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Swanage Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Rumpole, Oct 10, 2012.

  1. Mogul

    Mogul Member

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    No Problem. When something in this world looks like an odd decision, it's mostly because the sideline observer isn't aware of all the complexities involved. Where Heritage Railways in general are concerned the 'mostly' word can be down graded to 'often' or 'sometimes' depending on your railway. So always worth asking the question. The Heritage Railway movement does seem to be prone to odd looking decisions.
     
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  2. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    I see the rumours have been confirmed, and 31874s boiler is due to be used on 31806.

    Unfortunate but seems a sensible solution in the present circumstances. The Swanage Railway get a much needed loco back in traffic as soon as possible.

    There seems to be an 18 month estimate for getting 31874 back in traffic with 31806s boiler.
     
  3. Mogul

    Mogul Member

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    Which coincidentally was the same estimate for 31874 boiler back in 2014 :Banghead:.

    I hope a more reliable supplier can be found this time.
     
  4. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    I would also think from a paying passenger perspective (after all the most important people) a steam hauled trip in both directions is what they would be expecting. So whilst a Class 33 may provide more reliable (or maybe too much heat) I would wager the punters regard the current arrangement as meeting what they had booked, a stem hauled lights train.
    I have only been to the Northbrook Road Bridge once since the services started and never again as it seems such a local attraction it was heaving with people, and a friend sent me an image from one night where Gilbert Road looked like Notting Hill on Bank Holiday Monday. My Dad lives in Gilbert Road and said he counted 18 people opposite his window standing there in a rain last night for the 1715 departure. I content myself with standing in splendid isolation in the park enjoying the sound of the U and vainly hoping the video is half worthwhile and I may get one usable still shot from about 10 on an SLR that does not rate higher than 1600 ISO. Or on really wet nights I just film from the bedroom window.
     
  5. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

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    I wonder how Covid safe the Directors think the lights trains are. Sanitiser was difficult to find. Having someone singing on Swanage station without a mask and without social distancing was not a good example. To allow Corfe Station to be open to the general public who crowded the platform is not what should be allowed right now. Two young children chasing the lights of the glitter ball on Corfe Station until they were giddy enough to fall anywhere with a train soon due not the safety standards one would hope to see. Come on Swanage you can do better than that. The light trains are spectacular - do not spoil them.
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2020
  6. Mogul

    Mogul Member

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    If you concern is genuinely about the safe operation of the railway and you have spotted something you think needs attention then dont you think that emailing someone best placed to deal with it like passenger services dpt would be the better way to go than posting on an internet forum?

    If you are just interested in grinding the axe you seem to hold for the railway both on this thread and the mining museum or easing the chip on your shoulder then you are absolutely going the right way about it. Quite a few of your posts are overwhelmingly negative. Perhaps you would like to PM me and tell me what the railway has done to upset you so? Otherwise feel free to carry on but don't expect myself or others to engage with you.
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2020
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  7. 007

    007 Member

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    I was on the train of lights last night as a passenger.
    The hand sanitizer was at the entrance to the station, in the toilets, on the platform and in the shop...suggest you are talking nonsense here.
    Corfe Station is open partly because it is a byway, opening it up means you can track and trace, which they were doing.
    The parents are responsible for managing their children not the railway.

    The entertainer on the platform was wearing a mask when I saw him and he was doing a great job.
    Working on the railway as a long time volunteer, I am always looking at the railway through a critical set of eyes, but my wife and I and our 2 year old throughly enjoyed the evening.
     
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  8. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

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    Theres always a killjoy somewhere regardless of the situation, a mister Grumpy of the mister men books. Keep it up Swanage Railway your doing a Grand Job love everything about it :):):)
     
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  9. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Last evening (in the pouring rain) I assume because there had appeared to be a "test run" about 1630 out to I suspect Herston, the 1715 lights train departed without any drain cock steam. Tonight as it was not raining, (although it started just after departure), so lots of drain cock steam of course, but I did manage this one which gives a strange effect that I quite like. IMG_5485.JPG
     
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  10. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

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    The lighting does give off some interesting effects. Watched it at Afflington today in the wind and rain with about 50 other people.
     
  11. Andy Moody

    Andy Moody Member

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    No it is a shunt move past the engine shed to allow the second loco to come of shed/up sidings to attach to the rear of the train for topping and tailing.
     
  12. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    I know it normally does this Andy, but I can normally only see the steam not the stock across the park from our house. I thought 257 was on the back and they went out quickly (enough to make me check if the timing had changed from 1715) and were gone about 5 minutes. Came back with only the coach interior lights on, but went out with the Christmas lights on.
    I also see that the post Christmas daytime services have had to be cancelled due to the new tier restrictions impacting volunteer availability.
     
  13. jon5051

    jon5051 Member

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    Just a quick post to say we had our first post-COVID dining train experience on Wednesday, at Swanage. It was very well organised, the food was excellent and the staff/volunteers incredibly helpful and welcoming. Thanks & well done to all!
     
  14. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Storm Bella dumped rain on Swanage most of the night (as well as in our office as Covid stopped us getting the leak fixed this summer). By tonight totally still luckily.
    Kings George's Field was still partially flooded, so an attempt an some reflection shots. They are not that sharp but thought I would share a couple.
    Still it was worth it just to hear the departure which was shall we say "energetic"
    IMG_5504ps.jpg IMG_5506ps.jpg IMG_5513ps.jpg
     
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  15. Mogul

    Mogul Member

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    It seems the remaining services have fallen victim to the increasingly bad Coronavirus news. The train of lights for tonight and tomorrow night (30th and 31st) have been canceled as well as all the ordinary daytime services.

    The 2020 service has therefore finished as it started, unexpectedly.:(

    It looks like it was just to risky to keep gathering crews and passengers together.

    It does make me wonder given the current virus trend whether February Half term week operations will be possible? It's a further hit to revenue that makes hitting the SOS appeal target all the more necessary.
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2020
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  16. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Here are some from what has turned out to be the final two evenings of operation. Monday from King George's Field and last night two heading across Corfe Common. I had looked at Harmans Cross but there must have already been 30 people on the bridge and more walking towards it. So I stood on my own next to the Valley Road. IMG_5525.JPG IMG_5533.JPG IMG_5534.JPG
     
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  17. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

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    Last edited: Jan 5, 2021
  18. Mogul

    Mogul Member

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    Nothing on the website News or Announcements pages but looking at the public timetable page on the website today (https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/calendar) all the normal services before the 27th March has been removed. This includes Half Term week in February. I can only assume its caused by the raising of the Covid alert status. It seems Covid continues to bite in to revenue earning services in to Spring 2021.
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2021
  19. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Seems reasonable to me, even if the Government hit 2 million a week (unlikely) 15 weeks for 30 million over 50's is April 19, (plus they admit a few weeks to get up to speed) and of course the 12 weeks will be up before that arrives for those early folks vaccinated, pushing things back further. I think Easter may be optimistic, and personally for me I will only change my current avoiding people habit when I have had the second dose.
     
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  20. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

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    Dont mention that word "dose" takes me back to the hippy era of the late 60s, free love and all that, in my case and a few others too much of it. :oops:
     
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