Swanage Autumn Steam Gala 12 - 14 September

https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/autumn-steam-gala

First guest being announced later today

 

S15 30506 announced

 

Even though it's fairly easy to get that S15 working hard up a hill at its home line, the thought of it from a standing start off River Frome with a dead loco on the back too is very tempting... which makes that weekend quite a dilemma as I've got family priorities that I want to factor in too and need to work some of it, but also want to definitely do the Blaenavon gala (it's always so good) and Dean Forest diesel gala (a 50 and a Deltic in the forest???!!) already, am now tempted by this, AND it's the weekend when Buckfastleigh workshops are open for a poke around too and I try to do that every year... Classic September gala season puzzles!

 

Have to agree. 506 out of River Frome is gonna be very nice!

 

Six Mk1s [and a 'dead' loco at the Wareham end] up almost 1.5 miles of 1 in 78 to the summit at Furzebrook - from a dead stand!
Should make 506 chuff a bit I hope.

 

Agreed as long as we have had some decent rain by then, only 7 weeks to go and the next couple of weeks look dry again. We can but hope as there a some sensitive areas on the extension.

 

Going by the latest post on the Swanage Facebook page about the next visitor, it is very heavily implied to be 926 Repton

 

Well, the picture accompanying the piece shows Repton School. I've no idea if the next visitor is 926 or not.
However, if it is to be a 'Schools', I think 30925 Cheltenham is at NRM [awaiting overhaul?] and 30928 Stowe is undergoing overhaul at the Bluebell.

 

Had high hopes tonight. Dark, looming clouds plus a (distant) rumble of thunder a few times and very sporadic drops of moisture. Please just rain!!

 

There's a few other hints in the wording that heavily suggest that it's a Schools and as you say the other two are not operational at present, unless it's a misdirection like the tease for 30506, but it's makes sense with 30506 also visiting and 31806 as a resident.

Also 926 is attending Epping Ongar's gala the following weekend, along with 34072, so presumably helps with transport.

 

As many have deduced, 926 Repton now announced as the second visitor.

 

I see the timetable is up on Facebook with only four trains a day to River Frome.
Three coach sets, does that mean another hire in or are there enough coaches serviceable for a third set?
As I do not have or want a Facebook account it of course kicks me out after about 20 seconds, so will have to wait until it reaches the website to study properly. Is it not possible for companies to set Facebook to not do that, I have looked at some Facebook pages that seem not o.

 

Planned to have enough home fleet for 1x 5 coach set and 2x 4 coach sets.

 

I will look forward to standing then.

 

We plan to go on the Friday by train and bus and it looks like the weather might by cooler and wetter by then according to the Met Office long range forecasts. Plenty of interest for brother Bryan with all those lovely Southern locos

 

Will be even worse if the Observation coach is on one of the sets,hopefully not.

 

I dont think i would trust a long range weather forecast but who knows we might have some rain in Purbeck by then.

 

The observation car would presumably be the fifth coach on the 5 car set.

 

That would make sense to me as well. Guess we'll just have to wait for the event.

 

Hi Rumpole

Do you really this it is wise to run 4 coach sets? Would it work with fewer 5 coach sets or even 6 coaches. Less risk of standing and would make the locos work harder