Swanage Railway General Discussion

Funny as I have checked that for a few people post Covid and it has been expensive. Diesel Gala weekend last year people were moaning it was around £110 a night.

 

It's the way of the world ATM.
So many have gone over to Air BnB, the sooner we turn our back on them, refuse to pay their inflated prices then reality will kick in.
On the other hand, staff are getting rare, demand more money.
What are B&B owners expected to do?
My daughters both worked as chambermaids from the age of 14 (this was 20 odd years ago) and were lucky to get a job as they worked in a friends B&B, every young girl was looking for work.
Now the bank of mum and dad subsidise their children so they do not have to work.

 

Travelodge can be £30 per night, but many hotels and airbnb now do dynamic pricing and put up prices when they see an event is on or during school holiday times. It's not a popular practice with guests, but maximises the hotel profit.

 

From the Corfe Castle webcam it seems the one photo I wanted from the event happened! 31806 waiting at Corfe Castle, not obscured by steam, as 34070 gently opened up to cross the U class as it arrived with its freight train. Not sure if the Castle would have also been in view from the end of the platform where the meet took place, but I think there may have been two serious gricers there. So I think that scene was captured - really great.

The weather around here is not good, a number of main roads including motorways are showing slow traffic in falling snow that was forecast to only be sleet. Should turn to rain later in the night.

OK the weather shouldn't have impacted on me driving down and back, but that is with hindsight of course.

Thanks for the info about rooms etc.

I've been spoiled by the relatively remote southern Scotland farm B and Bs I stayed in during the years I spent studying Short-eared Owls up on the moors at night. I'll just have to re-think my Swanage visits strategy before the next event that I'd like to get down to.

Bryan

 

Was it just me or was 2025 winter warm up much busier then last year? It seemed like many people were acc buying train tickets and not just watching, the steam set was also 5 car where historically it’s only been 4.

Been reading the winter magazine and they have had a huge turnaround with the first year of the recovery plan, with year 2 turning the operation into a charity should bring an extra 250k per year.


Let’s hope 2025 keeps being a good year

 

Yep, It seems positive stuff coming out of Swanrail HQ

 

Given the weather warnings - I went on Thursday for that reason and very nice it was too, it all sounds promising

 

Well the T3 has been taking off the 10.30 set at 10.10 even though it’s been attached to it since 9.30… hopefully it will couple back and there isn’t an issue, seems to be some shunting around

 

Seems to be a delay as the 1030 Norden is still at Corfe. Has D6515 gone to rescue 563?

 

563 now at Corfe on time but 1030 Norden still there

 

Always fine it annoying how they struggle to run to time.

I so hope the 2024 diesel gala has an improved timetable, even if it’s the same style service, they should change the timetable from every 60mims to every 70mins as they have never ran to time.


The timetable planning just doesn’t seem to be as good these days



Does anyone know the reason behind todays late running first services ??

 

In regards with the freight set, isn’t the one being part of the P-Way gang active set?

Where is the more historic set, including the box vans, while I know the railway has disposed of a good few unrestored wagons I don’t think they have got rid of the classic wagon set?

 

I thought the freight set in use behind 34070 yesterday was great. To quite an extent it brings back the Meldon Quarry 'ballast' trains if my memory is correct. I am sure I have seen photos of a Bulleid pacific hauling one back in the day, but a quick GOOGLE search hasn't found one . . . . .yet!

Bryan

 

Last year the T3 ran with the train of hopper wagons. Although not authentic, it really did look superb. Of course the glorious weather certainly helped. <BJ>

 

Sunday 5th January

 

Didn’t the same thing happen yesterday? The 1030 Norden stuck at Corfe until the 1030 Swanage had arrived. Something to do with block working ? Today very smart operating meant the service recovered well until the last down train. It seems the basic timetable is fine

 

Both days had nothing to do with timetabling issues.

Saturday there was a points failure at Harmans Cross which put 25 minutes into the timetable early doors.

Today, Harmans Cross signal box locking room was flooded due to the severe rain experienced. This meant that the signal box could not be switched in for the first couple of services. After that, the timetable recovered very quickly and services ran to time apart from the last trip which lost some time en-route.

In relation to your previous enquiry regarding 563. Nothing was wrong with the engine, it was decided to add 34070 to the rear of the first up to provide assistance. Due to the poor railhead conditions, a result of the torrential rain and the T3 struggling for adhesion in such conditions this call was made.

Manston was due to follow up light engine anyway, so why not add it to the train to avoid delay.

 

I enjoyed watching the Swanage rail cams today, a smart turnout and some sharp get-aways from Swanage. I did watch the NYMR from time to time. (I have 3 computers, being confined to quarters they are one of my life-lines ) but Swanage had the edge due to the variance in the roster.
I thought of the other NP threads which are critical of heritage railways and could't help thinking of the staff and volunteers who were working in wet and cold conditions - no disgruntlement there it appears. And not forgetting those customers who travelled to ride the trains in the same cold and wet conditions.

 

Rather than start a thread at this late date I will post some images here.
It was what I have called an F ing weekend, i.e. freight and floods.
So Saturday was bitterly cold, at least to me, and despite the car showing 6C felt more like minus 6 , going home for lunch and an extra layer failed to help and even spending most of the time in the car I was still cold at 21:00.
Rain may have held off until after the last train, but then it rained all night. I had a ticket for Sunday and when I opened the bedroom blinds I could see water in Swan Brook, only the second time in the 10 years we have lived here. So a little concerned if the rain did not stop, and how I could walk to the station without getting soaked.
First train Sunday was as mentioned T & T T3 and Manston, which I was unaware of until we reached HX as I was in the coach behind the T3. It was not a day for hanging out of a droplight. Whilst loads looked good Saturday, the awful weather impacted yesterday I suspect. Of course both days NR/SWR "helped" with RRB Woking to Basingstoke on Saturday and a double diversion on the Sunday trains. Railway did very well to keep basically to time on Sunday.
Day 1 Images

 

Day 2 images with a couple to show the flooded fields either side of the line. The first being Dickers Crossing (no lineside photographers present and the second looking from Cowpat Crossing towards Herston Halt. A couple of reflections at Norden where I felt sorry for the guards having to wade through the water.
Final image of the T3 and Manston at HX having had to wait for the 33 to arrive. Seemed quite atmospheric, even in the rain, as there were no lights on the up platform for some reason.