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Swanage Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Morris_mad

    Morris_mad New Member

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    You could probably add quite a number of projects to that list which might effect the order priorities, such as a proper station building at Norden, for example.

    While negotiations are ongoing with Perenco regarding the sidings there isn’t a lot that can be progressed with these. The negotiations have been going on for many a year and I do wonder if the railway wouldn’t be better off cutting its’ losses and developing plans for a running shed, carriage works and so on at other sites around the railway (or possibly offsite if needed).

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2022
  2. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    The London Swanage 2019 Sunday special using the LU 4TC and 73s was OK on the mainline at speed.

    Wonder if there will be further shunting to add the blue grey carriage in the sidings to the other carriages in the platform, to form a near compete 3TC unit for a photo with the 33, before they all go back to sidings?
     
  3. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    And a home for "Secundus" at Norden.
     
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  4. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    I addition I thought it was mentioned some while back (too many pages to hunt through) that there was also a council element to the Furzebrook issue. Originally delayed by the council changes, then of course Covid. I think the issue was around change of use and road access to the site. I guess that will be above and beyond the standard planning application issues. Of course if you had suggested it was turned into a housing estate, no problem I suspect as DC seem to want to cover most of Purbeck in houses.
     
  5. Andy Moody

    Andy Moody Member

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    Sandwiched in between the two Electro Diesels, so in effect Loco hauled stock.

    Yes, The TBSK 70824 will need inserting between DTC's 76275 and 76322 at some time.
     
  6. Musket The Dog

    Musket The Dog New Member

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    There's quite a list on their website that includes things like sealing off the driver's doors in the cab and adding additional strengthening structures to the front end, changing all the couplers, a computerised train control system in addition to the usual suspects like modern TPWS.

    http://brightonbelle.com/history

    The list is down the page a bit, below the picture of the new bogies.
     
  7. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    To continue this - they appear to have turned up and Guildford as well. I've seen other photos of them on the Reading - Guildford line. There is a grainy photo of one in the background at Redhill in the 1960s. I guess they and 33s worked the service up until the Tadpoles?

    I guess the drivers would have been Reading based on that line.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    The tadpoles were the units that dieselised the Reading - Guildford - Redhill - Tonbridge line in Jan '65. Prior to that it was almost entirely steam worked with a variety of Southern and Standard locos with the odd GW 2-6-0 and Manor thrown in for good measure. Hymeks really only appeared after steam was eliminated in '67.

    Peter
     
  9. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    This photo seems to show a Hymek at Redhill (off a Reading service) before then.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve75c/4163231715

    There are quite a few shots of 33s on Reading-Redhill-Tonbridge trains.

    I had forgotten that the Tadpoles were so early and always in my mind associated them with 1970s make do and mend.
     
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  10. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    The Guildford picture is fascinating. I lived in Dorking and then Redhill between 1963 and 1973 and I recall Hymeks regularly working a train that was popularly referred to as "the Bradford Parcels" but as it passed through Dorking after 12 noon, Monkey Magic's picture looks like a different working as the sun seems to be at the wrong angle. I recall also seeing 31s on this working and during the early 1970s, both Warships and Westerns appeared working stone trains in connection with the construction of the M25 and M23 motorways. The tadpoles covered most of the passenger duties but there were a couple of loco-hauled services between Reading and Redhill in peak hour, invariably a Crompton and three Mark 1s.

    Sorry for further thread drift, but it is interesting how many forum members seem to have had connections with (and fond memories of) the Reading-Redhill line.
     
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  11. 80104

    80104 Member

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    The issue with access is, AFAIK, that due to the nature of the Wytch Farm Oil Field Site (safety, security etc etc) Perenco do not want to grant access to a third party.

    This is in addition to the concerns that Perenco have been said to have that they could be held accountable for any environmental issue caused by the actions of a third party.

    As has been mentioned elsewhere the issue of change of use is that it is not permitted under the original planning consent. Change of Use would have to be applied for.

    It does make me wonder if access and use of Furzebrook was granted, it could have a very high element of risk, because if the slightest breach of environmental standards or protocol occurred then Perenco would be on the phone to their lawyers quicker than you can say 34028 Eddystone.
     
