SWANAGE RAILWAY - 7802 "Bradley Manor"

As many will know, through the assistance of both the Severn Valley Railway and Erlestoke Manor Fund, ex-Great Western Railway loco No. 7802 "Bradley Manor" is visiting the Swanage Railway.
After SR's Grand Steam Gala (10th-12th September) it is proposed to use 7802 "Bradley Manor" on regular services for the following three days.
Subject to the usual disclaimers of availability, etc. you should be able to travel behind the Manor on 13th, 14th and 15th Sept. at normal fares.
Departures from Norden Park & Ride Station - follow the Brown tourist signs on the A351 (Cars are £2.00 for all day parking):
10:30; 11:50; 13:10; 14:30; 15:50; 17:10.
Departures from Swanage Station (right in the middle of town):
09:50; 11:10; 12:30; 13:50; 15:10; 16:30.
I guess the use of 6695 and 7802 during the Gala, and 7802's use during the following three days on normal services, is the Swanage Railway's contribution to GWR175 celebrations.
Presumably Inter-Region rivalries, between SR and GWR, have been reduced to 'DeathCon2' for these five days [6695 doesn't count as it's a resident!].

 

I've heard its to do with a swap for Manston as the Seven Valley want to bring it to their Gala later in the month.

 

Does an outside cylinder GWR 4-6-0 'fit' the Swanage Railway? Presumably someone has checked. Has anything similar visited before?

John

 

First time for an outside-cylinder GWR loco, I understand.

 

I'm sure it'll look nice parked in a siding if it doesn't fit! Mind you, most of the Bulleids on the line will probably be on walkabout at that time, though as its a small incursion, I'd say it would be DEFCON 4: lock the station buildings and repel GWR-inspired door to door Brasso salesmen with high-grade motor oil from the sump of the nearest unrebuilt Bulleid...

 

Western engines (mainly Halls and Granges) are no strangers to the area having at one time worked Southern local trains between Bournemouth and Weymouth as part of a Banbury-Basingstoke-Bournemouth-Weymouth-Swindon-Banbury turn. But did they ever go to Swanage ?

 

As long as it doesn't breed with the green monster known to outsiders as "6695"...

 

Could be the track was relaid with GWR clearences in mind, it's in a preserved railways interest to be as 'gauge friendly' as possible when the line wasn't under BR ownership, woulden't want to be in the situation of a motive power shortage and only a GWR outside cylinder design that doesn't fit is availible.

 

just give the crew a couple of sledgehammers and a crowbar, they'll get through ;-)

 

Nah, don't worry... outside cylinders eat coping slabs (just don't stand too close first trip). Mind you, Turbo's had a similar problem when first introduced to the GW areas. That time the coping slabs ate the aluminium step!

 

lol :clap2:

 

The answer is a guaging run. Walk the loco through anywhere where clearance might be an issue. Even the SVR had to do this with its GW summer visitor, 3802, which was found to be very "tight" through a Bewdley platform road for instance, so has speed restrictions, and apparently must not be turned during its visit. Clearances change over time, so sensible to check. ( no more so than on Network Rail I suppose....)

46118

 

How do you know they haven't already 'got together' when 6695 was at SVR?!?!?!?!?! LOL

 

I do recall a main line trip with Bradley, where she munched the end of the platform at Dawlish