2013 Swanage Railway Diesel Gala

It's the first day of the 2013 Swanage Diesel gala and the sun is shining and the crowds are out. Type 1 20189 leads 20227 over Corfe Common with 2S03, 1000 off Norden for Swanage. 10/5/13

The pair wear non prototypical liveries for the class, with 20189 in London Transport livery and 20227 in London Underground colours.

The train looks quite well loaded at the windows at least as the train approaches Afflington Bridge.

Viewed from the other side of the busy A351 road, always a challenge to cross in a hurry, the 20's turn for Harmans Cross.

An up train was passed at Harmans Cross and a third class 20 providing the motive power on its own. BR blue 20142 fronts 2N06 1000 Swanage to Norden. This loco was a last minute replacement for original Peak 44004 which suffered electrical problems before leaving Butterley, I was gutted.

The next train is also an up working, 31466 is paired with 4VEP unit 3417 and forms 1N04 1030 Swanage to Norden. The train climbs to Afflington bridge.

The train drops down over Corfe Common and we can see 31446 is in EWS livery.

The tall distant signal is now fixed at caution but in BR days it was pulled from Corfe 'box. The signal post survived the dismantling of the line and stood over a "sleeping" trackbed for many years.

A down train emerges from the under bridge on Corfe Common at Townsend, 33108 leads 2S05 1045 from Norden to Swanage.

The wonderful morning sun lights up the whole scene with the ruins of Corfe Castle standing sentinel over the Purbecks.

The line is climbing in the direction of travel at 1 in 80 and the type 3 is handling the six mkIs with ease. It is displaying headcode 81 which was Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour fast, via Worplesdon.

G-SPEY is a Bell Jet Ranger II helicopter owned by Castle Air Ltd of Liskeard, Cornwall. What it was doing flying over Afflington is unknown.

33108 crossed an up train at Harmans Cross with former EWS type 3 37521 leading 2N08 1045 off Swanage to Norden.

Always a favourite at Swanage, a Deltic. 55019 "Royal Highland Fusilier" comes over the common with 4VEP 3417 "Gordon Petit" on 1S03 1105 Norden to Swanage.

The castle ruins form the most dramatic backdrop on any preserved line in my opinion. 55019 running on just one engine lifts the four coach EMU with ease up the 1 in 80 pull.

A few gricers hang from the first coach to take in the Napier two stroke music.

Lest We Forget. All credit and respect to the operators of 55019 as it carried a wreath all weekend in honour of two members of the Royal Highland Fusiliers and a soldier of the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland who were sadly killed a few days previously whilst serving in Afghanistan.

With the single Napier Deltic powerplant putting out a haze of two stroke clag, 55019 turns to head east for Harmans Cross and Swanage.

Corfe Castle now and 20147 runs in with the castle ruins towering above the train, 2S07 1130 Norden to Swanage. Nice as this loco is, I really wanted Peak D4 "Penyghent" which was booked but failed a few weeks previously.

This mainline registered loco was the convoy motive power but was not rostered to run sadly.

The second Deltic was present at the gala but not running. D9009 "Alycidon" in BR two tone green livery is parked up in Corfe's dock road.

Resident 33111 enters the up station loop at Corfe Castle with 2N10 1130 from Swanage to Norden.

The BRCW type 3 passes the English Electric type 5.

Station work complete, 33111 takes its train out of Corfe for the short run to Norden.

Two locos in EWS livery, 37521 looks very scruffy with well worn paint and patches of bodyside rust. Whereas 31466 looked immaculately turned out.

The down train is 2S09 1215 Norden to Swanage and they pause at Corfe with D9009 to the right.

Even more English Electric motive power with type 1s 20227 and 20189 arriving into the loop with 1N06 1200 Swanage to Norden.

This shot has types 1, 2, 3, and 5 all together. Shame there wasn't a class 47 or class 50 for a type 4.