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Swanage Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    There was talk of building a shelter at Corfe Castle for the T3, before plans changed and it went off to the Flour Mill. Maybe they have something similar in mind for the T9.

    I’m sure the NRM have been informed of and are happy with whatever storage plans Swanage Railway have for 120.
     
  2. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    I'll be curious if and when they do overhaul the T9 they'll deal with it's fragile cylinder in the process. Not sure if it was a problem towards the end of it's boiler ticket, but I do know the crack in the cylinder is what held it back from being restored to steam for years in the past, until it was given a specialist repair. Of course even though it was repaired I suspect it was only a temporary solution and probably wouldn't last indefinitely, so ideally 120 could do with a new cylinder fabricated.

    Nowadays forging a new cylinder isn't too big a challenge fortunately, but it's worthy the NRM would be approving of such work. Surely though if the original was retained and put to one side safely in storage, I can't see what the issue would be, certainly if the Swanage Railway paid for the new cylinder to be fabricated themselves.
     
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  3. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    ..... and if the NRM wanted 120 back, they'd have a great start for any newbuild T9! :)
     
  4. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    If you look at posts #4447 or #4450 it is already in the back of the shed (literally) although maybe the railway has other long term plans (the lean to at Furzebrook did & may still have the other U from memory).
     
  5. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    Does it need a new cylinder block though? I believe it was repaired (not very satisfactorily) using some kind of epoxy during its 2010 overhaul.

    However once the Swanage Railway got hold of it and started having problems with it, they got a specialist to repair it using metal stitching. A much more satisfactory repair, is there any reason to believe this won’t last?
     
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  6. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    I Believe that the view of the Swanage Railway, is that the repairs carried out to the cylinder carried out by them, was a permanent fix, and the cylinders now were not a problem,
     
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  7. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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  8. 007

    007 Member

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    The T9 has taken up residence in the engine shed at Swanage, so contrary to popular belief, the engine is under cover, with the full agreement of the NRM. It will remain in the shed, cared for by our volunteers and staff for the duration. The storage deal is for 2 years and in that time we will work up an overhaul proposal.
    NRM deals are now a three step process, storage/assessment, overhaul and running agreements. This is exactly the same process as what the GCR and 5305 group are doing with the 04, 70013 and 30777.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2021
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  9. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Member

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    Out of curiosity, why did the T9 move from Bodmin to Swanage?
     
  10. 007

    007 Member

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    It was hired for emergency cover but turned up not really able to go into service. Was out for about 8 months and then entered service and then became based on the railway. It wasn’t the original intention but sometimes things have a habit of working out for the best.
     
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  11. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    It’s never been properly publicly explained, but basically the story is as follows.

    After the incident with 80104 and 34070 bumping into each other, the Swanage Railway was very short of steam locos. Bodmin and the NRM agreed for 30120 to go to Swanage as temporary cover for a few months.

    However once it arrived, the Swanage Railway discovered a number of issues with it. The upshot was that the NRM decided they weren’t happy with the way Bodmin were looking after it. So the NRM terminated the agreement with Bodmin, and instead let Swanage repair it and run it until the end of the boiler ticket in 2020.

    The NRM are now showing their confidence in the Swanage Railway by signing this new agreement.
     
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  12. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    I recall hearing much the same when the T9 was said to be taking permanent residence at the Swanage Railway, and while I don't wish to place any judgement against those at Bodmin, certainly from an operational standpoint I felt it was the best decision for 120's future as it never made much sense to me it working at Bodmin. The line there was really far too steeply graded for an engine of it's type (limited to just 2 carriages from what I recall), and never seemed all too appropriate either.

    Based at Swanage on the other hand, a totally different story. For starters the line's gradients aren't all that bad, it's a reasonable length for it to stretch it's wheels, but most importantly the general number of carriages the railway limited it's rakes to (5 from what I understand) is comfortably within 120's limits and so generally can be put to good use on most days. Certainly from my perspective, 120's operational life in preservation didn't really come into it's own until it came to Swanage, from that point on seemed to be the engine's best years. Running on a line so appropriate for it alongside a fellow LSWR engine M7 (soon to be joined by the T3), and from what I understand is very much well liked and cared for there. No small wonder then the NRM sees fit to have 120 stay there.

    The fact that they entrusted the ownership and care of the T3 to them, which they've made great strides in giving it the star treatment in a very thorough overhaul, no doubt also adds to their confidence in the Swanage Railway caring for the T9 going forward.

    Oh and as a side note, was quite shocked to read in the official statement for this announcement that apparently 120 was at one point attacked by the Luftwaffe! :eek: Never knew that!! That Greyhound is a survivor, in more ways then one!
     
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  13. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    Bullet hole still visible in the cab roof I believe!

    Agree that any other issues aside, Swanage seems a much more appropriate home than Bodmin. Even when based at Bodmin, it seemed to spend a lot of time away on hire to other railways.
     
  14. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    Yes I recall it making a fair few visits away when it was in Bodmin's care, and though I'm not sure if it made all that many further visits when based at Swanage, arguably that was mainly down to it simply put being put to good use there and they just couldn't be without it! Can't blame them either, kinda feels like ever since it arrived there, the T9 has become the flagship of the railway more then any other loco except maybe for the M7. Course that might change once the T3 comes on the scene, but we shall see.

    Quite exciting to think really that, all being well, the Swanage Railway will be able to boast three operational LSWR locos, certainly more so then anywhere else I'd say.
     
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  15. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Surely if there was ever an occasion to hoik the LSWR tri-composite out of the NRM and the Bluebell's brake third to have a visit, that would be it!
     
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  16. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    1520 definitely. Unfortunately I don’t think the tri-composite is in great structural condition and would need a lot of work before it was able to run. So maybe the royal saloon from Embsay instead!

    You’d also have to include 499, currently under restoration to LSWR condition at the mid Hants.
     
  17. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    Well I have suggested before on this forum that having these three locos resident (especially with the T3) would be a great incentive to launch and push forward a project to restore what LSWR carriages they have on the railway to run with them, as well as perhaps seek other carriages to join them too.
     
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  18. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    499 visiting would make a great running partner for a time with the T3 seeing as from what I understand, though it'll be carrying a different livery from what it's wearing up till recently, it will be restored to LSWR condition as well.
     
  19. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Ah, I had wondered about the tri-composite, a shame. But yes, how could I forget the royal saloon!
     
  20. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Depending on what era the T3 is supposed to appear in, you could get away with other southern passenger stock that in pre war Southern Railway livery, plus there would have been some overlap between engines being re painted from LSWR Livery to Southern livery, running with southern coaches. for instance an 1930's rake of coaches, would be still in keeping with either the T3,M7, or The T9,
     

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