Swanage Autumn Steam Gala 12 - 14 September

10:00 departure from Swanage hauled by 34072 + 563. Observation car at the rear.

34072 due to detach at Harmans Cross to take the goods. <BJ>

 

Nice sunny day but windy. Very quiet for. Gala Bulleid coach 5761 in service plus another refurb but will markings

 

1381 is the other coach. It’s part way through a transformation from BR southern green to lined Maunsell Olive

 

It looks superb

 

Only managed to spend a couple of hours at Swanage this morning, but was worth the trip. The T3 and S15 sounded and looked great as expected, but I was pleasantly surprised by Repton too. Schools have always (excuse the heresy) been on my 'look really nice but sound underwhelming' list (like Deltics...), maybe because a few runs with 925 at the Mid-Hants didn't live up to what I'd hoped for. I'd enjoyed Repton on the NYMR but any engine is entertaining on the climb to Goathland isn't it? So I wasn't expecting Repton to be such a highlight today but it was superb on the climb out of Corfe.

Timekeeping seemed very decent all the time I was there too, and that's been a weak point of so many Swanage galas I've been to, so that was good to see. I'd always rather a railway was ambitious with a gala timetable so I build in plenty of leeway for my trips, but getting home on time is always appreciated when it happens.

 

We started on the 1110 Corfe with 926and ended with the 1600 Norden also with 926 and in between did
30506 and 34072. Excellent timekeeping and some good climbs especially 30506. Quiet for a Gala and we had no trouble getting milepost side seats all day. Cylinder relief valves stuck open on 926. Thanks to all at Swanage for all their hard work. Our long journey there and back (so far) all on time.. Don

 

I've been looking at the Swanage & Corfe webcams on and off and the weather has looked to be better for you than forecast. I'm planning to come tomorrow so very much hoping that the "Purbeck microclimate" will do its stuff again!

 

Yes only very brief showers otherwise sunny but very windy

 

Surprised by that - had some great runs behind 925 (or 30925 in the later years) at Mid-Hants. Always sounded excellent!

 

Harman's Cross. Friday.

 

That's a glorious shot.

 

Just back from Swanage. An excellent day with lovely weather to match. All locos looked and sounded great and this time everything ran to time. I thought the timetable was very well thought out and it worked really well. It was good to have some trains going "over the road" to River Frome, but not all of them, which made for a more frequent service on the main part of the line. Actually though, the "over the road" bit really is a highlight - I'd forgotten that it really is quite a long section of track and it's good to hear the locos working hard on the gradients. Many thanks to all the hard working staff and volunteers for putting on such an enjoyable show. A few photos.....

 

I visited the railway yesterday and what a brilliant gala it was. Top marks for time keeping as trains were running to the minute. Despite an iffy weather forecast, the afternoon was gorgeous.

I must thank the organisers for hiring in the S15 and the Schools. Both were in immaculate condition and worked well. I waited around to watch Repton on the 18:15 ex Swanage. I watched her on the steepest part of the climb between Herston and Harmans Cross. What a noise she made!! I could hear her throughout the climb. Wonderful stuff - I'll remember that for years to come.

All in all, top marks for the gala. As well as it being such an enjoyable event, let's hope that it was also a financial success. Many thanks to the volunteers and staff. <BJ>

 

A pretty intensive timetable, most, if not all, of the locos took a turn on the goods train. Well worth watching on the live cams especially today given the changeable weather. Full marks for the organizers and staff who were kept busy with events.

 

Not bad for “a minor Southern event”……

 

Yes it was well worth our £88 for two Gala tickets and £44 train fares plus an early start and nearly an hour on the bus from Poole part of an overall two and a quarter of an hour journey each way to enjoy a wonderful day on Friday. I cannot begin to imagine the difficulties overcome to get everything running so well. I am very glad we made the effort against the wishes of my wife who had concerns about me going at all. Thanks to all at Swanage for all their hard work.

 

I do mock myself sometimes for writing off a class on flimsy 'evidence' but I think it's a subconscious consequence of there being so many heritage railways, so many brilliant galas, but family and work coming first and there only being so many hours/days in a year. Being able to look at a timetable and go 'phew, I'm not that fussed about Schools/Bulleids/Deltics/Peaks/GWR Heavy Freight classes, that's one loco I don't have to cram into a short time at this gala before getting home for the school pick-up' is often quite a relief for planning! But it often doesn't last - for instance I spent years thinking I didn't really enjoy 7Fs that much then had a front window behind 53808 out of Norton at a WSR gala on a heavy load with the dining coaches included in the set, and realised that actually 7Fs were fantastic and I needed to have them on my list too...

Basically the truth is I think I enjoy all heritage steam and diesel. Repton definitely put Schools back on my list on Friday.

 

53808 was great on the footplate climbing the Alps on the MHR but it was getting very tired and needed an overhaul. It was rough riding and very basic compared to a Bulleid but still a favourite loco which I first saw on the S&D in 1962.

 

First visit to the railway yesterday & thoroughly enjoyed it.

Everything ran to time and there was always something moving. The topped and tailed trains to River Frome viaduct really made it.

Many thanks to the organisers & volunteers for a great gala.

 

Well, the "Purbeck microclimate" did its stuff on Saturday - at least in the afternoon, so it was a case of travelling AM and photographing PM. A great gala and well worth driving through torrential rain both going there and on the return journey.

It was good to see Repton back on Southern metals, possibly for the first time in over 60 years and only a few miles away from where classmate 928 recorded one of the highest ever speeds known to have been reached by a 4-4-0 (95mph between Dorechester South and Wareham). The S15 also looked and sounded great and the home fleet were all in good form. It was also good to reacquaint myself with the superb restored Maunsell carriages. Why can't modern trains be fitted with comfortable seats like this - and position the seats to line up with the windows?

As mentioned the weather was excellent and the Purbecks always look so stunning in the sunshine. One or two rogue clouds appeared, but not too many shots spoiled. No headboards, no fictitious renumberings (two of my pet hates!) so all in all, a great day. Thank you to all involved.