The Purbeck Pioneer...

Past-Tme Rail are now advertising two tours to/from Swanage on the 2nd and 4th May using Tangmere.

http://www.past-timerail.co.uk/index.php/news.html

 

For the interest of those coming to Swanage on the 1st and 2nd April,
the railway will be running a DMU service before and after each railtour to allow parking at Norden.

 

I am really excited about this trip, I have booked 1st Class and although it's not a steam train going there yet at least I can say that I was one of the first to make this momentus trip.

 

The special DMU timetable is attached
http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/ download if you can't read the file

 

Believe generator coach problems of some sort mean Class 67 haulage is now required.
The 1st April trip is fully booked (despite modern 'boring' traction - that's what John Farrow has specialised in to great effect for several years) and 2nd April is also still filling well. Contact UKRailtours ASAP if you can make Thursday's trip.

For those readers travelling on either service - we look forward to greeting you to Swanage Railway Station Platform 2 - which will take the loco and the first 7 coaches. The remaining 5 (?) coaches and rear loco will be off the end of course.

In Platform 1 [opposite your arrival platform] we'll have The Wessex Belle Bar car serving alcoholic (and non-alcoholic) drinks and other refreshments; an RMB serving Hot & Cold drinks and snacks; and The Birds Nest Buffet will have Hot & Cold Drinks plus a range of simple hot meals and filled rolls, snacks, etc.

The Railway's Shop will be open during your 2 hour-ish visit with a wide range of railway magazines, books, DVDs, mementoes, plus limited range of Bachmann, Hornby and Dapol OO Gauge models, etc. There's only the one door however - so, if it's full, please be patient or come back a short while later.

Local shops,restaurants and pubs have been circulated about the tours so, if you just want to get off the station for a proper leg-stretch [the beach is only a 5 minute slow amble along Station Road], please feel free to do so. Keep your tickets with you as you'll need them to get back onto the platform - we've fitted gates to control the undoubted crowds !!

We're praying for fine weather [-o<

 

I'll be stewarding on the 1st April trip!

 

I had hoped to book on this trip however it had sold out by teh time I had my day off confirmed!

However I will be travelling to Swanage on Star wars day

 

Hi all this info has come from Wessex rail gen

Timings for first Passenger charters to use Mainline
connection to Swanage Railway on 1st / 2nd April 2009.

Both D.B.Schenker class 66 hauled - expected to be 66152.

Train 1Z98 runs WO 01/04/09 Loco-Hauled
Sector 04 (DBS) Set up by TSDB on 27/02/09 Type STP

Location Booked C Pw Miles Tlod
87201 VICTORIA 08:45 420
87204 GROSVBDGJ PASS 08:47
87208 VOLTRRDJN PASS 08:49
87248 BRIXTON PASS 08:50
87249 HERNEHILL PASS 08:51
87611 TULSE H PASS 09:03
87613 STREATHAM PASS 09:07
87617 STREATMSJ PASS 09:09
87661 MITCHAMJN PASS 09:16
87671 SUTTON PASS 09:25
87681 EPSOM PASS 09:35
87685 LEATHERHD PASS 09:42
87052 GUILDFORD PASS 10:14
87080 SHALFRDJN PASS 10:17
87055 FARNCOMBE PASS 10:20
87062 HASLEMERE PASS 10:31
87066 PETERSFLD PASS 10:41
86341 HAVANT PASS 10:58
86334 FLINGTONJ PASS 11:02
86302 COSHAM JN PASS 11:03
86301 COSHAM PASS 11:04
86241 FAREHAM PASS 11:11
86499 ST DENYS PASS 11:37
86513 NORTHAMJN PASS 11:42
86520 STHAMPTON 11:45 11:47
86703 REDBRIDGE PASS 11:57
86901 BROCKNHST PASS 12:10
86921 BOURNEMTH PASS 12:28
86927 BRANKSOME PASS 12:33
86935 POOLE PASS 12:43
86951 HAMWORTHY PASS 12:50
86964 WAREHAM 12:57 12:59
86965 WORGRETJN PASS 13:02
86967 FURZBROOK 13:14 13:19
86969 SWANAGE 13:50

Train 1Z91 runs WO 01/04/09 Loco-Hauled
Sector 04 (DBS) Set up by TSDB on 27/02/09 Type STP

