Swanage Railway General Discussion

At the risk of repetition three images from today, although the Herston one is the only one that was planned. The others I just happened to arrive in the station area as the loco was about to depart.

 

Phbt?

 

Person hit by train, I guess a suicide.

 

Ok. Very sad

 

As I happened to be nearby yesterday and saw the U boat in steam on the webcam, I popped over to Swanage for a few hours in the afternoon to photograph it. I'm not sure what's running the feeder service alongside 563 next weekend, but I suspect it will be a Bulleid to cater for what I'm sure will be large numbers wanting to see the T3; for those photographing next week, a big yellow container has appeared by the line on the Corfe side of Townsend bridge (not sure when, but wasn't there during my last visit back in January.)

 

That is the track gangs mobile hut. Moved there from Afflington on Monday or Tuesday from memory.

 

Really hopping 8th and the rest of the running days are very successful money making.
Be interesting to see just how full the T3 trains are as I'm sure it will be enthusiasts and not family's visits considering its only Swanage you can get on and its £30.

We are expecting the T3 to be able to pull 5 coaches up the 1 in 80, thus, next year being on normal service trains? I know the M7 could but that must have been under alot more strain than when the U or 4MT does it

 

Not necessarily. It was the U today according to the Swanage webcam. 31806 is more than able to handle a well loaded five-coach train, so there's no reason to swap it for a Bulleid next weekend. I have photographed the less powerful M7 and T9 handling-five coach trains with no problems and I think I'm right in saying this is the longest train which can be handled at Swanage without a diesel T&T. It's easy to underestimate the moguls, perhaps based on pictures of their working two- or three-coach trains between Reading and Redhill in the 1960s. Let's remember, they were also perfectly capable of working the much longer inter-regional trains which ran over this steeply-graded line.

 

Wasn't one of the reasons moving the T9 to Swanage from the MHR was the T9 struggled on the MHR inclines?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSWR_T9_class
Hopefully soon the fundraising will start soon to get the T9 being restored and 563 can use the engine shed for protection from the weather?
Presume M7 will return in 50s BR black so will not be affected by keeping it not under cover?

 

Normally the the T9 seems to have had no issues although it does hold the "records" for my worst ever non stop Swanage to HX, and Corfe to Afflington Bridge times. I have also seen it stall just beyond Quarr Farm and need rear assistance.

 

How does the colour of the paint effect it’s ability to protect the underlying loco from the weather?

Tom

 

Guess the dull black paintwork of the M7 53 will be easier to maintain outside, compared to the light green paintwork of 563?.

Found a picture of 41001 prototype power car at the 2014 Swanage Diesel gala. Still holds the record as the World's fastest diesel loco. Sadly the 125 group and NRM had a fallout over 41001.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/68367056@N05/13967482830/
Hopefully will not be another 9 years till a HST visits Swanage again.

 

Hello, If you have a word with the bosses of FGW and Scotrail and see if they can arrange a visit for one of their sets,a day out from Penzance to Swanage or say Inverness to Swanage im sure would be most appealing.

 

Possible Locomotive Services Limited and the 125 group might also run HST railtours in future? Not to take the place of steam railtours, but the double ended cabs of the HST, Hastings Thumpers and the hopefully soon to run Brighton Belle will be easier to run where stations like Swanage which have space restrictions.

 

In the days when it was First Great Western they did run a special from Cardiff to Edinburgh for a rugby match with an HST

 

Yes I never thought of those,the LSL set would look rather nice passing through Corfe and then arriving in Swanage.

 

It can only be the U or Eddystone as I believe Manston is off to the Bluebell next week at some point.

 

Yes I had a run with a Mogul on an Inter Regional train with 10 on and it kept time easily with a 72 mph max. 31806 does as well as the Bulleids on the Swanage line.

 

It might look nice, but the normal LSL "Blue Pullman" set up involves two power cars and nine Mk III coaches [equivalent to around 13 or 14 Mk Is I think]. This is far too long for Swanage signalling and would block the entire station from moving anything else. OK for when no other trains are scheduled, I suppose, but that would limit travel opportunities to off season dates. Incidentally, has the "Blue Pullman" HST visited the bigger station at Weymouth? I have a feeling it might be too long to call there.

Incidentally, the recent "Farewell to XC HST" had just over 5 Mk III coaches in the platform at Swanage. Selective door unlocking was used on the first 5 coaches but the other (Wareham-end) three coaches remained locked with passengers having to walk through.