[Jun 7, 2024] Strictly Bulleid 2 7th-9th of June at Swanage Railway (Swanage Railway)

34070 (with 34092 on the rear) will go to the River.

 

Currently sitting on the heavily delayed 14.30 dep at Swanage. Just been told that one platform at Corfe Castle is out of action due to a lady who has fallen and broken her hip and they are unable to move her. She is near the edge of the platform so they cannot use the platform.

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Platform 1 at CC now back in action

 

Timetable drift because something's a bit too ambitious or not well planned or executed is one thing, but it does seem that at both last month's diesel gala and now this event Swanage has had to deal with some relatively extreme events that any timetable would struggle to withstand. Thoughts with the injured lady - having had a broken hip myself, I know that's a horrible one. And on a station platform in the middle of a busy event, not nice at all.

Swanage aside though, I used to agree with Johnb that galas running late were just a fact of life and there was no point moaning about it, better to just enjoy the day. That was when I had a bit more free time, though! Last year was the first year I tried to get into regular gala attendance since having a family and getting a lot busier at work, and I'd forgotten how common late running was. I went to the Watercress and WSR May steam galas and both times had to leave before I'd done a lot of what I'd planned to because of late running. Nothing against either railway but it just dissuaded me from going to galas on days when I had to make sure I was home at a particular time for a family or work commitment and instead to only go when I had a full flexible day and could just enjoy it to the end however late things got, as I do understand that things go wrong with heritage machinery. Or if I could only spare a half-day, making it the second half and then I actually benefit from late running!

But this year so far I've been to the WSR steam and diesel galas, Bluebell branch line and Swanage diesel galas and Victorian weekend, and it was only the two Swanage ones where anything went awry - and both were due to loco failures rather than an over-ambitious or poorly executed timetable. Both WSR events and the Bluebell were absolutely flawlessly to time on the days of my visit, and were all packing in plenty of activity. The Bluebell event was particularly slick.

So it really can be done, and I don't think it has to be a gala tradition that everything becomes a mess. Equally I don't think Swanage has gone awry today because of anything the railway itself has done wrong. When I read what had happened, I was actually surprised the delays weren't bigger right now.

Looks pleasingly busy on the cameras today too. I bought an advance ticket for today and overnight in the end but some over-running work meant that plan had to change, the railway kindly switched my ticket to tomorrow but I think it's highly unlikely I'll make it then either now as I've got some family matters to prioritise so I'll just enjoy everyone else's videos and pictures, keep Railcam open on my desk and be pleased I've made a contribution to this gala's costs!

 

Here's my footage of the first day of Strictly Bulleid II with all eight bulleids in action at the Swanage Railway. The day was amazing, although I arrived a bit late due to road closures and an accident on route. The weather was mostly brilliant with some good exhaust as well. All of the Bulleids performed impeccably and huge praise to the railway and its volunteers and footplate crews for putting on a great show. I hope the railway benefits hugely from this historic event. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

No we went through to RF and back with 34092 as booked but 45 late Corfe

 

Suspected superheater element leak. Fitters looking to effect a repair but it all depends on which row the element is in. We’ll know more in the morning.

 

I changed at Harmans Cross to 35018 and it was announced that the train would only go as far as Norden, I changed at Corfe and it soon came back with 34070 on it. Then 35006 arrived shortly after and went up to River Frome with both 34053 and 34028 and 35006 was detached at Corfe, I left for the bus soon after so assume 35018 either came back light for was attached to 34092's train at Norden (there was no sign of them when the No.30 bus went to Norden P&R).

I do regret not thinking about staying in the area for the event and doing multiple days, as I missed out on riding behind 34092, 34081 (I did plan catch it, but had failed by that point), 34070 and 34072 and only briefly had 35006 from Corfe to Norden, obviously not the Railway's fault and my best wishes to the injured person, by the sound of it they had a long wait for an ambulance.

