Swanage Railway Spring Steam Gala: 24th - 26th March 2023

Sorry, but I do mot agree with@gricerdon It was not the fault of the freight trains, the main culprit was the 0915 working as described above, the 0952 back working to Swanage left Norden 7 late and lost another three minutes to Swanage hence the 1015 freight was delayed at Swanage
according to real time trains, The problem is that with a single line with only two crossing places, trying to run an extensive timetable is a challenge. Certainly everyone at Swanage was doing their upmost to minimize delay.

 

With tonight's rain in Swanage and Corfe one would hope lineside fires should not be a worry for Sunday's services.
Fingers crossed!

 

Did someone have hopes of a third guest I wonder?


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Yes trying to run such an intensive service is a big challenge and once it goes wrong the service can’t recover. As to the freight we were on the 1057 from Corfe to Frome arrived there 12 late with 34028 and left just 6 late with 76084 storming up the hill without any help from the Bulleid . We then got stopped outside Norden for 12 minutes which the guard time us was due to the freight in Corfe. We then stood at Corfe for another 14 minutes waiting for 31806 on the 1133 ex Swanage so left 28 late. The other problem was that the xx33s ex Swanage could not leave until the freights had cleared Harmans Cross even when they were ready to go eg 34028 on the 1433 which was delayed again at Harmans Cross waiting for the freight to return. We were on set B all day and watched it unfold. Also there were a lot of families and older people so loading and unloading trains could not be fast. Maybe the answer in future to run every other train through to Frome River and build in some recovery time.

 

Here's my footage of the Swanage Railway Spring Steam Gala filmed yesterday. The highlights for me were 76084 and 34070 Manston climbing out of River Frome viaduct as well as Britannia making some noise as well. Overall In my honest opinion, 76084 and 34070 Manston stole the show for me. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

Excellent. Yes I agree 76084 was the star. It climbed up from River Frome with 34028 doing nothing on the back s that’s 350 tons with a little class 4 which sustained 19-20 mph on the 1-in-78 until nearly the top when it was eased for a speed restriction. We could hear it working hard from our coach at the back if the train. I had a run with 76066 with the same load on the SW main line in 1966 when it kept time.

I must add though that I hope that not all the linesiders were freeloaders. We have been to the Swanage Railway many times and always bought tickets whether or not we have travelled . I hope those who did not pay this weekend but got their shots are ashamed but no doubt will be the first to moan when Galas aren’t to their liking

 

76084 isn’t a bad little piece of kit, nice to see it’s making friends and influencing people away from Anglia
I say this with very much my enthusiasts hat on rather than any professional railway hat on btw.

 

76079 didn't get its 'Pocket Rocket' nickname for nothing! It was the perfect tool on the Cambrian line services in the early 00's. Shame '84 isn't out on the mainline a bit more, but options for use are limited unfortunately.

 

Realtime Trains (which, I suspect is linked to the same ststem) was also showing 34072 instead of 34070 all weekend (it was doing the same in February)

 

An excellent day on the trains yesterday, which ran almost to time compared to previous days. Only the last couple of trains were about 10 late. The U was even held at HX having stabled the freight, to allow the 16:30 to leave Swanage 14 late. Even passed through Norden Gates twice without stopping yesterday on the way back from Bridge 4. Stayed on set B all day as it luckily fitted what I wanted to do and being 6 coaches rather than the 4 and a half that set A was (due to Car 14) I expected it to be less crowded. I still find being around crowds difficult post Covid.
Trains were not that full yesterday which seems normal for a Sunday at any gala it seems these days, although I did notice on Friday they were less full than I expected. I hope the railway has made some money from the event.
Totally disagree with @gricerdon over only every other train going to Bridge 4. It is only once an hour as it is, that will just make those that do run uncomfortably rammed. For me it is the run out there and the freight running that makes it a gala. If I still lived in West London (rather than across the park) would I have come if there were no freights and less running to Bridge 4, I doubt it.
The thought also occurred to me that if a Wareham service was attempted during a gala the potential for mammoth delays is vast as the paths on to the national network would need to be met, thus delaying any other internal services. (Gets coast and leaves to avoid all those who expect it to operate on gala days)

I will agree the Standard 4 was the highlight of the show, along with good old Manston. The sounds from the 4 were great and Manston on Saturday when I saw it at Creech, and yesterday in the cutting approaching Furzebrook were very loud for a Bulleid.

Did feel sorry for the guy who wanted the 18:25 5o bus to Bournemouth, as we were all told the gate was open at the station road end, and it was not. By the time the train guard let us out of the exit by the Co op the bus pulled away as he ran for it. Down here in the sticks of course this was the last bus of the day. Hope he got where ever he was going.

70000 seemed to have difficulty not slipping leaving Swanage, yesterday and Saturday, did not recognise the driver, was it being driven by LSL? So whoever was driving the 10:30 driver experience today did quite well with only a couple of slips pulling away.

 

A few images from the weekend.

 

My video from across Saturday & Sunday. Our first visit since 2019 and our first Swanage Gala since 2014, the run to the River and back is certainly an excellent addition, really enjoyed our run there on the 4.33 ex Swanage on what was becoming Saturday evening with the delays, decided to film there for 76084 and later just before we left 34070 on the Sunday and it was well worth it. Many thanks as always to all involved in organising the event, hopefully it won't be 9 years till our next gala! Photos to follow once I have worked through them!

 

Enjoyed Friday and Saturday at the gala, was great to travel on the section to River Frome for the first time in a few years and also have a look around the mining museum at Norden on Friday. A selection of photos:
Friday




Saturday

 

Thank you - yes Swanage was Saturday morning, we were there for two hours and it was pretty much non-stop action!

 

Yes I know, I was the early turn signalman, in fact it was non stop from 0845 until I got relieved at 1330.

 

Those are some great photos.
I'll be honest, I didn't really think much of this event, it just seemed like a two train timetable with an engineers train slotted in the middle.

I did note the brakevan rides weren't really busy, perhaps I thought it was going to manic since it was the 1st gala they have held pre-Covid.

Perhaps next year will be more busy.

 

“You can't please all of the people all of the time”.

Thankfully I and many others thoroughly enjoyed it. Many thanks to the folk that worked tirelessly to make the event a success. <BJ>

 

Brake Van rides were busy. Set at a maximum of 10 persons on the Queen Mary, some chose to sit inside and if say the other six split themselves between front and back veranda it may have looked quiet.

 

My photos from across the Saturday & Sunday... https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/albums/72177720307088752