Swanage Railway General Discussion

A couple from this afternoon. Not sure how many test runs were done with Eddystone, but did notice it coming back into Swanage earlier in the afternoon, and seeing it leave again about 15: 15 managed to get to Afflington just in time.

 

Running-in/fault finding runs continue tomorrow I believe.

 

Believe 80104's last day in passenger service is tomorrow (11th May).

 

Better to have a two steam engine timetable rather than risk the one steam and one diesel timetable which happened a while back with locos unexpectedly taken out of service.
However hopefully virus variants will not appear and pre lockdown visitor numbers will return, and the DMU evening and Wareham day service might restart before the Summer peak.

 

Thanks for the update. Sadly, this isn't a post one would wish to "like" as it's rather sad to think that we won't see 80104 in action again for some time. It really is the ideal engine for the line - sufficient power to handle the trains without being over-extended and it looks so right, given the historic connections between the 4MT tanks and the Swanage branch in the 1960s. I guess I am one of many who have visited the railway in the last 25 years and enjoyed some lively runs behind 80104 while having built up quite a collection of photos of her in action. I shall miss her and hope she will be overhauled in the not too distant future. Still, living in Sussex, if I find that I'm suffering from Standard Tank withdrawal symptoms, at least there's 80151 only a few miles away and with this year's operational steam fleet consisting of 31806, 34028, 34070 (hopefully) and 34072, plus 78018 in the shorter term, there still are plenty of good reasons to visit Swanage in the coming months.

 

Some from the farewell of 80104 today.
The penultimate service passing Herston.
A couple of the last train today (in poor weather and with adhesion a problem) leaving Swanage and returning through Harmans Cross.
And then its final job berthing the stock in the loop and heading off "to retirement" under stormy skies.

 

Although this is only my account of what 80104 had done during the run up to its retirement during training and the initial services.
I reckon 70 return training runs and 120 return passenger services based on my observation/recordings. This equated to around 2090 miles, which bearing in mind it was said way back it was hoped to get maybe a "farewell weekend" out of the loco was a pretty fine farewell.

 

The best looking, by far, of all BR 'standards' in my books. Is it really a 'farewell', or merely 'au revoir' (or, better yet, ¡Hasta Pronto!), until it gets to the front of the overhaul queue?

 

'Au revoir'.

 

Great photos as always - but got a bit of a shock that the Swanage Railway might have diversified, apparently, into Midwifery services!

 

I have to say the Maunsell Mogul looks pretty good without the smoke deflectors. Any feedback from the crews??

 

Am I alone is thinking how lucky we are to have such superb railway photography. For me it has eliminated all thoughts of waiting around to take "that engine and that shot" and I can enjoy my day out on the Railway!!

 

Well spotted! Still any possible revenue stream in these difficult times!

 

Those in Ireland never wore smoke deflectors. The other noticeable differences, gauge aside, were a smokebox door 'wheel' and the layout of lamp brackets. The only major alteration for 5'-3" gauge were steam pipes and frame spacers (UK cab size being the only significant whinge from crews!). I don't recall any mention of the mainframe issues experienced by the std. gauge edition here.

Originally a bargain spotted by the MGWR, all entered service after grouping (1925) and roamed widely over the GSR network, wherever axle load permitted. The CIÉ review of 1948 commented they were good, when not overloaded (No sh*t, Sherlock!). Aside from a 1955 accident write-off (No.375) they served until the final rundown of steam, the last examples making it into 1965.

Here's one of the Class 393 (6'-0" drivers), at what looks suspiciously like Inchicore.


[Image courtesy transportsofdelight.smugmug.com]

 

According to the RTC website the mogul is going to work the Weymouth to Southampton leg of this summers DCEs. Is this likely to happen?

 

As long as it has gotten in a test run, and is on the approved list, there is any reason why it could not ?

 

Can I put in a bid - The Broadstone?
Pat

 

Only if the Swanage Railway can spare it.
Some years ago it was stated on here they ideally required 6 locos to run the service allowing for washouts, maintenance and a spare. At the time they managed with five locos.

 

You could well be right. It was the long, low building, which made me wonder. It looks like one seen trackside, in loads of images. at Inchicore, just from the opposite elevation.

 

Plus of course the railway has not yet published a timetable for the summer, so 6 may be excessive or may be accurate. Although my roster record for both 2018 and 2019 show only 3 locos being used for the summer school holiday and I do not remember lots of locos "standing around" whilst they were in use.