Swanage Railway General Discussion

It might be thought as MHR recently ran a School class loco, Cheltenham, it may not be such a rare sight?, and 4 coaches might be suitable?

 

The bookings for the Swanage Belle charter look full, will be good if Eddystone could work it. The next Swanage Belle charter does not yet have a date, so might be 2026, but Swanage does look like a popular railtour destination.

 

There are usually only one or two Belle's a year and this is the second, so unlikely to be another until 2026. Trouble with south coast resorts in the winter is the weather can be very poor and lots of things closed, so not great for the passengers. Plus there may be engineering work during the run up to and post Christmas period.

 

You are right and also winter railtours tend to go where there are large Christmas markets, which Swanage does not have. And could disrupt the Santa trains.
Edit: next Swanage Belle in 2026 could be June again? But as the September tour has good booking numbers a railtour in Spring 2026 could be feasible?

 

There was a post from @Jamessquared on the NYMR where someone had asked if his green loco was a Black5.
Tonight just before the last train left Norden a couple asked the driver if Manston was an A4.
Glad the recognised they are both streamlined locos, but Manston does not look like a snowplough, luckily

 

If people can't tell the difference between an A4 and a Flat top, they'll have no chance with GW's.

 

Neither do most of us...

 

Someone on this forum said that they’re all the same. Is that not true?

 

No. There are those with tenders and those without. I think.

 

The GWR only actually had four loco designs: an 0-4-2T that photographic evidence shows could only manage to pull one carriage; a matchbox on six wheels; another tank engine that originated from the prairies of the US always hauling a set of two carriages called “B”; and a general purpose 4-6-0 called Saint Kingcastle Hall (or Manor). Normal operating practice was for Saint Kingcastle Hall (or Manor) to stop at a station adjacent to the sea (or flower bed) where one of the one coach trains was waiting. The one coach train would then run to a terminus along the “Bacon Lettuce and Tomato” line (generally shortened to a BLT) where it would run into a bay platform, while one of the American prairies would be in the main platform and the matchbox on wheels would spend the entire day shunting a single siding in the company of an amphibious brake van.

Tom

 

I'm looking forward to an apoplectic reply from Mr Charles Smythe.

 

I took a ride out on the Sunset Shuttle yesterday evening as Mrs. Gladiator had gone of to a concert in Bournemouth. Loadings were good, although with
the Folk Festival and the Classic Car Show this weekend would be sad if they were not.
I think this may be the first time ever I have ridden a bubble car on its own. I have done trips here with it attached to or as part of the 117 and many before the end of the first gen WR DMU's between Hayes and Paddington on those cobbled together sets that often contained one.

 

There is a video on the unofficial FB group of the loaded test run.

 

Its 926 which rarely works away from the NYorks Rly

 

That sounds like an eminently delightful way to stay profitable! Perhaps the others should have taken note…

 

Video of Eddystone on the fully loaded mainline test

Looking at the history and it's good it was brought back from America and donated to the NYMR who have kept it in good condition as the current sole Bulleid Schools class working loco.
The Swanage Railway has seem to have concentrated on the 50s BR era, but has now started to represent other eras from Victoria n to 1970s.

The Swanage railway have done well to get 13 carraiges for the gala, hope everyone gets a seat on the trains with 926.

On its FB SR Heritage carraiges page, they have an update on the restoration of Bulleid coach 4366, making progress, but don't have the funds to send it back to Swanage, still a way to go before a recreation of the Southern Railway Bournemouth Dining Set 298,

 

Bulleid Schools class?

Tom

 

Yes thanks a Maunsell loco!

 

Just walked back up Gilbert Road from dropping off some prescription requests at the surgery. The 15:20 was full & standing, but proving the worth of something more than just a train ride Coach B appeared to be reserved for a group (coach tour?). Coach D was full as it was one of the Prosecco Cream Tea experiences in the Maunsell and Car 14 about 75% full with the Champagne Cream Tea.