Swanage Railway General Discussion

I will just add to this that it hasn’t been confirmed anywhere that there won’t be any Blue Pool shuttles during the R2R event - it’s possible to run the T3 brake van runs and the shuttles alternately.

 

Good point, time will tell.

For the diseal gala the 4TC is being used as air brake stock.

Are all the local hauled mark1 on the railway vaccum only, I thought they used to have some dual but could be wrong?

 

I think there’s a couple dual braked coaches but not enough to form up a full set. Can’t remember which numbers they are though.

 

This conversation alerted me to the T3 brake van rides on the River Frome section, which has made me a lot more interested in Roads to Rail than I previously had been so that might now appear in my diary, will certainly keep an interested eye out for the timetable for that one.

I'm keen to get over on a Blue Pool day if/when that starts but to be honest the appeal of doing that is 10% the quirk of a DMU to a new station and 90% the fact that the DMU doing that means the main diesel turn on those days will be loco hauled so there'll be a 33 or 20066 out!

 

Deleted.

 

Seemingly, the Blue Pool trial halt has been delayed until 2027.
Apparently, an ecological survey discovered 'protected' smooth snakes in the area and so a specialist licence has to be applied for before going further. This is not a quick application and so it was decided to defer everything for around 12 months.

 

Echoes of 1997 when we had the same issues. Took nearly a year to get the license having cleared the area of reptiles. By the time we were laying track they were back and didn't seem bothered by us or the trains. Nature is quite resilient.

 

I don't seem to be able to find any link to a relevant planning application on the Dorset Council website. Can anyone shed any light or provide a link please? It should all be public domain information, no?

 

According to the Dorset East (Wareham & Swanage) section of the DC planning department on Wednesday 29th April the planning application had by then been submitted but would not be appearing on the planning map etc. until it was valid.
It could be the wildlife survey ,or other unknown issues, that have caused the delay in validation.

 

The wildlife survey has caused the delay due to the habitat where the halt was to be constructed being home to rare/endangered species

 

I see the NVR based Class 45 has been withdrawn from the forthcoming diesel gala.

 

Just had a look on the Dorset wildlife trust.
The smooth snake is very rare, although high densities exist within the Purbecks.
They are extremely shy.
Well not that bloody shy, obviously happy to turn up in numbers and show off to the wildlife surveyors

 

I see the N has joined 31625 , guess the overhaul has stalled or cancelled then

 

something had an earth fault so it couldn't leave

 

Gricing Owls?

 

My verison of accounts from yesterday’s gala if anyone is interested!

Was my first time at a Swanage Diesel gala and it’s safe to say it certainly left a good impression with me! Well done to all those involved for hosting and creating such a great event.

 

Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. You certainly got to a lot of locations during the afternoon, I could only lineside the first three trains on the Furzbrook extension before taking over duty at Corfe signalbox.
I especially liked your footage of the treble headed class 33's on the 1739 ex Corfe, Even I did not know that was going to happen until the lead shunter advised me, a unique way to get them back to Swanage.

 

For your first visit you certainly did your research and found some good locations

 

Presumably to make space in the workshop for the return of 30053 and 80104 locos?

 

Work on the M7 moving along swiftly at Weybourne. <BJ>

NNR Engineering Works Updates

''Last look at LSWR M7 30053 at Weybourne. The final items of work in the contract are being completed ready for a return to Swanage next week''