Just 'CLICK' the thumbnails for a fullpage image! (1280 +853 nominal)
Swanage Rly Diesel Gala.. (13 May 2023)
A good day at Swanage.After a cloudy start the skies cleared to full blue all day----Well worth the trip to the South Coast!
Final shot of the day after being 'at it' for over 9 hours is the Northbound 'Beer-Ex' listed as '2N38' the 18:45 from Swanage to Northam and return to Swanage round trip.Power is the immaculate EE Type-4 D345.Seen passing under the farm bridge on Corfe Common.By this time (19:00) the sun had finally made on to the front end of trains going North,which was a nice finale to the day long session!
..13 may 2023..
Finally! after 8 hours I was able to picture 'Peak' 45108 with the light perfectly on the front end.Indeed this was the final Northbound train on the days schedule (Apart from the Beer-Ex's later).Here is '1R16' the 16:39 from Swanage going only as far as Norden because it was the final train of the days Gala.Seen on the Farm Crossing in the Hidden Valley north of Herston.Note the goons waving their arms about,something that is impossible and illegal now on the main railways.
..13 may 2023..
GBRf's 73107 'Tracy' with 73201 'Broadlands' doublehead the LT 4TC-Set 8028 through the 'Hidden Valley' north of Herston working '2C18' the 17:15 from Swanage to Corfe Castle.
..13 may 2023..
The sole surviving 'Clayton' type-1 D8568 on the rear trails South in the 'Hidden Valley' nr Dickers Farm Crossing with '1R13' the 15:32 from River Frome Viaduct to Swanage led by Crompton 33111.As this stage trains were running well over an hour later than scheduled,the usual 'gala' timetable slippage!
..13 may 2023..
The time now was approaching 17:00 and the timetable was running well over an hour late not helped by50021 failing when it was due to be on the rear of this train,the 15:39 from Swanage to River Frome Viaduct.its replacement D6515 required quite a bit of shunting around at Swanage to get organised!.So here is D345 leading '1R14' passing Dickers Xing with D6515 tagged on the rear.
..13 may 2023..
Two Tone-Green D1645/47830 'Beechings Legacy' rolls over Dickers Farm Crossing with '2C14' the 15:15 from Swanage to Corfe Castle in the late afternoon where amazingly the sun continued to shine until sunset..
..13 may 2023..
'Peak' 45108 passes Dickers Farm Crossing woth '1R11' the 14:32 from River Frome Viaduct to Swanage.By now it was approaching 16:00 in the afternoon and this was amazingly my first chance to picture it!
..13 may 2023..
'Clayton' D8568 in BR-Blue heads '1R12' the 14:39 from Swanage to River Frome Viaduct with its load of five Southern-Green coaches.
..13 may 2023..
'2C12' the 14:15 from Swanage to Corfe Castle passes Herston carriage sidings with 73201 'Broadlands' at the head.
..13 may 2023..
47830 gets away from Herston after a brief stop with '2C09' the 13:39 from Corfe Castle to Swanage.
..13 may 2023..
Resident D6515 passes Herston with '1R10' the 13:39 from Swanage bound for River Frome Viaduct.
..13 may 2023..
D1645/47830 'Beeching's Legacy' moves past the stock sidings at Herston with '2C10' the 13:15 from Swanage bound for carfe Castle.The stock being the LT 4TC-Set 8028.
..13 may 2023..
'Broadlands' 73201 pushes the 4TC-Set away from Harmons Cross as '2C07' the 12:39 from Corfe Castle to Swanage.
..13 may 2023..
BR-Green D345 runs into Harmons Cross on the tail-end of '1R08' The 12:39 from Swanage to River Frome Viaduct.
..13 may 2023..
50021 'Rodney' slows for the stop at harmons Cross.The duty being '1R08' the 12:39 from Swanage going up too River Frome Viaduct.Class-40 D345 is seen on the rear of the formation.
..13 may 2023..
'JB' 73201 'Broadlands' which famously hauled the 'Princess of Wales' funeral train in September-1997 approaches Harmons Cross with '2C08' the 12:15 from Swanage to Corfe Castle.
..13 may 2023..
Swanage Railway's very own 'Crompton' D6515 in immaculate BR-Green which is probably the best Class-33 in existence is viewed departing Harmons Cross with '1R05' the 11:32 from Frome River Viaduct to Swanage.
..13 may 2023..
Looking somewhat faded 47830 'Beeching's Legacy' departs harmons Cross with '2C05' the 11:39 shuttle from Corfe Castle to Swanage with the LT-4TC set in tow.
..13 may 2023..
This is the sole survivor of a class that totalled 117 examples but were sadly deemed to be a bit of a failure and only lasted in BR service for less than 10 years.This example D8568 was sold into Industry hence it survived long enough to be preserved....Here it is arriving at Harmons Cross on the rear of '1R06' the 11:39 from Swanage going up to River Frome Viaduct north of Norden.
..13 may 2023..
47830 is leading the 4TC-Set 8028 as it arrives at Harmons Cross working '2C06' the 11:15 from Swanage going only as far as Corfe Castle.
..13 may 2023..
Looking immaculate Large-Logo 50021 'Rodney' heads south over Corfe Common with '1R03' the 10:32 from River Frome Viaduct to Swanage service.
..13 may 2023..
This is the London-Transport owned and operated 4TC-Set 8028 working '2C03' the 1-:39 from Corfe Castle to Swanage service.73107 & 73201 providing the propulsion at the rear.Viewed in the distance are the ruins of the Corfe Castle that overlooks the town there.
..13 may 2023..
47830 in its well faded 2-tone green livery c/w the maroon LT 4-TC set crosses Corfe Common with '2C01' the09:39 from Corfe Castle to Swanage Gala working..Luckily the sun popped out just at the right moment...An hour later it was full blue for the rest of the long long day!