Location Booked C Pw Miles Tlod
86969 SWANAGE 16:10 420
86967 FURZBROOK 16:40 16:45
86965 WORGRETJN PASS 16:57
86964 WAREHAM 17:01 17:03
86951 HAMWORTHY PASS 17:10
86935 POOLE PASS 17:16
86927 BRANKSOME PASS 17:22
86921 BOURNEMTH PASS 17:27
86901 BROCKNHST PASS 17:54
86703 REDBRIDGE PASS 18:04
86520 STHAMPTON PASS 18:20
86513 NORTHAMJN PASS 18:26
86499 ST DENYS PASS 18:28
86087 EASTLEIGH 18:35 18:37
86102 EASTLGHEJ PASS 18:38
86129 ROMSEY883 18:52 18:55
86101 ROMSEY PASS 18:57
86112 DEAN PASS 19:07
86114 LSTOCKSJN PASS 19:17
86115 LSTOCKNJN PASS 19:19
86074 ANDOVER PASS 19:36
86069 WORTINGJN PASS 19:50
86066 BASINSTOK PASS 19:52
86042 FARNBORO PASS 20:05
86040 WOKING JN PASS 20:14
86031 WOKING PASS 20:15
87177 HMPTNCTJN PASS 20:27
87171 SURBITON PASS 20:28
87169 NEWMALDEN PASS 20:30
87261 WIMBLEDON PASS 20:33
87219 CLAPHAMJN PASS 20:40
87216 QNSTWNRDB PASS 20:43
87215 NINEELMSJ PASS 20:45
87212 WATERLOO 20:49

Repeat Charter the following day 02/04/09
with similar timings.

Train 1Z98 runs THO 02/04/09 Loco-Hauled
Sector 04 (DBS) Set up by TSDB on 03/03/09 Type STP

Location Booked C Pw Miles Tlod
87201 VICTORIA 08:45 420
87204 GROSVBDGJ PASS 08:47
87208 VOLTRRDJN PASS 08:49
87248 BRIXTON PASS 08:51
87249 HERNEHILL PASS 08:55
87611 TULSE H PASS 09:03
87613 STREATHAM PASS 09:07
87617 STREATMSJ PASS 09:09
87661 MITCHAMJN PASS 09:16
87671 SUTTON PASS 09:25
87681 EPSOM PASS 09:35
87685 LEATHERHD PASS 09:42
87071 EFFINGMJN PASS 09:50
87052 GUILDFORD PASS 10:14
87080 SHALFRDJN PASS 10:17
87055 FARNCOMBE PASS 10:20
87062 HASLEMERE PASS 10:31
87066 PETERSFLD PASS 10:41
86341 HAVANT PASS 10:58
86334 FLINGTONJ PASS 11:02
86302 COSHAM JN PASS 11:03
86301 COSHAM PASS 11:04
86241 FAREHAM PASS 11:11
86499 ST DENYS PASS 11:37
86513 NORTHAMJN PASS 11:42
86520 STHAMPTON 11:45 11:47
86703 REDBRIDGE PASS 11:57
86901 BROCKNHST PASS 12:10
86921 BOURNEMTH PASS 12:28
86927 BRANKSOME PASS 12:33
86935 POOLE PASS 12:43
86951 HAMWORTHY PASS 12:50
86964 WAREHAM 12:57 12:59
86965 WORGRETJN PASS 13:02
86967 FURZBROOK 13:14 13:19
86969 SWANAGE 13:50

Train 1Z91 runs THO 02/04/09 Loco-Hauled
Sector 04 (DBS) Set up by TSDB on 03/03/09 Type STP

