagues thought that things should just go on as normal even when B747's were crossing the Atlantic with less than 50 passengers.

 

Bulleid Brake 4365 needs an intermediate overhaul of the bodywork and doors before it can be used again.

Personally I would have preferred for 4365 to have been sent away to Rampart for this work to be done before sending 4366 away for restoration.

 

Yesterday, Easter Saturday at Corfe Castle, It was very busy all day both the steam (34028) and DMMU services were well loaded with passengers. The down platform at CC was so crowded for the 1320 ex Norden arrival
that I was unable to safely exchange tokens with the fireman outside the Signalbox and had to fight my way through the crowds to take the token to the end of the ramp.
the DMMU driver also remarked that with one exception, he was requested to stop at Herston every time, and I suspect the same happened with the steam service.

 

Sounds like good news.

I was at Cranmore for the first train on Friday and was surprised how full it was

 

My family and I visited today, we were on the 11:20 Swanage departure and returned on the 14:42 Corfe Castle train. Both trains were well patronised with many happy customers. Thanks to all the volunteers and staff who make it possible. Mike

 

That is a fair point … but only up to a point.

A certain type of passenger - myself included - could be attracted by the view of the line ahead from the front of a DMU.

However, is this option attractive enough to draw in many new customers?

- If the train is at all full, only a small proportion will be able to sit near enough to the front to enjoy the view;

- Do the average non-experts (the normal visitors coming for a steam train ride) even know that a view from the front of a DMU exists? And

- Does this type of customer actually care? Or while taking a train ride, do they just want to look at the passing rural scene, rather than the railway itself?

 

Sometimes watch Japan rail journal in English on the NHK TV website. They sometimes mention the UK steam trains and are envious as they only have a few.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2049141/
This week they featured the popular Japanese tourist trains, mostly bright coloured EMUs. But have seating and large windows to watch the views, on one train there is a seat next to the driver for a premium price.
The scenery from Wareham to Swanage is good, but not quite up to mountainous or next to the sea. But maybe enough for the SR to make a bit marketing on the DMU.

 

Have they repaired that brake coach yet?
The one that broke at the Victorian Weekend last week.

 

Lets hope the railway does well going into 2024 so perhaps during the Summer peak times steam can be substituted for diesel, and the price of coal drops!!

It's possible that if the Summer is dry again, diesel trains may be the norm, although now the trackside has been trimmed of foliage, the chances of sparks catching the foliage alight is reduced, but best to prepare just in case

 

Would the Strictly Bulleid II event on the 7 to 9 June require 3 sets to be running?

 

That is the plan.

 

I put out a lineside fire at Harmans Cross on Sunday the 24th, it was about 3 hours after a downpour.

 

If I may enquire, were you staying in Swanage and had a trip to visit Corfe, or did you travel for the day?
If so, why did you drive to Swanage and not use Norden park and ride?
Steve

 

We are staying in Swanage and fancied a day trip to Corfe Castle. We also wanted a trip on the railway. Im a fan of steam railways and always try to incorporate a trip if we are holidaying in this country.

 

So the 3rd brake coach should be repaired by then and perhaps a 4th spare brake coach, just in case rather than use the DMU or even the blue/grey 3TC which maybe finished soon?

 

So still a potential risk, and a need to plan for a 2nd diesel train in the summer? But hopefully some steam trains will run.

 

People would be surprised how many lineside fires occur in the early spring, when the previous year's dead growth is still on the banks but without new growth coming through yet.

 

I would suggest that (until today) £4 to park at Norden vs £1 at Swanage would mean I would drive to Swanage for a ride if I had been visiting for the day. Of course from today Norden is cheaper for any stay of a decent length of time.