Swanage Autumn Steam Gala 12 - 14 September

Hi Rumpole

Do you really this it is wise to run 4 coach sets? Would it work with fewer 5 coach sets or even 6 coaches. Less risk of standing and would make the locos work harder

 

Unfortunately I am not sure locos working harder is what is needed in Dorset at the moment and I suspect based on the current forecast in mid September. It is only 4 weeks tomorrow to the first day.

 

Fair point though with my current health problems there is no way I will be able to stand so my usual plan is to start in one set and stay there until I take a break for photos somewhere. When can we expect to see the final timetable?

 

The website has not been updated yet with the t/table,i think Gladiator mentioned on here the t/tables with locos has been posted on Faceache,but many of us dont belong to it so after a few seconds it vanishes.

 

I appreciate they are a bit blurry, but this is the best we have until it’s uploaded onto the website.

 

Many thanks

 

Great reads quite well especially if you increase the screen size.

 

I believe special rotas have been arranged for volunteers to be stationed at various locations along the line with a view to beating out any small lineside fires should they occur.
Needless to say - adequate rainfall prevents these sorts of problems.
Keep your fingers crossed for reasonable amounts of aqueous precipitation in the few days between the Classic & Steam Vehicle Rally at Norden [NOT at Harmans Cross this year] and the Autumn Steam Gala.

 

That is what happened at the Spring Gala and was very successful. The gala was at the end of March. We are still suffering from a lack of rain nearly 5 months later. [BJ]

 

Yes it seemed to work well on a 5.5 mile line. More of a challenge going down to River Frome.
A headline in the papers of "Trainspotters destroy Stoborough Heath Nature Reserve with a fire" is maybe not the best PR for the railway.

Talking of trainspotters the other day some teenager on a bike stopped whilst I was on Northbrook Road Bridge at Swanage. Asked if I was a Trainspotter, I answered no I have an interest in railways.
OK he said it is just that my mum spots trainspotters, then he rode off leaving me somewhat bemused.

 

Downloadable Swanage timetable now available - https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/uploads/Events/autumn_2025_wtt_incl_locos_v2_pdf.pdf

 

On the Friday the 1510 ex Frome River will meet the 1515 from Swanage somewhere near the top of the climb out of Corfe. I wanted to be on one of these but probably safer not to be! Presumably there will be an amended timetable

Don

 

The correct Corfe departure time for the 1510 ex-River Frome is 1540. I must admit, I'm slightly surprised there aren't more obvious typos, given that I only threw these Excel versions together to check the 'back of a fag packet' loco workings actually worked!

In terms of loco directions, it is planned that 563, 926, 31806 and 34072 face Wareham, and 30506 and 34070 face Swanage.

 

Thanks. It’s a great timetable. Presume you mean 34070 faces Swanage as now.

 

Thanks; edited. What was it I said about typos...?!

 

No excuse for not running longer trains now with all this rain and more to come. I may not attend if the train lengths aren’t increased as I can’t get runs with all the locos I would like without dodging between trains which isn’t easy for me now and I certainly can’t stand

 

Fire risk was not the restriction on set lengths for the forthcoming Steam Gala; all of our currently available coaches will be in use.

 

I have checked the timetable, but can't see that 30506 heads a freight train chimney first on any day, unless I've missed that. And that the freights don't come into Swanage. So no chance of 30506 arriving past the loco shed.

Does anyone know yet which of the sets A, B or C will have the observation car in please? I presume that will be the 5 car set?

Bryan

 

In the Swanage Railway thread it was posted that. Set B would include the Obs coach but I don’t know if this is still the case

Don

 

Please can anyone advise if either of the visting locos will be in use in the week following the gala as per 41313 and 4953 after the spring gala?

Thanks.