The Purbeck Growler - 26th September 2009

Spitfire Railtours are proposing to run a railtour to Swanage.
Double headed WCRC 37s starting at Crewe (around 0605), Stafford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham New Street, Leamington Spa and Banbury.
Setting down at Winchester, Bournemouth and Swanage (around 1315). Likely homeward departure around 1615.
Fares are First £79.50 and Standard £59.50. [£10 off if you book at least 4 weeks in advance].

Look forward to seeing you =D> \/

 

I'd seriously consider booking that if it happens.

 

Well, Spitfire actually had the common sense to contact the Swanage Railway first before promoting anything so, I suspect, it's got quite a good chance of running =D>
We'll be changing our scheduled timetable that day to cope with it. I suspect we'll have to do what we did when Tangmere came to us last month in that one of our 33's will haul the ECS from Swanage Station, so we can resume normal services, until we return it to Swanage in time for the return leg with the two 37s (on the Crewe end this time).

I presume you quite like 37s :-k

 

Well...if it didn't run, there were a pair of 37s doing a very good impression of it yesterday.

Here's the tour passing through Norden:



and, later, the 37s stabled in Swanage yard alongside 80104, Manston and 53:



I just missed catching the return in Bournemouth as our bus (X50 Swanage - Bournemouth station) arrived slightly late - I heard them growling by when I was 100 yards short of Beeches Road bridge.

Still, a great day out. Our thanks to everyone on the SR who made the experience so pleasant and easygoing. Although It's only my second visit to the line, I'm a member already , which says something, I hope!