Swanage Railway General Discussion

Walkin' in a Crompton wonderland...

 

With any additional BR D/E (S) loco we could have any of Satan's reindeer's names

 

Anyone know if the T3 had issues this morning.
Watching the 2nd ECS move to Norden and after many on the ground near the train it struggled to depart and was still doing 2-3mph when the 4 car left the platform

 

Nothing wrong with the loco, Most likely, slippery rails, It's that time of the year, Also it is the first time that a train has run through the section since the end of the timetabled service.
Have just been looking at he 1300 departure, T3 seemed to be OK!
I am the early turn Corfe Bobby tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

 

Rail adhesion can be a peculiar thing, often defying what you’d expect. In damp railhead conditions the first train of the day may get through without problem but the second train will really struggle. This is probably due to the first train grinding the fine layer of rust as it goes along and this, mixed with the dampness on the rail will form a very slippery paste and catch the next train. Heavy rain will tend to wash any such contaminants off the railhead so is less likely to be a problem for trains. Rusty but dry rails have a reasonably high friction coefficient. The highest friction coefficient is generally found on dry shiny rails but wet shiny rails is not far behind.

 

Hi Andy, we did run up and down the line yesterday evening with the Santa Publicity train, due to the damp conditions it was a challenge to get going out of Corfe with 7 and a class 33 on the back.

Full agree Steve, tipping down with rain is always easier than damp conditions.

 

When the weather cleared I did pop out for a round trip of the T3 on the 14:30 from Swanage (which due to the roadworks in HX I missed at Afflington as it passed as I had just put my boots on). Hence the grabbed shot at Corfe Viaduct, and although I normally only photograph freights tender first,
the sun did illuminate the loco nicely on the 15:10 back from Norden.
Every year I forget how early the sun disappears at Townsend, but two images of the 15:00 "Yuletide Express" from Swanage on its outward and return legs.
Worth the trip out just to hear Manston working harder than I have heard before, but 7 coaches and a 33 gives a decent load to pull as mentioned in post #12006

 

Poor railhead conditions. Or, to almost quote, it was 'slippery as [something]'

 

Anyone know what the Class 33 is up to in Corfe today! Is that the other bulleid carriage that hasn't been in use for a while or the one the carriage people use as a store/workshop?

 

I believe that Bulleid Brake 4366 returned from Ramparts today, and has been shunted into Corfe Up Sidings. The coach in this shot is Bulleid Third 1457, which is in use as a workshop. The shunt allows 4366 and 1457 to be positioned together, which then allows work to begin on restoring the interior of 4366.

 

Oh wow that is brilliant news with the return of the coach! Hopefully the amazing team can get it into service some point later this decade.

Today (03/12/25) more shutting. Eddystones new support coach is now finished, its staying here over winter ready for 2026. One of the full brake m1ks (Does this ever get used?) and something under wrap. As far as im aware only the TC set coaches have had wraps?

Interesting to see what they do with these

 

I see the "Graffiti Train" is coming to Swanage in February.

https://railway200.co.uk/inspiration/

 

Couple of Cromptons at Corfe

 

Bloody Hell Gary, do you not want to encourage and engage the younger generation to take an interest in our hobby?
Seriously comments like that do little to encourage those who we’re going to hand the baton on to.
Wind your neck in a bit mate, by all accounts it’s actually a decent bit of fun, and I believe it’s that magical word ‘free’

 

Virtually every time I ask a young volunteer or photographer where they gained their interest in steam railways they reply that their family took them to see Thomas the Tank Engine when they were young children. I remember avoiding such events at all costs but now realise the importance they hold to the future of our beloved hobby. The visit of the Railway200 'Inspiration' train is another example of how the younger generation will gain interest in railway heritage. [BJ]

 

It normally is free I believe except at the MHR where it coincides with an event, as copied from their website.

"Tickets to Inspiration are free, but visitors must buy a Magic Of Locomotion ticket which is the event running at the same time as Inspiration’s visit to the railway."

So £26 per adult.

I will let you know what I think if I get a ticket, having registered an interest. Just not a livery I would have chosen, but always good to have a livery debate.

 

My two young grandsons love Thomas, but the new modern cartoon version which is likened to visiting a heritage line after eating magic mushrooms (other substances for out of mind experiences are available) which has no semblance of reality and therefore may be a disappointment when they visit a real railway.

 

Who gives a toss about the sodding livery?
Is this not about getting the younger generation involved?

 

At the Keighley and Worth Valley, anyone not travelling on the railway was asked to pay £1 to view the Inspiration Train. Seemed very popular.