Swanage Railway General Discussion

Has the period of all diesel motive power had a noticeable effect on passenger numbers?

Thanks

Steven

 

Looks like 31806 has had a visit from the gremlins - just been taken off the 16:00 from Swanage (25 minutes after departure time) and replaced by the 33 off the Wareham train. No obvious signs as to what is wrong as it came off under its own power, blowing off excess steam etc and then backed into the loop next to the platform again under its own steam.

 

Lubricator did not want to work after being refilled......after a little persuasion it worked.

 

31806 and M7 are the rostered locos for tomorrow.
M7 working 1000, 1120, 1240, 1400, 1520, 1640 and 1800 ex Swanage
31806 working 1000 ex Norden and then 1040, 1200, 1320, 1440, 1600 and 1720 ex Swanage

 

Facebook says 30120 and 31806 on trains today, although it seems the need to give 30120 a steam test has resulted in the first train being worked by the Crompton. No update on the website, where the headline news is about bookings opening for the Santa specials!

Hopefully now it will be back to regular steam. Like Steven/Bean Counter, I'd be interested to know if the diesel substitution has had an impact on passenger numbers. I hope the answer is no or not very much as this has really been a most unfortunate incident.

By the way, for anyone who is planning to ride behind the lovely T9 and photograph it as well (or even just photograph it), the FB photo suggests that it has been turned since arrival and now faces smokebox first out of Swanage.

 

The T9 still faces Swanage, that's a picture from a previous visit

 

I stand corrected! Thank you for so doing.

 

I'm don't think you could turn the T9 on the table at Swanage without spliting the loco and tender.

 

The T9 is having various issues investigated and it is not envisaged to return to traffic this week. 31806 will work one service all week along side a Class 33 on the other service.

The lack of steam is effecting passenger numbers but it is hard to judge because the weather has been utterly terrible in the first two weeks of August.

Swanage Railway is having a tough time of it.

 

Shows how everywhere is different. Bad weather can improve earnings in some circumstances.

PH

 

How so Paul?

 

I think the logic is that for some railways, especially in coastal areas, sunny weather leads to quiet days as people go to the beach instead, whereas poorer weather encourages people to look for tourist attractions (possibly under cover as well) away from the beach. So you might expect poor weather to improve traffic on the railway - though I suspect that mainly applies to people holidaying in the area, rather than day-trippers who may just decide to stay at home in poor weather.

Tom

 

Ahh, I see! Makes sense in a strange counter intuitive sort of way. Must be my sunny Australian disposition!

The first UK "beach" I ever went to was Brighton beach - It was a sunny day, but I was less than impressed that apparently a beach can be made entirely of small rocks and not the golden sand that I'm more accustomed to. I now wish I had been to a railway instead....

 

In my experience at Fairbourne, the best "railway weather" days are bright sunny days with a cold wind, the sunshine encourages people to go out but the cold wind keeps them from the beaches. Also prolonged hot spells are quite good too, people get bored or burned after too long on the beach.

 

Wasn't Volk's Electric Railway running that day? They don't come much more historic than that!



Magnus Volk is the gent on the right, making his last public appearance in 1937.

 

Possibly a really stupid question, but having had a few watching sessions on Railcam, I'm intrigued by the opening under the platform opposite. I'm guessing that at some stage this was possibly used to deliver something like coal for use in the waiting rooms? Any more details anyone?

 

Absolutely right, that is a shoreline, not a beach. Weymouth has a beach

 

If you are looking at the Corfe cam, then that is the point rodding tunnel. The original box was taken down in 1950's and the porter's room was turned into the box. It still contains the equipment. If you ask the station staff nicely they might let you in to take a look.

 

Perhaps so.... but on one part of ours, you won't get carted off by plod for going 'tackle out'!