Swanage Railway Steam Gala and Vintage Transport Rally 10-12 Sept. 2010

Dont worry I,ll get it turned 2morrow.....

 

Apologies for posting what seems to have been incorrect information but could have sworn all tank locos were facing Swanage - perhaps it was earlier than I recalled. Will have to have my new spectacles re-tested [or else it's another of those dratted 'Senior Moments']!

 

Spent all day on the railway today - all engines except 80104 were facing Wareham. I must say it was an excellent day with 7 locos in steam and plenty of variety in the workings. One thing that strikes you is how much action there is - once the gala gets going you never have to wait more than about 15 minutes before another train appears. This I guess is due to it being a relatively short line (compared with SVR or WSR for example) with smaller distances between crossing points. I think Swanage is sometimes underrated - you don't think of them being one of the leading players in steam galas but today's show was really good.

Well done to everyone involved - hope the rest of the weekend goes well for you!

 

You can't underrate perfection ! A fantastic railway, friendly staff (from when I had a footplate ride on 34028 last month, courtesy of SLL), and I'm unfortunately unable to attend the gala due to heavy financial commitments this month. I should, however be there for the SLL shareholders' meeting next month.

 

Dont go home too early tonight....Strange things happen in the Purbecks when the sun goes down.....

 

What, you mean to say that tonight's the night that GWR locomotives decide that Bulleid was right after all and throw off the mantle of brass bonnets, copper caps and spoked wheels and go native ?

 

Nope....

M7, 80104, 6695, Manston, Eddie and the Manor went to Corfe bout an hour ago.....

 

I hope someone videos that I would hve liked to have seen that...

 

'Open' locations might have been video-able on the Up journey but trees made some areas too dark I would have thought. The return (Down) journey was in serious darkness everywhere though.
I have a 'steam age' SLR camera and, to get decent shots, I would have needed LOTS of floodlights. One of my friends has an all-singing, all-dancing digital jobbie and he'd pushed his to 3,200 ASA equivalent and it only just managed 1/80th sec. Any further and results would have been too grainy. Hopefully some stills will be added to the Swanage Railway website and hyperlinks will be added on this thread as appropriate.
Grateful thanks to the many thousands of visitors this weekend.
Saturday weather was quite miserable but today was much better.
Very frustrating that various (unconnected) problems caused delays to many trains today and we weren't able to maintain our normal on-time services.

 

I spent Friday at the gala and there did seem to be something going on all the time. A good day out and thanks to all involved at the railway. My photos from my visit can be found on my fotopic site.

http://paulgildersleve.fotopic.net/

Regards,

Paul

 

Nice pictures Paul, thanks for the link. I see you've managed to capture at least 1 forum poster...!

 

Some more photos of the weekend....

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news690.htm

 

one word...
Stunning!



My other photos from the event are here...

 

No Tom, that wasn't the best departure...! ;-)

 

Wish I had been at Norden Park & Ride station, with my video of course, to record the departure of Sunday night's return Cavalcade on a still [but dark] early evening.
The noise of the initial start was very loud even when heard over half a mile away at Corfe Castle station footbridge - goodness knows what it was like on Norden platform!!
"Volcanic" sort of fits the bill I think.

 

Ooops?! What happened to Eddystone's tender?
http://paulgildersleve.fotopic.net/p67101237.html

Richard

 

It's a special arrangement for cutting down the risk of burning wooden sleepers of course.
Bullied thought of everything .......

 

Just wondered if Eddystone had a tiff with one of those foreign visiting locos.

Richard

 

no.....been like that for awhile

 

The cavaclade...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk4kV6d6bwk