Swanage Diesel Gala - 12 to 14 May 2023

50021 was announced last Sunday on the railway's Facebook page, subject to completion of repairs. If these aren't completed in time, 50026 will substitute.

 

Seen on the WNXX Forum posted by one of the gala organisers .....
Timetable with allocations now available to download here: https://tinyurl.com/mv68hdv5

 

Beer Festival Beer/Cider 'menu' posted yesterday on: https://www.facebook.com/swanagerailway
The Beer Festival is organised by Purbeck Kitchens and features 31 real ales and 5 ciders.
The marquee will be located in its usual spot at Corfe Castle Goods Yard adjacent to the Goods Shed.
There will also be Hot food on sale.
Live acoustic music is scheduled for both Friday & Saturday evenings as well as Sunday afternoon.
Regarding the Diesel Gala -
This GBRf movement from Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf on 10th May: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H36646/2023-05-10/detailed brings two Class 73/1 electro-diesels to Swanage where they'll stay for the Gala leaving with D6515 top & tailing the LU 4TC on Sunday afternoon.
After a break, this GBRf movement takes D6515 to Eastleigh ready for the following day's rail tour [D6515 + LU 4TC] which ultimately arrives at Swanage: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U55285/2023-05-10/detailed

 

The menu

 

Over the years the Swanage Youth Group (Sygnets) have grown from humble beginnings and over the last few years their success is evident with the number of youngsters that can be seen in different departments around the railway. With this in mind and to help the continued funding of our Sygnets we have produced a limited number of gala mugs and pint glasses to be sold over the gala.
The mugs will be available from the shop on Swanage station and from the Sygnets stall on Corfe Castle platform. The pint glasses will be available from the beer festival at Corfe station.

The mugs are priced at £6 and the glasses at £5.

All profits raised will go directly to the Sygnets for their future development and training. Your support is gratefully appreciated.

 

I understand both tours now cancelled as the paperwork does not allow the LU set to carry pax, so will be an ECS move only.

 

Confirmed on the branchline page but not the SR gala page
https://www.branchline.uk/fixture.php

No doubt the London Underground museum will want to get the paperwork for the 4TC sorted for Metroland and other railtours

 

It is now!
“Jurassic Crompton” and “The Return of the Jurassic Crompton” railtours

Unfortunately, the Branch Line Society has found it necessary to cancel these railtours that were scheduled to run to and from our Diesel Gala. Please contact the Branch Line Society directly if this affects you, although you should have already received communication from them if you were booked on either or both of the railtours.
Despite this unfortunate news, we are able to confirm that the London Underground 4TC Unit and GB Railfreight Class 73s will still be attending the Diesel Gala."

 

All the various Diesel Gala loco moves appear to be as follows -

Tuesday 9th May 2023
40145 to work light engine as 0Z40 - 11:02 Carnforth Steamtown to Castleton Hopwood Ground Frame: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...9/detailed This has now happened of course.

Wednesday 10th May 2023
40145 collects 45108 and then works as 0Z41 – 08:27 Castleton Hopwood Gf to Eastleigh Arlington (ZG): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...0/detailed

Two GBRF Class 73's to work light engine(s) 0Y68 – 09:39 Tonbridge West Yard GBRf to Swanage:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...0/detailed GBRf have confirmed scheduled attendance of 73107 and 73201 apparently.

D6515 (33012) to work light engine 0Z12 - 17:50 to Eastleigh Arlington (ZG): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...0/detailed

40145 + 45108 + 50026 to work 0Z42 - 18:48 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to Swanage
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...0/detailed (The owners of Class 50 50021 “Rodney” - despite their best efforts, which saw the loco move under its own power for the first time in 23 years on Sunday [7th], due to an axle problem that could not be rectified in time it will not be able to attend the Diesel Gala and Beer Festival. It will therefore be replaced by 50026 “Indomitable”.)

Freightliner's 47830 should work 4Z47 - 09:36 Crewe Basford Hall S.S.M. to Southall WCR: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...0/detailed
followed by 4Z47 - 14:54 Southall WCR to Southampton MCT: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...0/detailed
47830 should then move 'light engine' to Swanage on Thursday at some stage.

Thursday 11th May 2023
D6515 (33012) hauls LU 4-TC unit as 5Z33 – 10:50 Eastleigh Arlington (ZG) to Eastleigh:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...1/detailed and then runs round the unit to form
the 5Z34 – 11:12 Eastleigh to Swanage: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...1/detailed

 

To add to the above with regards to the Gala mugs. To those who are kind enough to purchase a mug this will now (as in previous diesel galas) entitle you to free tea coffee from Norden Nest buffet and Corfe Castle Birds Nest (located next to the Beer Fest).
Thank you for your support of our youth group

 

0Z42 this evening.

Cheers, Neil

 

40145 hauling 50021 + 50026 + 45108 duly arrived on Swanage metals apparently all OK.
"0Z42" was duly illuminated in the 40's destination box.
Locos now stabled in Swanage sidings awaiting the weekend's action.

 

I must say that "Rodney" (or Dave as some called it on a different forum) does look rather good from the lounge window parked across the park, even though I am not a great fan of Class 50's.

 

Any feedback (good bad or indifferent) with regards to the gala will be gratefully received and used in our gala committee debrief.
If you have any comments please PM.
Thanks in advance

 

Lots of happy smiling faces at Corfe, enjoying the trains, the beer and the sun yesterday

 

There were also many happy, perhaps alcohol fueled, faces when the 21:50 from Norden arrived at Swanage last night. Many also seemed to be rushing towards the facilities on the platform so I guess not too many of the on train toilets were open.
The coach with no lights reminded me of a number of railtours I have stewarded on.

 

I’ve had that feeling several times with stock that’s come from a certain TOC, try doing York to BNS with no heat, light or toilets, really is no fun.

 

Given that my wife has a broken arm and I had inadvertently booked a social services visit for my a father on the Friday, I did not really expect to get out much at all. In the end managed a couple of hours each day, although late running and a loco failure on Saturday, and camera user incompetence on Sunday made things more even challenging.
I must admit all this arm waiving diesel fans do seems lost on me.
A few images for those that are interested
D8568 on preview day
47830 at Herston on Friday
33111 working in push mode on Friday
50021 at Furzebrook on Saturday
45108 at Cats Eye Bridge on Saturday
D345 and 34028 on shed Saturday
D345 at Coombe Bottom on Saturday
45108 at Holme Lane on Sunday
50026 at Coombe Bottom on Sunday
D8568 at Coombe Bottom on Sunday

 

The "final act" of the gala was the return convoy this morning seen passing the Castle at Corfe on a glorious sunny but cool morning.