Swanage Railway General Discussion

I saw the 50 yesterday morning but no sign of the 24 on our journey from Corfe to Swanage and return with 34028 but saw the 33 and the U plus 563 in the shed. 28’came on shed to be coaled by the mechanical coaler between arriving at 1343 and the 1400 out. A beautiful sunny day with steam hauled trains well loaded but murky this morning

 

Let's hope trains continue to be well loaded for the 3 day bank holiday!!! Nice weather should certainly help.

Should get a new updated from Swanning around within the next few days.

 

Forecast is not great, although just watched the 10:40 ex Norden arrive at Swanage via the webcam. It looked very busy.

 

In big news for railway:

Our Sunset Shuttle - summer evening services on Swanage railway

Swanage are bringing back their evening services on Fri and Sats for the Summer holidays.

Hopefully the 25% increase in passenger numbers continues these next two Bank Holidays...


However... If two steam don't operate this summer.. we are looking at some super packed steam services (considering last year they had to run 6-car on alot of the steam services)

 

Yellow T/T for July August is one steam one diesel.

 

Let us hope that turns out to be the better choice in terms of net revenue or that there is a plan to go to 2 steam on days of very high demand.

I certainly do have concerns that it may deliver a sub optimal experience for passengers on some of the very busy services.

 

Surprised you missed the 24 Don if you saw the 33, as they were like this all weekend until mid morning today.

 

Well last year was a Wareham service giving some gaps that do not exist in this years timetable.
The first train from Norden is always going to be busy (although at 10:30 not that late), it is very much an "East Grinstead issue".
Six coach trains were only needed on a few services, but once you have added the coach there was little point in removing it until the last service. Strangely
from my observations and a few days counting heads on the train the 17:00 was not that busy surprisingly.

What do you regard as suboptimal trains full to standing or that it is not two steam?
The railway is basically running every day until the end of half term in October (less some Monday's and Friday's in September and October). This seems to be far more than a lot of heritage lines. MHR for example only run 4 days for most of June and July and even in the school summer holidays show a one steam service. WSR only running 5 days June through to September, SVR seems the same. Both those lines show which services are diesel. MHR no mention but even with their lack of locos I assume steam is planned.
I have seen folks on here say people expect to turn up at Norden and have two steam service. Well they will not get this weekend will they, or during the Bulleid Gala be able travel for £20 (although at the Victorian weekend when I was collecting my ticket for the Sunday on Saturday afternoon the guy in front in the queue did not flinch at £35 for return tickets to Corfe. I think this was for a train around 15:00 so not even getting long there).
I assume because things like this weekend and the Bulleid weekend are run for the benefit of people like us, suddenly folks turning up and expecting "normality" do not matter? Or do we expect they can actually read a website timetable after all.
I do feel Swanage "gets it in the neck" when other lines seem not to.

Finally the old adage Railtours bugger up your timetable was proven yet again today when the Jurassic Crompton (with its three locos for four coaches!) finally made Swanage after its stock should have departed on a service to Norden.

 

Having to stand if you are a passenger who finds standing for (just) 25 or so minutes challenging for whatever reason.

Families with young children can also find it a bit challenging as even though the children are physically able to stand for that length of time because they are not used to the occasional lurch or stop and start and it may give them a bit of a shock at first.

It can also get a bit congested where the buggies go and / or if there are many dogs on the train.

I have no problem with 1 steam and 1 diesel if that is what the traffic warrants. The DMU can give an excellent experience with the view from the panoramic windows or through the front window.

 

I always sit the other side for the mileposts but now I have downloaded my images yes there it is tucked in behind the 33 . By the way neither webcam working since yesterday. Great shame as I can’t get to the Gala at all. And not even to the Bluebell event

 

travelled from Harman's to Corfe today on a packed 4TC. The next service to the River with the Cl 50 broke down at Corfe Common due to brake problems. One of our 33's did the rescue, first bring in the 50 and then the 5 coaches. Meanwhile a full down service was stranded in the other platform for over an hour waiting for a clear line. Not an easy situation but well managed by staff and volunteers but the schedule was rather thrown over, but then it was a gala and things do happen on gala days

 

Think both the sets were six coach today. Especially like the set with coach F next to coach A. Made be think of a number of railtours I have been on in the past.

 

Diesel convoy heading for Eastleigh this morning.

 

Anyone know why the route indicator is now blacked out on the Swanage webcam? It seems strange when you can work it out from the points where a movement will be heading.

 

At least that webcam is working but Corfe isnt

 

That is because the RAIB wanted it turned off as I understand from posts elsewhere.

 

Yes but they are long gone.

 

Corfe webcam still offline tonight.
I have no idea but it MIGHT be as simple as 'someone' forgetting to switch the 13amp socket back on perhaps.

 

Have the track repairs been completed that were taking place? If not it's likely that they don't want people studying the work to nitpick/find faults (which has been known) or watching where equipment gets left overnight.