 

The problems started with the points failure at Norden this morning which meant that we were 25 late leaving to RF on the 1045. Then add insufficient section times throughout especially Norden to RF. Add insufficient time at Corfe on up trains plus the medical emergency at CC. To give normal section times between Swanage and CC with 6 coach very busy trains simply doesn’t work. I thought the operating staff coped very well with it all improvising as best they could and we still enjoyed a very good day. The least said about the journey home by bus and train the better with SWT having yet another duvet day though

 

What you talk about is another point. 8 loco while amazing .... really does reduce the amount each one can actually run a service.
For example 34081 is only schedule to leave Swanage on 2 trains per day,

 

You were unlucky the way the day panned out, someone mentioned two medical issues at Corfe, not sure if that the case.
But looks like you got lucky with your SWR train as another PHBT earlier this afternoon and cancellations west of Bournemouth.

 

Many thanks to yourself and others for your help regarding the buses. Luckily the train I'm on now and the one prior we're on time and glad I got the 18:00 bus from Corfe as I think the latter bus I looked at arrived as my train departed, so another stroke of luck.

I still had a good day out despite the issues and 34072 was the only one of the 8 I didn't get any pictures of. The event was also the first time I've travelled behind 35018 too.

Here's a few mobile pictures that I took.

 

I have visited many galas over the years and I can assure you that many railways have suffered unfortunate incidents and failures that delay the gala timetable. I was at Bishops Lydeard only a few years ago when an elderly lady broke her ankle while using the foot crossing. A service train was just about to depart but was obviously heavily delayed. As they say, "s**t happens". [BJ]

 

I was at the Gala yesterday and overall I had a great time. However, the timekeeping slipped (as expected) as this always happens for the reasons alluded to in several of the posts above. i.e. there is simply insufficient time to carry out all the movements required and there is absolutely zero tolerance built in to the timetable. Having said that, the platform work at Swanage yesterday was very slick with the tight arrival and departures being dealt with very efficiently. Unfortunately this fell apart later on when the 19.30 ex Swanage departure left 42 minutes late due to some very protracted shunting movements which included the sudden removal of the front coach. Passengers had to detrain after they had been told it was OK to board 20 minutes earlier! No explanation or apology was given for this delay which is not really good enough. I have watched the proceedings today via the various webcams and I totally understand how the various unfortunate incidents have seriously impacted 0n the proceedings, but you have to question how the timetable has been allowed to slip to 128 minutes late! (17.32 River Frome - Swanage departing Corfe Castle) on what is just a 9.25 mile line. Whatever the circumstances, this cannot be deemed acceptable.

 

The ambulance dealt with 3 injured persons at CC.

 

Well obviously today didn't go according to plan but it was nonetheless a great event. Got there in time for the first train and stayed till just before 6 so I managed to pack in a few rides behind various locos and also managed to photograph all 8 locos which was a bonus. The railway was very busy but not unbearably so - it was easy finding a seat on the trains. I have never seen Corfe Castle so busy though. The beer tent and the food on offer seemed to go down very well and the pubs in the village looked packed as well.

Star of the show for me? Well it had to be 35018 as I'd never seen that since it returned to steam. All the others seemed like old friends - I've seen them on many happy occasions. As one who is firstly a GWR fan I have to admit that Mr Bulleid created some fine locomotives. Just think about this for a moment - how many who witnessed the end of Southern Steam in 1967 would have thought it would be possible to see 8 Bulleids in steam in one day on a Southern line in 2024! That it's possible is down to the hard work and dedication of all who have kept these fantastic machines alive.

Here they are - all 8 of Bulleid's finest:

 

Indeed, a great gathering of sorts.
Begs the question, what are Swanage going to do when it's End Of Southern Steam 60 in 2027.

 

With Tangmere and Braunton out on the main line today, I wonder if today is a record for simultaneous 'in steam' Bulleids in the preservation era?

 

Real Ale Train. 8.43pm 8th June.

 

If I could give that comment ten likes I would!