The 2007 Swanage Railway Diesel Gala and Beer Festival kicks off with visiting 47635 working 2N01 0900 Swanage to Norden with visiting D1015 on the back. 11/5/2007
At Norden the class 47 came off leaving D1015 to work 2S01 0950 from Norden back to Swanage. Pete Duncalfe, the Swanage driver, made a quick phone call and I was summoned down for a cab ride to Swanage in a Western. Oh yes!!
D1015 comes to a stand at the double acting down home signal at Corfe Castle. The up train is in and waiting for us.
Seen from the cab of D1015 is Swanage resident D6515 with 4VEP unit 3417 on loan from South West Trains. On the back of the EMU is the last of the visiting locos, E6043/73136 and 73208. Ian McDavid takes a photo and James Cox looks on.
73208 is the last loco with E6043 in side, they were on hire from GBRF.
The one steam diagram was worked by BR Standard 4MT 80078, seen here at Harmans Cross waiting for the Western hauled train.
Our train has the road into platform 2 passing shunter 08436 and D8188 which will take this train back to Norden.
Another Swanage resident diesel is class 20 D8188, it is waiting to take over the train brought in by D1015.
Who'd have thought it, a Western at the stop blocks at Swanage. Pete Duncalfe looks out from the secondman's seat. This class is his all time favourite, he was in his element.
D1015 Western Champion sits on the stop blocks.
English Electric type 1 D8188 is about to depart with 2N05 1030 Swanage to Norden.
Moving up to Harmans Cross and 80078 departs from the station with 2S03 1030 Norden to Swanage.
E6043 or 73136 is privately owned but is operated on the main line by GBRf. Here it emerges from the sidings at Harmans Cross passing the 1996 built signalbox.
The shuttle service from Norden passes the down home for Harmans Cross.
73208 runs into Harmans Cross with 2H04 1050 shuttle from Norden.
E6043 moves out of the up platform to drop down onto the 4VEP.
E6043 slowly runs in to couple onto the 4VEP unit in the platform.
A modest burst of sunlight paints the scene at Harmans Cross as E6043 is ready to depart with 3417 and 73208 still on the rear.
Train 2N06 departs Harmans Cross at 1105 for Norden with 73208 passing the 'box.
Brush type 4 47635 is owned and operated by Seco-Rail having bought the loco from EWS. It runs in with 2S05 1110 Norden to Swanage with Swanage's Pete Sykes leaning out to exchange the token.
The driver opens the power handle and the Sulzer 12LDA28C 2580hp power plant winds up with a black cloud of clag.
73208 was removed from the 4VEP at Norden. The unit worked back to Harmans Cross as 2H06 1130 off being propelled in push-pull mode by E6043.
A quick turn round is guaranteed as all the driver has to do is change ends. 3417 slips away from Harmans Cross with 2N08 1130 off.
The next Swanage departure approaches climbing at 1 in 76 towards Harmans Cross station with D1015 in charge on 2N09 1150 from Swanage.
The train passes below Haycrafts Lane and will take the turnout into the up platform loop. Pete Duncalfe can be seen in the secondman's seat.
The diesel hydraulic type 4 stands in the up platform.
80078 heads back to Swanage with the second of its four trains, 2S07 1150 from Norden. On arrival it will go on shed until mid afternoon.
In a scene that could have come straight from the late 1960's as D6515 works 3417 into Corfe Castle with 2H08 1210 Norden shuttle to Harmans Cross.
The shuttle service returns with D8188 hauling the 4VEP with D6515 on the rear. This is 2N10 1225 off Harmans Cross
Train 2S09 1230 from Norden is worked by the two ED locos with 73208 leading. They come to a stand beside D6515 on the back of 3417.
The ruins of Corfe Castle form the backdrop to D6515 on the rear of 3417 leaving Corfe station.
Following a short but heavy downpour, 47635 runs into Corfe station with 2N11 1230 Swanage to Norden. Time for lunch!
Brush type 4 locos used to work into Swanage during the last years of the branch's life on heavy summer through trains. 47635 stands at the buffer stops at the seaside terminus station.
73208 enters the loop at Norden to wait for its next working.
Sitting shut down in the siding at Norden next to diesel electric crane FBC 1 between trains.
4VEP 3417 has arrived at Norden, 1425 from Harmans Cross 2N17 having been brought in by D6515. 73208 will drop onto the unit for the run back to Harmans Cross.
D6515 is back on the full distance trains and enters Corfe Castle's down platform loop with 2S18 1510 Norden to Swanage.
Just like the old days of the push-pull class 33/1s and 4TC sets. 73208 propels 3417 away from Corfe, 2N19 1505 from Harmans Cross. Unfortunately Swanage's 33/1, 33108 was unavailable for the event.
E6043 runs into Corfe station with 3417 and 2N21 1545 from Harmans Cross. Behind is the station's new footbridge and it fits into the charm of the station perfectly.
The steam turn is back out again and 80078 works back to Swanage with 2S20 1550 from Norden.
The 4VEP was proving very popular with the hardcore gricers who were out on the Friday of the 3 day event.
47635 toys with the four coach EMU as it enters the station at Corfe working 2H21 1610 Norden to Harmans Cross.
D1015 ticks over at Norden waiting for the next train to run in.
And here it is. 73208 runs into Norden with 3417 on 2N23 1625 from Harmans Cross. The class 73 has a 600hp English Electric SRKT mk2 diesel engine for working away from the third rail. D1015 has two Maybach MD655 1350hp power plants.
D1015 pauses at Harmans Cross having worked in with 2H23 1650 from Norden.
The rain is back on as 47635 is coupled onto the 4VEP for the 1705 departure back to Norden, 2N25.
On the back of the EMU is D1015. The shuttle departs from the down platform that is signalled for bi-directional running.
D8188 runs into Harmans Cross station with 2N26 1710 from Swanage. So endeth the first day, a quick meal at my parent's house and it was down to the beer tent...dreadful :-) 11/5/2007
