Swanage Steam Gala 11/9 to 13/9

Well done Swanage - had a most enjoyable visit. I was only popping in for a quick ride so was pleased to be able to buy a simple return ticket. The engines were working hard, everything ran smoothly and you did yourselves proud. I'll be back for a full day soon. Oh yes - and the free bus was much appreciated!

 

A couple of pics from the Swanage Gala

 

6695 at Corfe common

 

A great day out with Waverley to Swanage. I withdraw my slur on Corfe and its pubs (in a pre-upgrade lost post) as I had some excellent pints of Doom Bar accompanied by very tasty fish and chips in the Greyhound.

 

Hope all who attended had a good time, I am currently trying to obtain figures for the event (passenger numbers, fare income etc) but certainly most trains looked to be very full. Good to catch up with a few familiar faces, here's to next year...!

 

Enjoyed the visit to Swanage, thanks for the downloadable working time table. Will post some pictures from Saturday later on. Missed out photographing a light engine move of 2 Standard Tanks and a Light Pacific last night. My only grouse is the view of some vans and wagons at Harman's Cross siding which mask the arrival and departures at the Corfe Castle end.

 

I had an awesome night (Friday) and day/night (Sat) at Swanage,not been to the main gala for some 6 years but made a comeback this year and i have to say it has been my best gala (ever),the last was Swanage 03! Simply because of the intensity of the trains,the way they run,the brilliant weather,the pleasant atmosphere,the friendly crew's (ta to the driver or fireman who let me take a fot before running round at Swanage on Friday!) and the generally brilliant gala! The locos were great (34028 and 34070 sounded especially good,certainly 070 sounds (and looks) in good health!

Anyway,got my photos uploaded here:







http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/c1755134_1.html





And this one of 88 at Instow (Is that the name of the crossing near Harman's? Not Pondarosa....the farm name is Quarme i believe?)





Cheers,
Mark

 

Its Quarr Farm Crossing.

 

Thanks Rumpole

 

Swanage Railway Steam Gala

I really enjoyed my first visit to the Swanage Railway on the Friday.
I was there early and soon found a couple of places to get great shots of trains with Corfe castle as a backdrop. There was a very interesting variation of trains and locos.

I managed to see all I was hoping to see including a walk to the works to see 257 Squadron and Sir Keith Parks under restoration.

Congratulations to all involved in planning and running the Gala and especially for supplying the WTT and the excellent Visitors Guide

 

Yes that WTT was very welcome,thanks very much for providing that!

 

Was a good event



Was nice to see trains going up past Norden, good idea!

 

Deleted; that picture answers the question...!

 

Paid a visit to Swanage Sat avo, unfortunately the warm weather killed off any steam effect which really killed off the photography! Really kicked myself for not heading straight there on Sat morning when it was cooler. Was good to see the trains in action though, the scenery always makes a trip worthwhile.

First time I've seen the M7 in southern livery, will be nice when Swanage restore their Bulleid coaches to go with it! Such a striking livery though, very nice indeed.

 

A more formal announcement will follow from the railway itself, but I understand passenger numbers were up 32% on the 2008 gala. Not a bad weekend's work!

 

I'm happy to have contributed my £21-00 Rover fare + £5-00 beyond Norden fare.
Also, the tea and food bought whilst I was there.

I hope some of the other people I met there taking photos and watching the locos also made their monetary contributions to the gala?

 

Why do people keep bring up about people not paying their way at galas it is getting rather boring.

 

any idea as to what locos the railway will be using over the next 2 weeks?

on a positive note, having seen some of the pictures of the gala on the SR website, it looks as though it was a good gala. Shame the goods train was so weedy, 6 waggons???

If only fares would be reduced...........

 

Well i would get at those who stood at the gates near Corfe and a Quarr farm,they stood there pretty much all day and contributed what? Absolutely Zilch,it doesn't take much to pop in and make a donation,which i can imagine would be gratefully recieved,or buy a cup of tea. I was even more bemused that when i turned up at Quarr Farm for the 7F i was told i had nicked some veg's spot! Did i move? Did i f..... The fare is very goot in my opinion,21 quid,some railways charge more for a lot less,don't forget the ticket let you into the rally and on the night trains,what is bad about that?

The cabbage patch at Corfe was looking well and seemed to keep growing as the day progressed with the odd fare paying passenger there (like me) unable to get to their position due to a load of folk rooted to the spot!

Anyway,i am glad Swanage is still on the up,just imagine if £1 was charged to the linesiders the railway would have thousands more,why not send someone round with a bucket (To walk between Corfe and Norden twice a day) and take donations,see if the moths fly out....

 

How do you know the photters didn't have rover ? I know several people who didn't go on the train at all but had a 3 day Rover ticket. Its when people make assumptions like that, which annoys people.