Swanage Railway DMU

Does the railway still operate a daily DMU evening service in the summer?

 

Yes it did in 2013 and well patronised as well would assume that it will run again this year during the six weeks school holidays

 

That's quality, hopefully I will be able to visit during that period.

 

GWSR also do similar during the summer with their bubblecar, sounds like a nice idea... even better if it were with a 14xx and an autocoach

 

I believe it is likely to operate each evening from 21st July to 31st August.
Evening fares/timetable should appear on: http://swanagerailway.co.uk/index.php in due course.

 

I can confirm the evening DMU service will be operating daily through the peak summer season. As Buzby says, details will appear on the website and advertised on the stations in due course.

 

What is the current availability of the DMU sets?

 

121 available for traffic (currently undergoing exam)
108 stopped for engine repairs
117 awaiting overhaul
101 awaiting stripping then scrapping

 

DMUs operate on the GWSR all year, not just in the summer. Friday evening trains were run in August 2013 (and will be again in 2014) with the three car 117. I agree that it would be a nice idea to use 1450 and its autocoaches, but there are cost and crewing factors to consider that make a steam service less viable.

 

Thankyou for the update.

 

The high back seats in a 117 always remind me of padded cells. Good design for commuter routes yes but on a preserved railway IMHO you need lower back seats such as a 101 or 108 so passengers can see as much as possible of the countryside going past. A 101 was used as a hauled observation saloon on the Kyle line for that very reason. Better to overhaul the 101 and scrap the 117.

Brian

 

I suspect the 101 is probably in much worse condition than the 117 if the 101 is being scrapped

 

117s have low backed seats, compare with 115s and 127s which have high backs. But you're right, high back seats do restrict the view.

 

Bit of a long story but the gist is the 101 arrived on the railway as a source of spare parts and then scrapping.

 

As Steve says, the 101 arrived as part of a deal specifically to provide spare parts; the SR itself does not own the unit.

The 117 is privately owned and subject to a long-term hire agreement, which obviously would prevent the SR from taking that suggested course of action.

 

Does the Swanage still have a strategic reserve of 117s at the local power station?

 

They had three 3-car sets (9 vehicles in total), but two of them (6 vehicles) have since been sold and scrapped/rehomed elsehwere. The remaining set still exists in storage.