  12. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    You have forgotten to add: they have also thrown a lot of money into the project!
     
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  13. oliversbest

    oliversbest Member

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    going to have to throw a fair bit of money at that 4TC by the looks of it!!
     
  14. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Beyond purely decorative luggage barrows, name me a single item of wheel-borne operating kit which won't at some point!
     
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  15. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    The 4TC refurbishment cost will be a fraction of the luxurious Brighton Belle costs. The 4TC does not have any motors, based on MK1 carriages (where parts are easier to come by) and the interior fittings are not Pullman standard.
    I expect the Brighton Belle might eventually have charters to Swanage (where one unit was based for a short while) with the last stage pulled by a 33?. Also the length will suit Swanage better than the long steam charters.

    But the 4TC group at Swanage seem enthusiastic and have made good progress. The 4TC, even if just 3 carriages in Blue Grey, if run occasionally on the Swanage line, with a 33 in push pull mode, will be popular with those who remember the 70s services in the South of England.

    The main service on the Swanage line will be 50s steam. Looks like getting the MK1 green carriage set A (to run with 31806) will take preference over the 3/4/5TC in getting locking doors and updated toilets to go mainline certified first.
    It's possible the cost of strengthening the 4TC cab to go push pull on the mainline, rather than top and tailed like the LU 4TC, may not be viable. Especially with the LU 4TC, the Brighton Belle, the Bluebell's VEP and the Hastings "thumper" DMU to be available for mainline charters?

    Looking forward the Swanage railway will be able to cover several eras from: Victorian to 50s steam, (standard and narrow gauge),
    60s (BR green era) with the DMU plus the 33s,
    and 70s (blue/grey) with the 4TC.
    Getting enough sidings and covered sheds to protect the rolling stock will be a challenge.
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2022
  16. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Looking at Google maps and photos the Fursebrook sidings could be separated from the Perenco buildings and road by secure fences. Means the sidings could be used for storage (not maintenance), but a 08 loco could be used to get staff to and the sidings and Norden, rather than road?.
     
  17. 80104

    80104 Member

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    I wonder if Perenco have concerns that the sidings would be just used as a dumping ground for stock that becomes an ever increasing eyesore? The way that the area beyond the Norden Gates Crossing has gone must surely be a cause for concern?
     
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  18. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    I notice the MHR thread also mentions a space issue. Too many heritage railways have a concern about if to scrap stock, keep them as parts donors or eventually refurbish them?.

    The old 117 DMU carriage near the Norden Gates Crossing should be able to be scrapped, and useful parts stored now.

    The 4TC group brought the unwanted rusty buffet carriage, now on the platform, from Dartmoor, have plans for refurbishment, but no timescale.
    Also one of the old rusty driving carriages is now a parts donor, so could either be scrapped and parts stored or restored as a MK1 carriage.
     
  19. 80104

    80104 Member

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    The desire to retain any heritage artefact is understandable however retaining artefacts raises numerous issues:
    1) Will the time and money (and indeed desire) ever be available to restore the item?
    2) Is there an element of opportunity cost / substitution that if a decision is made to restore item X, then item Y remains untouched.
    3) Where is Item Y stored whilst it awaits its turn? In the open thus deteriorating or undercover?
    4) Does the railway have undercover storage for all its items awaiting its turn? If not on what grounds are items chosen for undercover storage?
    5) Should restoration resources be devoted to building more storage (assuming that there is space available?)
    6) What impact does "linear scrapyards" have on the visitor experience and the relationship with stakeholders including neighbours?
    7) Do linear scrapyards encourage trespass, vandalism and theft?

    Many museums including the NRM have decided to shed part of their collection so that the resources available can be concentrated on the core collection "telling the story".
    Should HRs do the same? How many HRs have a coherent collection of locos, carriages and wagons etc (which tell a story) rather than an "eclectic" collection of anything rail related?
     
  20. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    I have no answer but the Bluebell now has a large under cover storage at HK, but the debate now appears to have changed to which items should be kept in it. So even getting more may not give you very few, let alone all the answers especially if different groups own different pieces of kit.
    I am sure Tom can enlighten us further on that debate.
     

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