Swanage Railway General Discussion

Just as an example I compared the guest house 4 doors down from us with the Travelodge in Poole for the Friday and Saturday nights of both the steam and diesel galas plus a random Saturday (Feb 8 when as far as I know nothing is happening event wise). All based on one person.
Swanage
Feb 6 £65
Steam Gala 2 night min £160
Diesel Gala 2 night min £170

Travelodge Poole
Feb 6 £81
Steam Gala £37 Friday £66 Saturday
Diesel Gala £65 Friday £72 Saturday

So yes you may get near £30 in a Travelodge if you do a Sunday night or are lucky enough to find a sale period and can commit or know you are happy to write the money off.But if you are my age health issues or my wife's health issue mean I cannot even guarantee a date a month out. Add these numbers to rail fares or petrol and a gala ticket and it all looks quite expensive, especially as those prices are only going to go one way as the events get nearer.

 

Thanks for checking accommodation prices, can be frustrating, I remember getting a good price from Travelodgewhen visting the SR.
Going to the 4TC and the SR shop is promoting the new LU 4TC model on Facebook https://buy.myonlinebooking.co.uk/swanagerailway/shop/product-list.aspx?catId=11&page=2
On the webcam there seems to be what looks like a red 4TC coach in Swanage station as well as the blue white coach. Can anyone confirm?

Also on FB there is a report the carriage shed is starting to get a roof?.

 

Probably the former London Underground owned Mark 1 BSK no. 35011, which arrived a few months ago.

 

Could be it appears to have no external identification, at least that I can see.

 

Correct, mainline support coach for Eddystone

 

...apart from a Metropolitan Railway crest!

 

Its number is 35011.

 

Can anyone enlighten me to the purpose of "the growth" on the roof of half brake S9015 in the last couple of days?
I assume it is not part of the railways Iron Dome system to protect passengers against random Russian Kamikaze drones. Although of course after the press release for the Day Event mentioned the T9 being used on troop trains, you never know what the Russians may think

 

It will be the new WiFi system being installed as part of the initiative by Dorset Council to improve rural connectivity.

See the link below:
https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ne...ject is,century technology to Swanage Railway.

 

Thanks Josh I forgot about the trial. My first thought yesterday was wifi, and then I thought no not really.

 

The improved WiFi trial at Norden should help carpark users book car park and train tickets easier on their mobile phones. But seems more like a testbed for the Oneweb satellite system before it rolls out to other rural locations.

Thanks, Guess it is in the station to be checked, hopefully will not need much done on it to get ready other than a bit of paint, but could remain maroon?
There seems to be a loco swap: Canadian Pacific gets back into service at MHR, 257 Squadron returns to Swanage, which then gives Swanage railway enough steam locos for the Summer timetable (maybe a 2 steam train timetable back?). And releases Eddystone for some revenue earning mainline charters (tbc).

 

The promotional video for the Community Weekend is now available.

Hopefully supporters will enjoy unprecented access 'behind the scenes' of the railway.

 

From Instagram

 

At least the steelwork will have had a good test overnight from the wind.

 

Its the cladding that causes the trouble

 

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2025/01/chief-exec-appointed-to-future-proof-the-swanage-railway.html

Swanage railway now has a new CEO, on ‘competition pay’.

Hopefully this and the ability of them to put down deposits on things (as said in the winter magazine) means they can acc get on and deliver all those long awaited projects.
Starting strong 2025 with the carriage shed

 

From rail advent

Hope she settles in, has a good background in charities and museums to ensure visitors have a good experience and will hopefully donate more after a visit.
The balance to what families and enthusiasts want is always tricky.
Also the railway is moving from a BR 1950s style to also cover Victorian to 1970s eras.
From
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbie-king-bb540a17a
She has also worked at Greggs and Merlin, so although secondary to her main role, she might be able to make catering profitable?.

 

A safe and sustained future for the Swanage Railway must come first. But I do hope those of us who come to the Railway for the 1950s - 1960s steam operations are still going to have a future to our visits.

Bryan

 

Deleted

 

Want to tell me what "Competition Pay" is?
I have no knowledge of Abbie, but the article in Swanage News gives a far more useful insight to her background than the bland piece in Rail Advent.
I was reading some posts on a different forum, all very similar to on here about the NYMR.
The movement does really seem to have an issue with things that have changed over the past few years
Comments included
Should be a volunteer role not paid
Stop blaming Covid and the price of coal
She has not held a role for longer than 3 years. Well at my employer that would have been seen as lacking ambition and stagnating.
"Some lateral thinking could turn the railway into a competitive tourist destination again" Maybe they would like to share there vision with the Tourist Office on how to get more visitors back to the town post pandemic.
" But of course by dropping the service frequency it automatically becomes impossible for a visitor to actually visit the "attraction" properly." which of course is wrong.

I wish her well by with attitudes like this it will be like pushing water up hill