Swanage Railway General Discussion

I believe this is rostered for the dmu.

 

You can't win can you ! No smoke and steam then some steam chasers are upset because they like a lot and then there are those anti due to emissions! I think we are all aware of the climate issues and that is a separate debate, seems now we,ve got some positive replies from the Swanage crews it is readily apparent they have a coordinated plan to sort operating 563 and next year they will be ready to efficiently operate it. They must be having an exciting time working out the loco, a bit like test pilot on a new type aeroplane.

 

I don’t think it is a question of “British” vs “foreign” coal per se. (I have visions of individual lumps of fine British coal, each dressed in Union Jack waistcoat, being carefully loaded onto a tender …). Welsh steam coal and hard Northumberland coals are very different in properties, not least in their volatile content, but both are “British”.

The LSWR tended to use Welsh coal, brought in by ship across the Bristol Channel to Fremington quay and then distributed onwards by rail - that was to avoid paying higher distribution charges for rail transport by the GWR. That was always up for review though; Holcroft notes that “selection was made by the Loco. Running Department influenced by previous experience as to suitability for locomotive work, steaming properties, absence of any troublesome features, price and cost of carriage to London.” Substitute “London” for “Swanage” and I doubt the situation is much different today!

Tom

 

The best compliment.

I’m off to bed with a big smile on my face this evening. I have been a Swanage Railway volunteer signalman for the past 10 years but have had to give up signalling for health reasons. These have fortunately turned out to be less serious than first thought but I’m still not up to safety critical duties. I was this evening helping with some administrative advice on a Swanage Railway matter and talking to a Swanage Railway engine man, who expressed the view that the engine men could always tell when I was on duty at Swanage box on a Gala because ‘things happened quickly with often two trains moving at the same time’. Thank you, MS, that makes me really happy. I learned my signalling in the London area on the Southern Region and was taught that you were doing it right if the signal was ‘off’ before the driver looked for it. Signalling now has to be a memory for me (as in the photo) but very happy memories at Swanage and I’m pleased to still be helping here and there in railway heritage.

 

Are you an experienced and knowledgeable engineman then, Paul or are you just an armchair critic? I’ve been with a very good fireman today who generally kept the pressure within 10 psi of blowing off but never did. For the most part the exhaust was clear but there was the odd occasion when it was fairly dark for a couple of seconds for good reasons but his actions were immediate and the smoke was gone. Any photos taken at these moments would show a Smokey loco but photos taken for the remaining 99% of the time would show a clear exhaust. Starting is one of those times as when the loco is stood the tubes and smokebox get a coating of soot which, once the regulator is opened, will be dragged off these surfaces and up the chimney. You can’t do anything about that as any combustion ceases once the gas enters the tubes and the longer the loco is stood the more soot there will be.

 

Youngest had his head out of the window when just that happened with the Standard 4 Tank at Midsomer Norton & I was standing next to a loco when it moved 'Off Shed' in Dresden, good job I wasnt wearing a white shirt.

 

Experienced yes albeit some while ago on the narrow gauge and road steam.

 

Oh, I missed that, Only looked at the events page, which at present does not include the 31st December.
The previous day is the last day of the Polar express.

 

After one steam locomotive restoration, heritage group looks ahead to another (railadvent.co.uk)

From Rail advent talking about the next focused being trying to overhaul the T9 loco. Which would be amazing but with a return date 2029 !! Very long way, I'm guessing the slower overhaul would be due to expected limited funding and as we talked about before, Swanage having a very good supply of motive power from next year up until then.

Very much looking forward to another Swanage classic, the M7 coming back into service (perhaps that would be great in LSWR livery?) hopefully in 2024 or 2025.

 

6 years isn't a huge stretch for an overhaul, especially if they have to replace the cylinder block

 

That's how long it took to overhaul the T3, But saying that Covid hit right in the middle, of the project, and that delayed it, Is there a pattern already available to cast a new block from? or will one have to be made ? If successful, and the T9 returns to steam, what liveries could it carry, that it hasn't so far in its preserved life,

 

It is interesting to look back at the NRM's attitude to originality. Time was renewal of the cylinder block of 120 would have been a NO NO. Indeed I can remember when E5001 was let loose on the main line it was on condition that the renewal of the high-tension cabling to the booster and motors was conditional on keeping the originals, so that it could be returned to 'as withdrawn' condition. (I wonder if that ever happened?)
(I once had the pleasure (?) of unhooking E5001 from a railtour at Southampton. What a racket when the blowers started up! Beat any diesel for noise nuisance.)
Pat

 

Indeed, the T3 took 6 years from start to finish. Albeit delayed a little by covid, but similar timescales.

Come 2029 we should be able to see the T3, T9 and M7 in action together at Swanage.

 

That's one loco I'd love to see back on the mainline! I had a few trips behind it, but I was too young to really appreciate it sadly.

 

Can I just remind some of us the piece in Rail Advent says it’s looking at the possibility of restoration of the T9 in the future, not that it’s actually going to happen.
Just before some of us start a livery debate shall we just bear that one in mind?

 

Common sense tells us that nothing happens without a livery debate first…

 

Which press release did they copy and paste that from?

 

Your guess is as good as mine (I will say it’s Rail Advent so how large is that pinch of salt you want to take with it?)

 

I have heard members of the group that did the T3 alluding to the fact they plan to tackle to T9 next. So I think there is some truth in it.

 

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