Location Booked C Pw Miles Tlod
86969 SWANAGE 16:10 420
86967 FURZBROOK 16:40 16:45
86965 WORGRETJN PASS 16:57
86964 WAREHAM 17:01 17:03
86951 HAMWORTHY PASS 17:10
86935 POOLE PASS 17:16
86927 BRANKSOME PASS 17:22
86921 BOURNEMTH PASS 17:27
86901 BROCKNHST PASS 17:54
86703 REDBRIDGE PASS 18:04
86520 STHAMPTON PASS 18:20
86513 NORTHAMJN PASS 18:26
86499 ST DENYS PASS 18:28
86087 EASTLEIGH 18:35 18:37
86102 EASTLGHEJ PASS 18:38
86129 ROMSEY883 18:52 18:55
86101 ROMSEY PASS 18:57
86112 DEAN PASS 19:06
86114 LSTOCKSJN PASS 19:17
86115 LSTOCKNJN PASS 19:19
86074 ANDOVER PASS 19:36
86069 WORTINGJN PASS 19:50
86066 BASINSTOK PASS 19:52
86042 FARNBORO PASS 20:05
86040 WOKING JN PASS 20:14
86031 WOKING PASS 20:15
87177 HMPTNCTJN PASS 20:27
87171 SURBITON PASS 20:28
87169 NEWMALDEN PASS 20:30
87261 WIMBLEDON PASS 20:33
87219 CLAPHAMJN PASS 20:40
87216 QNSTWNRDB PASS 20:43
87215 NINEELMSJ PASS 20:45
87212 WATERLOO 20:49

 

There's always a last minute hitch .... and that is the special drinks licence.
Don't know the whys & wherefores but, unfortunately, no licence was granted in time so any alcohol you might need in Swanage will mean you walking to one of several pubs (all within 5 - 10 mins. easy walking). They've been circulated to expect you.

The 1Z91Departure time from Swanage [16:10] is, we believe, being brought forward to 16:00 exactly due to concern to ensure the special is at Worgret Junction at exactly the right time to filter in between SWT's services. On board announcements will clarify the situation before you arrive at Swanage.

The weather forecast for both days is looking reasonable - and we're looking forward to welcoming our first railtourists !

 

Heard a short interview about the first train through on Five Live Drive last night - good national promotion.

Hope everything goes well tomorrow and on Thursday. Looking forward to sampling the new connection in the not too distant future.

Out of curiosity is there a limit on the number of movements a year over the connection until resignalling?

 

6 passenger movements per annum at present.

 

Under the current set up, how does it work when a passenger train goes over.

I assume that under freight ECS, you just pull up before the trap points, operate both sets and go over them. What extra things need to be considered?

 

The main line points at Worgret Junction have a Ground Frame (electrically released from Wareham Box) and on the Branch (near Motala kennels) there are two facing trap points (Annetts keys from NR Wareham and SR Corfe) - so the train stops before and after each one which delays train transits dramatically.
I don't profess to understand fully current HSE restrictions but I'm led to believe that the old limits (max. 6 passenger rail tours per 12 months) under Light Railway Orders MAY not now be cast in stone.
With our Railway's Safety Management System in place [what a tome that is] I have been assured that, subject to all relevant operational matters being approved by HSE, there is now (technically) no specific limit prescribed. However, Network Rail personnel have to have an intensive involvement in any movements from/to the main line which re-signalling in 2012/3 will regularise.
Many contributors here will know of our very intensive service during the Summer. This will be OUR limiting factor as our regular passengers must come first - which might be horribly compromised if tours get very late before arrival in Dorset.
Pathfinder appear to want to come from Cheshire to Swanage on 26th September behind 40145. Another tour to be fitted into a 40 minute interval service !!!!!

 

As I understand it, the main problem is at Worgret where access to the branch is controlled by a shunt signal and not a running signal (two white lights beside the main aspect at red rather than a full route indicator & main signal clearing from red). There is no facing point lock fitted which is OK for freight but not for passenger use. Therefore somebody from NR has to physically clip the point blades before the movement can proceed. Our interface at Motala is fully passenger compliant and we clip and plug all points in favour of the running line between Motala and Norden. Once the train arrives at Norden, its progress is controlled by Swanage Railway HMRI approved signals.

 

"A passenger train is running on a restored historic railway in Dorset for the first time in 37 years."?????

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7975915.stm

 

66.152 (in new DB livery) at the helm. Three choc & cream Mk.1s behind loco plus mostly carmine and creams. Very nice.

Report thanks to Chris Jaxon. <BJ>

 

Essentially correct, in so far as no passenger train has yet come across the restored Motala-Norden section (which is under Swanage Railway stewardship) and certainly nothing has ventured from Worgret since closure. Tricky to put that into a headline, I guess...

BTW - Thanks for the info on the train's progress, hope to salute its progress through Poole later today.

 

Just arrived at Swanage at 14.00.

 

Hope the press weren't caught out unawares - booked for 14:09 arrival! Big moment and much applause to those who made it happen. =D>

 

And the race to get the first pic online was won by...the Daily Mail!

See here!