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Swanage Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Most railways are contaminated land unless it is relatively new track and formation, put in since the end of steam. With steam locomotives they have a 'once through' lubrication system. You put the oil in at the top and it comes out at the bottom.
     
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  2. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    With the historic operation of train lavatories, I'd imagine PW gangs (everywhere but the Isle of Wight) regarded oil as very much the lesser of two evils!
     
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  3. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Presumably in the hands of lawyers, who might drag out contract negotiations as long as possible?.
     
  4. Wenlock

    Wenlock Well-Known Member Friend

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    I seem to recall that being known as "total loss lubrication"
     
  5. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

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    something like the old JAP speedway bikes??
     
  6. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

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    leaf through your back issues of the SRN(I am away from home but do have them) circa 2016 when the SR track laying team were on the way to Worgret. I think that you will find some images of an access point to these sidings created by the SR. Surely if it is nearly six years ago some progress should have been made by now especially as its"currently clean"
     
  7. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Someone else mentioned delays may be due to the Dorset council restructuring which was in 2019, but should be in place now?
     
  8. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    People need to remember the dire financial straits most councils are in, some of their own making, some of central governments.
    Social care, roads (eg potholes) are going to be of far more interest to most voters and council tax payers then if the SR gets hold of the Furzebrook site.
    As an example in even medium intensity rain the road outside our house (the main road in from Corfe) floods and the footpath becomes totally unusable. In fact in heavy rain we have had buses and lorries actually throw up water over the path & garden that hits the lounge window (about 40 ft). I tackled a Dorset Council road guy who was marking up patch repairs who said they have no money in the budget to do anything about it.
    Dorset Council getting it in the neck again today over an autistic 19 year old from Swanage who has been sent to Dagenham as the nearest care option.
    People on here have suggested Dorset Council should fund the rail link to Wareham, sort out Furzebrook sidings, just where is all this money and council resource going to come from then, even before the financial pressures caused by the current energy situation creating inflationary pressures?
    I will stress I am no fan or supporter of our council.
     
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  9. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Don't think there is need for Council funding, but somehow the Council is involved with the transfer from Perenco to the SR.
    Did a Google search and found a paragraph about it from the local MP last year.
    https://www.richarddrax.com/news/diary-furzebrook-sidings-important-swanage-railway
    "Swanage Railway is still attempting to get their hands on the sidings at Furzebrook, which are owned by Perenco. I recall getting involved in this some time ago, so was a little surprised to hear it was still an on-going issue. The railway is taking this up with Dorset Council again, and I'm on hold to help further. The sidings are essential as a proper maintenance depot is needed, not least to protect the elderly carriages from the elements."
     
  10. ady

    ady Well-Known Member

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    I think questions I asked awhile have shown that this together with the 6-coach plan for Swanage Station (the two single points would need to replaced by a double slip) have been put on hold. Mostly due to the costs of the planned Wareham operation.
     
  11. 5914

    5914 New Member

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    I recall that one of the issues with Furzebrook was the present development consent which places conditions on the developer of the Wytch Farm oil field to reinstate all developed land to natural state after its use (since transferred from BP to Perenco). One issue is whether this obligation could be satisfactorily be discharged by handing over for an alternative development, or whether there would be a retained liability to return to nature at a later date (either at the end of the life of the oil field - which would have repercussions for continued use by SR - or if the site became surplus to the requirements of the railway (a situation that will hopefully never occur, but would need to be considered from a legal perspective).

    Given the very strict adherence to the conditions of returning to nature, there are also some issues of precedent.

    Ultimately, any decision (either way) might be challenged in the courts or lead to judicial review; as well as those who wish the obligation to return to nature to be set aside, there are many others who would not see this as a positive move from an environmental perspective and would wish to see the original consents and conditions enforced by the council. Unfortunately, there is an example of less than sympathetic use of an SSSI (dating back to the late 1990s) rather close to Furzebrook...
     
