[Jun 7, 2024] Strictly Bulleid 2 7th-9th of June at Swanage Railway (Swanage Railway)

Strictly Bulleid is back and will run between the 7th and 9th of June.

 

Details of the 7th - 9th June event will appear on: https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/strictly-bulleid-ii
According to this page the engines currently down to appear are:
34070 'Manston' ; 34028 'Eddystone' ; and 34072 '257 Squadron' all courtesy of Southern Locomotives Ltd.
SLL hope that 'Sir Keith Park' will have completed it's overhaul to be available by then. Might be tight, so time will tell I guess.
There were 5 spam cans in 2017 so I wonder if costs might allow the visit of any other Bulleids?
Can it be 57 years since steam ended on SR! Oh, I do feel old.

 

To be pedantic it was 3 spam cans and 2 rebuilds - great event though!

 

In conversation with SLL members on Thursday at Swanage, the current 'rumour' is 10 Bulleids.

 

I hope that includes rolling stock - if that's just locos then that's utterly ridiculous in the current climate.

 

Only 10? I can think off 13 possible candidates.

 

If the experience of the KWVR's GWR visitors is any guide you need to think big to make big returns - both in terms of passenger numbers and income.

 

That's only just possible isn't it? I count 11 operational without SKP, it's also including all the mainline ones which may or may not have duties. I would be amazed if they pulled that off.

Edit: Just further checked and Tangmere is reportedly occupied with the Northern Belle so that takes the number down to 11 with SKP!

 

And its been already said that 34059 won't be in attendance either. Depends also if 34046 is still in ticket then and whether 34081 will be allowed out so soon after firebox repairs

 

KWVR hired in 2 locos, the rest are home fleet. If Swanage want to field 10 Bulleids, that's 9 locos that need to be transported there. Ok, SKP is only a few hundred metres away, but it's still another low loader that would be hiring.

I make it 11 operational Bulleids at present. 34067 and 35018, almost certainly no chance. 34059 as @Ben Jenden had said is a no. That's 8, and even then 34053 must be a bit touch and go to make 9.

 

I wasn't aware of said statement so seems not even possible then...

 

Unless something had changed to allow 34059 out to Swanage. But to my knowledge it wasn't going to plus its definitely still being painted.

 

What is the issue with 34059 as Colin Tyson's editorial in the last Bluebell magazine saying it was possibly attending.

 

Not yet painted. We'll be lucky if it's even out this side of Branch Line and the its not thoroughly ran in according to SLLs comment when the event was announced

 

Although may include this (bearing in mind the date)
https://www.facebook.com/p/SLL-Southern-Locomotives-Ltd-100070026408675/

 

Facebook page says another exciting announcement is imminent

 

Well 3 or more Bulleids will be enough to lure me away from my sofa in Surrey. Actually I've seen all the operational Bulleids in steam apart from 35018 but that doesn't matter. If it's anything like as good as the last event it will be worth the trip (and I'm primarily a GWR fan).

 

This is an event I'm certainly interested in, it's been a long time since I last went to Swanage. Does anyone have the best advice for getting to the line, as someone who'd be travelling from Sussex by train if I do end up going?

 

Depends from where in Sussex. Normally way cheaper via Barnham & change at Southampton than via Clapham Junction. Do not plan for the Sunday as first train arrives half through the morning. Bournemouth OK for the bus (50) coming down as it starts at the station, but going back depending on when you want to leave good chance you may have to end up outside on an open top. 40 to & from Wareham is always a closed bus and previous years by June extra routes like the 30 & 35 also operate between Wareham and Swanage. There are of course less SWR trains to Wareham, and if it is a day things go wrong trains can get cancelled west of Bournemouth.
If you are planning on more than one day I suggest you try to book accommodation now, as there is less than there used to be.

 

That's very helpful thank you. I'd be going from Haywards Heath on probably the Saturday if I do end up going and try and squeeze it into one day if I can, so have the choice of going along the coast or up to Clapham Junction, I do also have access to a railcard and an app to try and reduce ticketing prices.

I haven't fully committed to going yet and of course there's possible engineering works and strikes that may impact my plans if do go.