Swanage Railway General Discussion

Balfour Beatty tamper DR 73955 (nearest the camera) arrived only recently and has yet to undergo much of it's 'snagging and commissioning' work.
DR 73957 (furthest from camera) arrived late last year and has completed it's 'snagging, commissioning and staff training' work over the ensuing several weeks. With training of staff completed in large part using DR 73057 it is hoped that DR 73955 can be finalised quite quickly.

Whether Balfour Beatty's two other new tampers [they bought four !] will be coming to Swanage I have no idea at the moment.

As it has yet to receive the necessary bogie modifications, DR 73957 is being towed back to Plasser & Theurer in West Ealing tomorrow.
0Z60 0632 Eastleigh TRSMD to Norden/Corfe Castle https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R30503/2026-01-26/detailed
After a crew PNB - 6Q60 0928 Corfe Castle to Plasser & Theurer West Ealing Sidings https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R30504/2026-01-26/detailed Presumably two DB Class 66s top 'n tail will be used just as happened when it arrived on the Swanage Railway way back on 29th September 2025.
Once uncoupled from DR 73957 the DB locos form 0Z66 1741 Plasser & Theurer West Ealing Sidings [light engines] to Acton T.C. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R30506/2026-01-26/detailed

Incidentally, Car 14 was scheduled to journey to Ramparts' site, at Barrow Hill, on 19th January for Winter maintenance and refurbishment before return and entry into service. Any idea on which way round it will face this time?

 

A 50% guess, but I think it will stay the way it is as, it is facing away from the sun in the afternoon when used for cream teas. If you remember they were nicknamed glass houses for a reason