Swanage Railway General Discussion

I spent an enjoyable day at the Swanage Railway yesterday. 34028 Eddystone was in action hauling five very smart green mk.1s. The trains were fairly busy, it was half term and the youngsters were travelling for a fiver. Whenever I visit the railway the day sends me back to my youth when the family would visit Hampshire in the late 50s/early 60s. The Swanage Railway is such a special place for me.

My next visit will be for the Victorian weekend in March. I can't wait to see SECR no.65 and the T3 in action. Well done to all staff and volunteers - you're doing a fantastic job. <BJ>

 

Great post. There is also the extra wear and tear in infrastructure with loco hauled stock

 

If one of the Beattie well tanks could be borrowed too they would make a nice ensemble. About he only thing that could give you a reservation about the LSWR brake 3rd
is that there is not another coach to match it in full fig - salmon and umber glistening with varnish - and that could also be reasonably borrowed for an outing; (I assume that the one in the NRM could not wisely. it may not be weather proof - like the NER/LNER dynometer car when it got caught in the rain.}

Have either of those 2-4-0 WTs been painted in LSWR green since preservation? And if so treated to an Adams chimney?

 

There is something to see in the goods shed. You might argue wether there is a better romantic ruin with a legend than Corfe Castle but the way it seems from around is beyond stage management or special effects.

 

The NRM coach looks good, but I believe is structurally in quite poor condition so using it operationally isn’t going to happen without a lot of work.

There is one other LSWR coach that could be used though.

http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=305

 

I don’t think either of the Well Tanks is currently operational.

1520 is a lovely carriage, but the capacity is surprisingly low, since half the length of the vehicle is actually a luggage van (the reason I suspect that it survived, since its first preservation role was as a mainline support coach; and then later as a carrier for a mobile fire pump). Its restoration was a huge undertaking, initially taking place outside before moving into the carriage works for the final few years.

Nominally it is 38 seats but I think that is based on 10 to a compartment (with two missing to allow access to the toilet doors). I’d suggest about 25 is more realistic in heritage use.

Tom

 

Restoring it would inevitably destroy a lot of the original fabric of the carriage (literally in the case of the moquette).

I think if the Swanage Railway wants to run LSWR carriages, it should look within itself, not assume that someone else will do the job for them. Relative to the SECR and LBSCR, the LSWR is quite poorly served for operational carriages in preservation, though there are many extant bodies. (By contrast in my view the LSWR has the best collection of surviving locomotives of any pre-grouping company when you consider the range through any of numbers, eras, types or designers).

Tom

 

I don’t think the Swanage Railway is assuming someone else will do the job. It’s just people on here saying wouldn’t it be nice if they could borrow 1520 etc.

The Swanage Heritage coach group does has a number of LSWR coaches, mostly grounded bodies but also an Ironclad. I believe there is an intention to restore them at some point , but Maunsells and Bulleids seem to be the focus of attention at the moment.

 

Not in operational service but I recall the NRM beastie was in green during its time based in the goods shed at Buckfastleigh.

 

The rebuilding in the 1930's did alter their appearance somewhat - they lost the wooden leading buffer beam in favour of steel. The front of the frames and the cylinders were also replaced - whether there is any noticeable difference I don't know.
I believe that 0314 (30585 if you like) still carried a Beattie feed pump into the 1930's. Taking a loco 'back in time' is not that easy. It's the detail that catches you out. E.g.: flush rivets (not snaphead); LSWR lamp brackets; LSWR pattern lamps and discs; lubricators (possibly).
Pat

 

After the unexpected appearance, to me and I expect the railway, of 33111 on the first service, the T3 was in use.
Luckily Mr Tesco arrived early in the 1 hour slot to allow me to see the 11:20 at New Barn.
By the time the 15:20 was running it was quite dull at New Barn and Corfe Viaduct.

 

I've seen countless photos of the T3 since it was launched and as much as I appreciate the livery, none has taken my eye like these. The first for the lighting and the angle, but especially the third for the context - the idea of driving along that road and the T3 steaming along on the embankment above you. I really think sometimes railway photography neglects shots that show that kind of context but I love it.

 

What would set it off would be a couple of ironclads behind the engine, and an vintage MG parked up by the gate,

 

I'm just pleased to see it without the observation car. [BJ]

 

Thanks for the comments.
I must admit at first I was somewhat disappointed as just before the train arrived there were no cars or people. But looking back at it again I do quite like it for the very reasons you have mentioned. A slightly earlier shot approaching the viaduct was ruined by a high sided delivery truck.

 

With all the recent chat on a couple of other threads about brake vans, just seen the interesting consist of what seemed to be one of the Maunsell coaches and 3 brake vans leave Swanage behind Jenny Lewis.

 

see that 33111 is managing the passenger service this morning

 

D6515 also out. What is going on?

 

563 is having a few teething problems today, it is hoped that it should be rectified by end of play today.

 

D6515 is making departmental movements to prepare for the weekend