The Swanage Belle - Sat 3/7/10

Still no confirmed news as to timings or locos so we can't publish an amended timetable for our passengers.

 

It's getting near again and no news. Latest Railway Herald suggests that 46115 will be working outward leg but even they are unsure. Looks like it's NR timings system delaying everything at the moment as the CE with 5029 for Thursday still doesn't have any.

 

With the continuing NR special trains timetabling problems I do feel for David, on uksteam.info, having to do rushed, last minute inputting so that we can all get the information he so ably provides.
Also pity our timetable planners/ops staff at Swanage.
A) Lack of NR timings at Wareham and Motala (boundary point) means the necessary rostered conducting/operational staff [upwards of 5 depending on circumstances] can't yet be told when they are needed in their respective locations;
B) Only after receiving those basic NR times can paths to/from Swanage [plus the two ECS legs] be calculated and the decimation (!) to our scheduled 40 minute interval services minimised; and
C) Will it be separate locos on out & return legs or "do a Tornado" and tow the incoming loco [with train] back out to Southampton so that it can resume it's homeward journey via Redbridge, Romsey and Andover.? Our Ops Dept need to know how many locos are being used to plan coaling/watering arrangements on the restricted site at Swanage.
It's great having visiting railtours but the amount of 'backroom' work for our line is quite extensive. Also, the disruption to our core business [holidaymakers, families, etc], caused by these last minute timetable changes, should not be underestimated.

 

David does a superb job and at the moment it must be a nightmare for him as it must be for The Swanage Railway volunteers. I must say you handled the last Swanage Belle well even though we were very late!

 

The "planners" at Swanage are privy to the Special Train Requistion Notice submitted by WCR to NR. That request the charter trains to Swanage on 3rd and 9th July run to the same arrangements and even timings as the Tornado job on 16th June.
Steam to Swanage, with Diesel on back. Return is Diesel hauled, steam on rear, to Southampton. Reverse and Steam back to London.
I am sorry nobody told you this, Peter.

 

From one of the email gen groups

 

So there you go.
Enthusiast forums ALWAYS have the answers.

 

No need for apologies. From my reading of your comments I understand that NR have been asked to agree to WCRC proposed times [as usual] and the Swanage "planners" are copied in to this requisition. I wouldn't expect any less in reality.
What I can't read in your post is that NR have already accepted these timings 100% and have told us [and others as necessary] - so that our "planners" can go ahead in the knowledge that times will NOT be different from those proposed by WCRC. Having spoken with the "planners" earlier this afternoon they are still awaiting that notification.

The 'problems' NR are experiencing, with their new Special Trains computer software, are in the public domain. It's not just Swanage Railway, of course, that are having problems by not receiving the normal advance notification of official timings. Tour Operators must be having metaphorical kittens, on occasions, when mailing timings [with their passengers' tickets] at the last moment.
I'm sure it will get sorted - just hope it's sooner rather than later.

 

Peter

I would be grateful if you left this discussion to WCR, NR and Swanage Rly managers. Spending your time musing on what may or may not be the correct timing does our customers, the charterers no favours, as every time they or their passengers see something new, they start ringing them up, which, creates chaos and confusion. There are problems with NR's new ITPS but going on about it doesn't help.

May I therefore politely ask that you desist from speaking as though you represent Swanage Rly, on these matters - if you are required to know about timings, I'm sure Swanage Rly will inform you.

James Shuttleworth
WCR

 

Peter,

It has been mentioned elsewhere that for 9th July, (43 years to the day that SR steam ended), it would be nice for the Swanage Railway to try and get a Bulleid in steam when 30777 brings the special down, (via whatever timings and routing is eventually decided!).

Is that something you could mention to your Swanage colleagues? Or maybe they are already up to speed on it

 

There's always that nice Welsh tank engine (6695)!

 

James,

May I politely ask if you formally represent all of the bodies you mention: WCR, NR , the charterers and Swanage Railway?

Or are you speaking on the behalf of some of them without their full and properly delegated authority?

If not can I politely ask that you be kind enough to yourself follow the advice you have given Peter, ie desist from representing bodies that have not given you the authority to speak on their behalf here.

With Kind Regards,

Bryan

 

I think you are perhaps a little mis-informed - I have PM'd you, on this.

JS

 

Doubtful, 80104 seems to be the rostered locomotive according to the Swanage website. Pity as i will be making my first trip down there in 6 years and as much as i like Standard tanks i would have preferred 34028 or 34070 running. :frown:

 

There is a bit of confusion here understandably. This thread is about the 3rd July trip whereas KentYeti is talking about 9th July I think. The roster on the Swanage website shows 80104 working till 4th so maybe something else will get steamed next week, hopefully not the GWR tank engine or KentYeti will have an allergic reaction!

 

I was seriously thinking to buy a ticket on this trip.
Unfortunately my wife didnt like the idea of a day trip to Swanage that only gives 2 hours off the train.
I was disuaded by the uncertainty of the engine, the times.
Now we have a contest about who's more important than who.

Thank goodness I'm not traveling on this trip on saturday.

I'll just stick to taking a photograph of the train departing and take my wife on a day trip to Brighton which gives a few more hours in the town and is much cheaper instead.

 

Ah yes so he is, I think i may be right in saying Swanage often change the service locomotives on Mondays unless the locomotive is being used longer. 34070 was swapped with 80104 for this week and i am hoping that either 34028 or 34070 come out too play for this monday coming as that will be my final day there, but i doubt i will be that lucky!

 

No, I doubt I am misinformed James. I think we both know the rights and wrongs of communication.

But lets put that to one side.

I think a PM to Peter from you may have been the best way forward, rather than that public posting on here.

Is that the best way to handle things like this in the future?

If so then we can all learn just a little from this, and sit back and wait for the official details for what could be a very good trip!

 

Does anyone know why 30777 is no longer going from Swanage on the 3rd?

It's been crossed out and is now 30777 from Southampton.

No Bulleids running, now Lamiel isn't going through, luck certainly isn't on my side! :frown:

 

Assuming this routing is correct, the engine will be on the back of the train from Swanage to Southampton where the train reverses. This seems to be the current practice when the same engine is working a London-Swanage train in both directions, as it saves a lot of time by cutting out a light engine turning move Swanage to Eastleigh and back. I don't suppose pathing a tender first train from Swanage to Southampton would be possible. I don't think there is really any practical aternative until SR get a large turntable (ex Old Oak ?), unless of course a different engine is used for the return service. Incidentally I have no firm news of what is hauling this train, could be 30777, 44932 (maybe) or 46115 ??? We''ll have to wait and see what turns up - just like in the old days !