Swanage Railway - Grand Steam Gala

V: 71000 / Alfred / Judy
H: 6695 / 53 / 34028 / 34070 / 80104

The timetable will be running till late (normally finishing Swanage around midnight). Can't remember if an evening ticket is available though, can Nick answer this?

The Transport Rally at Harmans also tends to incorporate a beer tent for those of you so inclined.

 

Swanage Railway's Grand Steam Gala and Vintage Transport Rally 2012

 

Swanage Railway News Gallery - Page 839

 

Timetable and loco diagrams have now been finished, they are just being proof read and 'should' be released some time around the end of the week. The first train from Swanage each day is a freight at 08.15, and the first passenger train from Swanage is 08.45. Last arrival at Swanage on Friday and Saturday is 23.55.

Oh, and over the course of the 3 days there are 203 separate train movements. Not bad for a 5.5 mile branch line!

 

78019 is to replace 71000 at the Swanage gala, 71000 is unavailable.

James at SVN

 

Worthy replacement, lovely little engine!

 

Thanks for the update, James. So Swanage, like the Mid Hants, have lost their high-profile visiting express engine, but have managed to secure an interesting 2-6-0 as a replacement. Although the absence of 71000 is disappointing, 78019 could be more fun for the punters as it will have to work a loit harder on the Swanage Railway's gradients than would have been the case with the Duke. I recall a run behind 71000 when it spent the summer of 1995 on the West Somerset. I believe that Kentsford Bank is as steep, if not steeper than anywhere on the Swanage line, but 71000 with six on dismissed the climb out of Watchet with contemptuous ease.

Hopefully one day 71000 could pay a visit at the head of a through train from the national network. Taking 10 or 11 coaches up Herston Bank would be a bit more of a challenge, even for this fine engine.

 

An official update.....

Swanage Railway News Gallery - Page 839

 

Yes, as stated 71000 is unfortunately unable to visit and 78019 has been booked as a replacement. We are grateful for the assistance of all parties in facilitating this at relatively short notice. Just as a general update, the working timetable has been sent to the relevant parties for publication, and should be up on the website shortly.

Or if you want to hear Manston give it a go with 10, stick around until the Sunday evening of this year's gala...

 

6695 next year?

 

I think its better to have 6695 on a heavy freight...again stick around to the Sunday evening!

 

Liking the sound of these heavy trains! The gala wasn't really on my radar until now, but it's starting to sound quite impressive :lol:

 

Passenger train timetable, including locomotive allocations, now on the Railway Events page on the website at www.swanagerailway.co.uk. The freight times and Motala shuttles are not included on this, however further details will be available shortly.

By way of indication, on the Friday and Saturday freights will be leaving Swanage at 08:15, 11:58, 14:58, 19:28 and 20:58, while on the Sunday they will be leaving at 08:15, 11:58, 14:58, 18:43 and 19:00. The daytime and evening freights are also going to be made up of different sets.

 

Alfred and Judy arrived today and were worked back to Swanage this afternoon. I think they may surprise a few people, they're punchy little things!

 

Loving it - sounds great. Pass WTT looking nice... any chance of knowing loco facings and also allocations on the frieghts?

 

Normally tender locos face Norden and tank locos face Swanage (due to watering arrangements at Swanage). However which way the visiting locos face depends on how they were offloaded from lorries.
"Rumpole" will answer your questions in due course no doubt.

 

Loco facings are as follows:-

Facing Norden - 34028, 34070, Alfred, Judy
Facing Swanage - 53, 6695, 80104

I don't know at the moment which way 78019 will be unloaded, and will confirm further when it is delivered on Friday. Unfortunately the turntable at Swanage is currently out of action due to a cracked pivot cap casting, and therefore no locos will be turned during the gala this year.

In terms of loco allocations for the freights, I'll try to summarise it below:-

Friday

08:15 ex Swanage - 80104
08:45 ex Norden - 80104
11:58 ex Swanage - 34028
12:35 ex Norden - 6695
14:58 ex Swanage - 34028
15:35 ex Norden - 6695
17:57 ex Harmans Cross - 53
19:28 ex Swanage - 80104
20:05 ex Norden - 80104
20:58 ex Swanage - 34070
21:35 ex Norden (as far as Harmans Cross) - 34070

Saturday

08:15 ex Swanage - 78019
08:45 ex Norden - 78019
11:58 ex Swanage - 34028
12:35 ex Norden - 80104
14:58 ex Swanage - 34028
15:35 ex Norden - 80104
17:57 ex Harmans Cross - 53
19:28 ex Swanage - 34070
20:05 ex Norden - 34070
20:58 ex Swanage - 78019
21:35 ex Norden (as far as Harmans Cross) - 78019

Sunday

08:15 ex Swanage - 34028
08:45 ex Norden - 34028
11:58 ex Swanage - 34070
12:35 ex Norden - 80104
14:58 ex Swanage - 34070
15:35 ex Norden - 80104
18:27 ex Harmans Cross - 34028
18:45 ex Swanage - 78019
19:00 ex Swanage - 6695
19:20 ex Norden - 78019
19:45 ex Norden (as far as Harmans Cross) - 6695

For those who like atmosphere at their galas, in order to get the stock in the right place on Friday and Saturday evening one of the freight sets will be being shunted at Swanage at 00:10, before the last train gets back. I can't think of often in preservation when you can get freight workings at that time in the morning!

While I think of it, in addition to the freight sets, two of the passenger sets will also be made up slightly differently; the 'A' set (the set starting at Swanage each day) will be made up of 6 coaches plus a 6-wheel milk tanker, while the shuttle set (the set that will be running in and out of platform 1 at Swanage) will be made up of 4 coaches and a maroon SR PMV. Hopefully this will look appropriate and slightly different to normal operation.

 

See the twins have arrived....

Swanage Railway News Gallery - Page 841

 

Must you post links to such dubious pictures as those...?!

 

Very dodgy.
Looks like I saw you briefly last week then Nick when I was down Swanage way. I was the bod eating fish & chips on the platform with a certain shirt on that you made a comment about.

Regards,

Paul