Swanage Railway General Discussion

So far as I'm aware, all the push-pull equipment on 30053 was removed at Eastleigh before the loco was sold and shipped to the US.
Since repatriation, I believe Drummond Locomotives Ltd have not acquired a Westinghouse air pump or any of the other fittings needed - although I seem to recall the regulator handle had a strange (to me) fitting on it which, I suppose, might have been there from push-pull days. However, I have been retired from SR steam footplate duties for a good few years now so my memory could be playing tricks.
It's possible, I suppose, that DLL may have some push-pull drawings in stock. However, I feel certain they have no spare money to acquire/manufacture said fittings with money fully committed to funding the current overhaul. The same lack of funds also applies to Swanage Railway coaching stock adaptations.

 

Re the push-pull equipment on 31263 I found the photo below of said loco at Robertsbridge, in B.R. livery and with all the P-P equipment still in place. The photo is copied from "Rails to Tenterden" published in 1967. As the loco was stored at Three Bridges until 11.64 that suggests that the gear was removed at Robertsbridge between, say, 1965 and 1967. It was certainly gone by 7.68 as my earlier photo showed. There is a further photo of 31263 at Roberstbridge, unfortunately undated, here https://mikemorant.smugmug.com/Trains-Railways-British-Isles/SR-and-BRS/SECR-tank-engines/i-BrDmgxS
Ray.

 

Well this is my photo of (31)263 at Robertsbridge on 23/4/66. All that was left of the P/P gear is the smokebox attatchment that the pump was mounted on.


Peter

 

Is there anything that you haven't photographed during your time, Peter?

 

Since this had previously been mentioned by posters in this thread, an extract from a SR Facebook post today:

 

Really good news about a feeder service !

Also good news from their Facebook about the company and trust becoming one! Regarding the SW governance review.

The document on the staff website stated they turned a profit of 300k in 2024 which is brilliant and will be working super hard to get this new one charity company sorted for 31st Jan 2026.

This is expected to raise revenue by another 300k per year. That is huge and in one way a shame it wasn’t done before Covid.



if nothing changes 300 2024 profit plus an extra 300k would mean 600k in 2026. This would be huge for the railway and could certainly speed up projects that have been ongoing for years! It will also allow the railway to get for grants .

seems super positive

 

Forget the headlines, take out the £300K from 'Save your railway' sales of rolling stock and other assets the surplus was a little over £30,000 on £3.2 million turnover.
It was a one off.
Although the projected income from the charitable status is a positive

 

Right well shows you even more why it must be done

what stock has been sold of recently? I believe 2/5 dinning stock was sold, was the 08 aswell?
I know the number of wagons has been reduced but then again many probably were past the point of restoration….

 

May I point you in the direction of Shillingstone who took on the no hope 8 planker