Swanage Railway General Discussion

For anyone interested in a ride behind the T3, the loco is in service today. <BJ>

 

I have another photograph which provides an interesting comparison to that 1964 shot taken at Corfe Castle. Here is a very similar angle of 30053, this time taken at Harmans Cross, with 31806 approaching with a two coach driver experience special. Taken on a very dull day in February 2015 to me this is as close a picture as you can get of an early 1960s railway scene, something that Swanage does so well. Even more remarkable is the fact that this scene never actually existed in the 1960s as Harmans Cross is a creation of the post closure era. This to my mind is railway preservation at its very best.


Peter

 

I see scope there for some philosophical discussion as to just what has been preserved.

 

So this morning for the "novelty value" I dragged my ailing body down to Swanage Station for a ride to Blue Pool on the first passenger train there even if you currently have no way to alight.
Not sure if the other services went there but my train, I am not sure why (even the TTI did not know) never got to Blue Pool just stopped short of Cats Eye Crossing.
Not sure if was due to an issue, we stood for about 4 mins after a reasonably quick brake application, moved back a little towards Norden, I think because 33053 was in the ”tunnel” (Cats Eye Bridge) which I guess was filling up with fumes. After about another 3 mins went back to Swanage.
Seemed hell of a lot of folks around for the Model Railway weekend though.

 

The platform edges from Melcombe Regis station on the Portland Branch, The lamp standards from Poole/Bournemouth council, the track from the Dorchester South/ Moreton singling, loco's and stock, Telegraph poles, signaling equipment from Weymouth. About the only thing modern is the ballast and the breeze block platform walls

 

To try and keep on time today they were only running as far as Cats Eye, which is just past the treadle for Norden Gates in the down direction. The main purpose of running these services over the road was for signaller training in Norden Gates, so that’s still achieved even if you don’t go all the way to Blue Pool.

I’m not entirely sure on the technical side of things, but the issue with the Crompton was something to do with how the engines work in top and tailed formation with nobody present in the rear engine. This was the second stop you noted, and upon fixing the issue the service continued back to Norden.

It was very busy today, hopefully the same again tomorrow!