Swanage Railway General Discussion

The 6 coach + QM brake van rake was moved to Corfe Castle so that, I presume, suitable LED lighting equipment and generators [like last year] can be added. Access is not good at Swanage for road vehicles bringing items for fitment whereas Corfe is OK for vans/small lorries - but not HGVs.
Diesel hauled test runs on Wednesday. Dress Rehearsal on Thursday but not sure if it will be steam or diesel - but hoping for the former.
Nothing currently scheduled for Friday.
Season of Luncheon Train plus evening Steam & Lights Trains starts on Saturday.

 

Maybe why the Corfe webcam is switched off?

Good to see progress updates on FB about 563 this week, expected back in 2023

 

Being the sad individual that I am, with SWR trains terminating at Wool yesterday I had to take a ride from Wareham to Wool to add the crossover at Wool to the inked in lines on my Quail map, although the crossing does seem much further east than the map shows. Hence dropped into Corfe late on the way back to Swanage.
This year at least one of the generators is a smart shade of red unlike last years white! Must have been a cold day working on all those coaches.
Also not sure how long this has been on the bridge at Wareham, ready for the trial service next year?

 

Cant have been there that long as I am sure I would have noticed it on one of my journeys!

 

That photo at Wareham makes you think, a couple of new lifts and no more foot crossing or ski ramps required.

 

Was done in early October.

 

Thanks. I have travelled since then but remembered I went from Bournemouth!

 

Be I Dorset, Be I buggery, I come down from Wareham, where all the girls wear paper draws and I know how to tear 'em

 

I know it as "Be I from Bristol ... I be up from Sarum ..." (i.e. Salisbury). But there you go; it's the folk process.

 

The railway springs back to life. In fact I was so taken with the three locos in steam I missed the lights train departing behind 33111 on the test run last night.
Purple lights from the train at Corfe give the station a different look, and the return leg heading away from Corfe.

 

Good to see the panels returned to Eddystone and looking a bit better.
Guess 2 locos are needed for the lights and dining trains, plus one ready as reserve?.
Good to see more Facebook prgtess update photos on 257 Squadron, Manston and 563.
There is a Black Friday offer on tickets.

 

All 3 were in steam, the tank being over the pit.

 

If you look at the webcams now, there's a U-Boat at Swanage with a train of lights. Presumably another test run ahead of this weekend.

 

Bit blurry, Starting to look good.
On YouTube Jamie Smith posted a video of the test run with the 33.

 

Nice to be able to see myself down by the signal towards the end of that video clip of Jamie's.

 

Before departure last evening of the first test run with 31806. One of the crew can just be seen posing by the buffer beam for the railways official photographer.

 

Despite the very strong wind a day of towering exhaust along with some nice light at times from the first dining train of the year. My efforts on the first lights train at Herston tonight are best not mentioned.

 

Christmas is ruined for me, no winter warm up....

 

While I wouldn't go quite as far as "Christmas is ruined", the lack of a winter warm up certainly leaves a huge hole.

 

Oh no! Anyway...