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  12. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

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    The message behind the appeal as i recall was that SR would be saving 20,000pounds per annum by using a local water source and this historic tank. Like most appeals it gave a sense of urgency and AFAIK sufficient funds were donated, The Tank itself came through a heritage organisation. The funds were asked for to get this piece of heritage equipment into the SR Fabric.I do not think for one minute that this has anything to do with Project Wareham. Its a LSWR water tank and far more of a heritage item than the current(functional I will admit) ex Barry Docks water tank which,again,AFAIK has no connection with LSWR or Southern Railway
     
  13. ady

    ady Well-Known Member

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    Your not the only one who wanted to see the tank in use, it was a plan back when I was a TTI.

    however while the tank may been refurbished the ground works hasn't even started. That does require money which has gone else where.

    I think already gone there as part of my disagreement of starting the plan to restore the T3 now, there other projects like the water tower, the N's overhaul, etc which are outstanding which should been finished first before starting the next one.
     
  14. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

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    If the local MP is surprised that this is an ongoing issue,says it has been for "some time" and gives the correct reasons for why we need those sidings then surely enough pressure is not being brought to bear/.
    Have all the clay workings in the vicinity been returned to their "natural state". Old Collieries and slag heaps have not been returned to their "natural states" . They have become Country Parks or worse Industrial Parks I would imagine historians would have a difficult time reconciling the present with the original environment. I say this having walked the Country Park formerly a colliery close to the SVR. The slag is still there if one looks!!
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2022
  15. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

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    Thank you. The bottom line is,if these appeals are made and donors are given the impression that the projects will be carried out sooner rather than later then don't change horses midstream as the saying goes. I have donated to the T3 project as well(wbin for coaching stock to go with it!!)
     
  16. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Is much known about the history of the site, both during and before the present installation? As well as any possible issues associated with contaminants, the candle-lit end of English law contains some weird and wonderful provisions concerning obscure rights and responsibilities, related to seemingly obsolete classifications (commoners' rights, drovers rights etc.).
     
  17. 007

    007 Member

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    Wholeheartedly disagree with you.

    The ground work for the tank has been started and there is a rather large concrete pad in place for it. The tank, also refurbished. I think when it came down to it, the Water tower project is really something which is going to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, for a £20k Saving. The project is also far far more complex than any one would of imagined and money for it was used then ran out, with hundreds of thousands still needed to reach its conclusion.
    I want the LSWR tank to be finished and working, but it outstripped the railway at the time and it was rightly mothballed. It couldn't be allowed to stall the rest of the railway whilst its complexities and black hole of money were filled.

    There are literally dozens of projects on going at the railway at any one time. From the T3 to Heritage Coaches. From Signalling to crane refurbishment. Company project and Trust Projects. To say we should just halt them and concentrate on one at a time is pie in the sky.

    The T3 for example is run by a TOTALLY different group of people to the water tower project and that is the key to progress on any railway. The T3 group has largely focused totally on fundraising, and this is why it's progressing. It's not waiting for its money to run out, it works tirelessly to plug its financial holes. We must be progressing on many fronts, yet accepting that sometimes, things will be out of reach....for now!
     
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  18. ady

    ady Well-Known Member

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    If it cost so much compared to the bloody savings, what was the point starting it then. The whole 6 coach plan had been dependant on that so I'm guessing that's a non-starter now even though during my time there the traffic department really wanted 6 for the Peak season.

    My main point thought mostly is that there still projects on going. T3 has taken what cash there was available from supporters that might have gone in to these instead and now kept waiting for something that's only going used occasionally.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2022
  19. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

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    ok 007 i read and understand what you say BUT why is this information not passed on to those who -in good faith,contributed to this and other projects?? ,and on another note has the work on the Herston Carriage sidings commenced' it was forecast for January. BTW i am not a Johnny-come-lately,have been involved since about 1976 albeit from a very long distance.
     
  20. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

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    btw 007 i think your post serves a dual purpose
    First. Can we ask the generators of appeals to be very sure of their projects and costings before going public
    Second Can we ask for more transparency for those who have contributed and then find themselves left in the dark
    personally,much as I love and support the SR I am going to exercise a lot of caution before answering appeals that are not perfectly clear and finite.
     

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