Swanage Railway General Discussion

there are lies,damn lies, and statistics!!

 

Hi Pot, Kettle here... You're Black.

 

Last day of one train running before the Easter period today. Took a wander down to a reasonably dry Dickers Crossing for 5526.
Yesterday the Dorsetman was diesel hauled, not sure if that was steam loco unavailability or coal conservation?
I have heard it said 5526 may not be leaving the railway tomorrow (as reported in Swanning Around) but staying a short while longer, not sure if that is correct or not. Eddystone in steam on the shed when I went past so probably the other loco tomorrow.

 

Ahhh, I think saw you at Dickers this afternoon, last up trip around 16:35.

 

*sigh*

Have I ever told you the definition of insanity? It's repeating yourself over and over again and expecting a different result.
Have I ever told you the definition of insanity? It's repeating yourself over and over again and expecting a different result.
Have I ever told you the definition of insanity? It's repeating yourself over and over again and expecting a different result.
Have I ever told you...

 

It’s the exclamation marks that annoy me, it’s like reading a Trump Tweet.
Over and over again!!

 

That and the fact he never seems begin his sentences with capital letters, irks me that, and definitely the overuse of exclamation marks makes it seem like he's ranting and shouting all the time in person.

At this point, with all these comments he's made on here and repeated himself over and over, it might be time to serious consider this guy is basically just some classic internet troll.
He's not actually on here to have proper conversations, might not even have a genuine interest in anything on this forum, he's just after reactions.

 

Keeping the catering kettle boiling, great move that the Birdsnest is at Corfe after the loss of the tea truck.
Get rid of the catering outlet in the BOOKING HALL, it totally destroys the ambience.
Sell sandwiches, pies and cold drinks from a fridge in the station shop, like what happened today as there were not enough staff to man the carbuncle in the BOOKING HALL.

 

No not me, I was a there for 15:00 service.

 

Whilst a food hygiene certificate is not always required, if the shop staff are handling and retailing food (which includes drinks and ice) food handlers must be supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters.

The Catering Industry Guide to legal compliance has been developed by UK Hospitality and approved by the Food Standards Agency. Environmental Health Officers must have regard to it when carrying out food hygiene inspections. It states that all food handlers should a) receive training in the ‘essentials of food hygiene’ prior to starting work for the first time b) receive ‘hygiene awareness instruction’ before handling low risk food unsupervised. One way of doing this is for staff to undertake one of the online courses as this provides proof of having received instruction by way of taking the course.

The question would be whether the predominantly volunteer shop staff would wish to undertake this training?

 

Thanks for your updates. Indeed 5526 is in steam this morning - the day that it was scheduled to depart from the railway. At the moment it is shunting the coaching stock at Swanage. <BJ>

 

34028 and 5526 on passenger services today, 5526 went ECS to Norden this morning

All the best
Matt

 

Please please give it a rest. The coach has been moved to Corfe already, I'm sure it'll make for a lovely place to sit and watch the trains passing. But having seen the slow decline in the coach in terms of people using it at Swanage, I can't really say I'll miss it, although it was handy grabbing a bottle or three of water when on the plate.

You say you're a supporter of the railway, I'd honestly hate to hear about the ones you dislike. Your comments about the line do nowt other then damage it, so cmon think before you post in future

Rant over

Matt

 

The railway cannot survive on fare income alone, it needs to maximise its catering and retail facilities to increase the income. By having catering outlets at Norden, Corfe Castle and Swanage it helps that income. However having the physical sites at the stations is not enough, they have to be manned, recruiting catering staff in a holiday area is very difficult.
If you are able to give a few hours a week then contact the railway who I am sure will arrange some training to enable you to work in one of their outlets.

 

Without wishing to appear unduly pedantic it is that SRC needs to maximise its net income from catering and retail sales.

One of the advantages of operating the kiosk type of outlet with a smaller range of hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes and confectionery is that it does not require the services of a cook or kitchen porter. Being realistic the railway is not going to obtain the services of volunteer (ie unpaid) cooks and kitchen porters whereas it may be able to recruit sufficient volunteers to sell and serve bought in cakes, sandwiches, confectionery and (bottle / can) cold drinks leaving just hot drinks to be "made". Staff costs can be the "make or break" of any catering operation. Tailoring the catering offering so that it can be staffed by volunteers and not paid staff makes a huge difference to the bottom line.

 

Staying for at least another week, possibly two. Firing her tomorrow and Friday (34028 today & Thursday), nice to be back on ‘28 for the first time since 2014. Shes as good as I remember her last time! And looking forward to the extra couple of turns on the Prairie

 

The Dorsetman Luncheon page has the following note: " Due to coal supply issues, services may be subject to alternative motive power. "

 

I did notice yesterday that had been added when the email arrived about the extra dates having been released.
Whilst everyone on here knows it means diesel I did wonder if the general public understand "alternative motive power" as from my experience many seem unable to read a simple platform indicator on the national network.

 

Has she been popular/unpopular with the crews down in Swanage?