Swanage Railway General Discussion

Looks like 34072 is heading back to Swanage after the Mid Hants to cover for 34028 which is obviously going to start its mainline career next year.

 

Where can I read about that? https://www.southern-locomotives.co.uk/34028/34028_Appeal.html doesn't mention it.
Much has been said on other threads about the expense and complication of making a loco fit for mainline operation.

 

Details are here: https://www.southern-locomotives.co.uk/News/news.html

 

I believe 34072 is returning to Dorset in the new year to visit Herston Works for some attention.After that i thought it was going to its home on the Spa Valley.

 

Was there not some talk of running in at Swanage after the works visit?

 

For me the only recent information about 34072 on that page is "There's nothing to report on '72 which is busy on the Mid Hants Railway and performing well we understand. You can judge for yourself from this video by The Southerner of 34072 at work on 4th August." - where are you seeing the notion that it will go back to Swanage to cover for Eddystone?

 

I think @ghost's comment was in relation to 34028 going mainline, not 34072 returning to Swanage.

Tom

 

SLL shareholder update. Returning full time.

 

257 Squadron will always be a Swanage engine, wherever it goes.
Back in 1990 when she was first returned to steam and was re dedicated, we had a number of former 257 squadron pilots and crew attend including Air Commodore Pete Brothers. I was responsible officer for that day. Bert Hooker was also in attendance. Pete Brothers came up to me (I was 30 years old) and said 'sir' may I have a ride on the engine? I said please don't call me sir, I , am forever in your gratitude. He however respected my position that day. What a humbling experience.

 

In regard to 34028 and 31806, did the latter have a support coach and if so, is that what 34028 wil ultimately end up using?

 

31806 didn't have a support coach, think the plan is to use the brake coach 35011 that's just arrived

 

Ah ok thanks.

 

31806 had a tourists grant to go mainline
https://www.swanagerailwaytrust.org...ive-makes-history-by-hauling-first-dorset-mai

But the chance of picking up day trip passengers at Wareham to the SR has stalled, and the cost of adding CDL to the MK1 carriages was not factored in. But by itself 31806 can't cope with the 10 (plus) carriage mainline tours

34028 will most likely run the Polar Express, but with a one steam (rather than 2) timetable maybe SLL felt with not enough revenue earning days, and 34028 being a more powerful loco, they could make extra revenue on the the 10 (plus) carriage mainline tours?
From the SSL link above

 

Not sure what the Wareham reference is about, if it was not commercially viable with a DMU, the CDL issue is irrelevant.
The U it would seem is out of gauge down this way. Exactly where is unclear but I have heard, maybe incorrectly, it is far more than just a couple of places.
It was said up thread some time back by someone from the railway that Manston is the Polar loco. Eddystone is still in the works at Herston as far as I know.

 

I think March was mentioned on SLL newsletter

 

34028 is in Herston works and is not due to work our Polar Express services this year.

 

Swanage: Heritage steam railway to trial wi-fi service - BBC News


Interesting

£163,000 for this trial, if only that could go on the carriage shed ..............

 

Why, if someone is paying good money for a heritage train ride , would they want a wi-fi service? Can they not exist without instant communication for an hour or so? Hasn't the council thrown enough taxpayers money at the Swanage Railway already?

 

That's one of the problems of grants - superficially they look great, but they don't necessarily deliver the project you'd choose to do without the grant, while distracting management who have to concentrate on delivering the objective the grant is there to fund.

Tom

 

The Telegraph story says

The Government has spent £160,000 of taxpayers’ money to install on-board Wi-Fi for a steam train to allow passengers to buy tickets.

The volunteer-led Swanage Railway on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset features full-sized steam engines and is one of the best preserved and most popular heritage railways in Britain.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/government-pays-160-000-steam-192752854.html