[Apr 17, 2015] Swanage Spring Gala - April 17/18/19 (Swanage Railway)

The reason the Friday is a bit more low key is that it is the first year we have run the Spring Gala over three days, rather than two; it is a bit of a 'toe in the water' to see how it goes at this time of year. There are no plans for the locos to be turned during the Friday, principally as the timetable on that day is a little bit testing, so we want to try and avoid any additional moves creating the possibility of delay.

We will be making up for that over the weekend though!

 

Low loader arrived at Alresford 14:00, ready for Cheltenham I presume. I hope to visit Friday, I am working on the "Watercress Belle" on the MHR on Saturday, 11:00 to 23:00 so won't be able to get down then.

 

Has 925 arrived and if so which way is it facing?

Thanks

Don

 

925 has arrived, and is facing Norden (planned for the double-headed trip it does with 31806, also facing Norden).

70000 will be facing Swanage for the event, the same direction as 34070.

 

Slightly OT - will 70000 be used on any regular services while it's down at Swanage? Sadly I can't make it down for the gala so am hoping it might be used next week?

Thanks in advance

James

 

Thanks Rumpole. Great

Don

 

As I understand it, currently there's no intention to use her on any days other than the Gala weekend.

 

Correct Nigel; there are no plans to use 70000 on days other than the gala event.

Everything now ready for the gala starting tomorrow. At present, 70000, 30053, 80104 and 34070 face Swanage, with 31806 and 925 facing Norden. Its is planned to turn the M7 and Standard 4 over the weekend though, at the following times:-

Saturday

30053 - following 1410 arrival
80104 - following 1540 arrival
80104 - following 1900 arrival

Sunday

80104 - following 0953 arrival
30053 - following 1455 arrival

I hope this is of some help.

 

For anyone heading down later today, the M7 was turned before the first brake van run this morning so was facing Norden as of midday. I then had to scoot off for work though so it may well have turned again.

Great couple of hours at Swanage this morning. Cheltenham looks very much at home there, Britannia imposing as ever and it's a very quick-fire day with the four-train timetable. Constant activity, and changing location if you're out on the lineside always risks missing something. It was a very tough call to pick between this or the Bluebell Diesel Gala once I knew I'd only have limited free time in that end of the country this week, but ultimately the Swanage timetable earned the nod because I'd be able to see a lot more variety happening given my have-to-hit-the-road-by-midday-at-latest schedule. Felt like the right call, though I'll be looking enviously at pictures of Deltics on the Bluebell in the coming days and really hope that event's a massive success.

I'm not normally the biggest fan of same-formations-all-day gala timetables, but as I only had a couple of hours spare today at least I didn't feel like I was missing too much and I think it's a good tactic for a toe-in-the-water Friday. Trains and platforms looked busy so hopefully the three-day plan will become standard for this gala too.

 

Don't forget the Purbeck Mining Museum at Norden. We are open and doing Driver For a Fiver. Come and drive a Quarry Hunslet. Entry to museum is free, donations welcome.

 

Yes, sorry about that! We realised this morning that with 3 locos facing Swanage, the photo opportunities wouldn't have been quite so good, so span the M7 round so that when it passed 80104 on the freight at Harmans, and then 70000 at Corfe, everything was facing the right way.

 

No need for apologies Rumpole - it was a bonus for me. I wanted to get a shot of the M7 smokebox first on the brake van but would've been very touch-and-go to make it to work on time if I'd waited for its first down train. That spin on the turntable meant I could zip off 25 minutes earlier and drive a bit more sensibly to make it to my desk on time. Hope the weekend is fantastic for both those making it happen and those enjoying it as passengers.

 

Great day today with perfect weather and everything on time. Trains full, good timetable and well thought out combinations. The Brit obviously thought it was still on the main line with lots of noise on the climbs. Best Gala yet.

Don

 

Thanks Don; on behalf of the railway, your comments are very much appreciated. Glad you enjoyed it!

 

I'd like to second Don's comments - a most enjoyable day, with a great line up of locos and helped of course by the good weather. I must get down to Swanage more often. Being a shorter line than some and with two passing loops and now a second platform in use at Swanage it is possible to run a more intensive train service than some lines and there always seems to be some action wherever you are on the line. Well done to everyone at the railway for putting on a great show.

 

A very enjoyable day and well worth the long drive.

 

My video from various locations featuring 70000, 34070, 925, 31806, 80104, 30053:

 

I made a visit to the Swanage steam gala yesterday and was very impressed. The schedule demanded a very slick operation to keep to the busy timetable, including the running round and servicing of locos, but that is where the Swanage Railway excels.

As the weather was so good I decided to go lineside. Each time the crews spotted a gallery of photographers they waved out to us. It was obvious that they were thoroughly enjoying the day as well as us.

The railway has to be congratulated on the line up of locos as it included Britannia and Cheltenham as guests!! As for the combinations, 80104 + Britannia, 80104 + Cheltenham, 31806 + Cheltenham, the M7 + Cheltenham. The list goes on.

The timetable indicated that there were 19 passenger services in each direction but somehow the railway still managed to run 3 goods trains in each direction .... and the goods train looked superb.

I have nothing but praise for the railway but how can they possibly top it for next year?

Many thanks to the railway and volunteers. <BJ>.

 

As free2grice said the Gala was excellent. Despite the intense schedule the trains all ran to time. Well done to all concerned.

 

Oh deer, another case of trespassing at galas?