The 2017 Swanage Railway Diesel Gala kicks off with a surprise as 33111 runs into Corfe station whilst I was buying a bacon roll!! The train is 2N04 0915 Swanage to Norden. 5/5/2017
Class 26 loco D5343 slows for its station stop at Corfe with the first up class 1 working pf the day, 1N02 0954 off Harmans Cross to Norden.
The BRCW type 2 is owned by the Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group and is based on the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway. Few people are about at this time of the day.
A timeless scene that could be taken in the early 1960's. Two tone BR green class 47 1842 approaches with 2N03 1000 fro Norden to Swanage.
With the castle ruins standing sentinel in the background, 1843 absolutely looks the part in its work stained livery. It is based at the Crewe Heritage Centre.
GBRf are enthusiastic supporters of the Swanage Diesel Gala and usually supply a loco or two. This year is no exception and 73961 and 73119 have made the trip.
73961 is air braked only but 73119 is dual braked so it acts as a brake translator. The pair are in charge of 2N06 1000 Swanage to Norden.
Another air braked only loco is Colas type 5 56096 with 33111 inside working the 1020 off Norden to Swanage, 1N01.
Four locos on two trains as the up and down workings pass each other under the ever guarding ruins of Corfe Castle.
This guy appears in at least one of my photos every year, my elder brother and the person who has influenced me most in my life, Danny.
The secondman on D5343 exchanges the token with the signalman as the loco passes the signalbox as it slows for its station stop.
The wonderful vista of Corfe Castle station with D5343 in charge of 2N05 1045 from Norden to Swanage.
Entering the station loop is a pair of BR green English Electric type 1 locos D8188 and D8059 with a class 1 working to the Eastern Region according to the headcode.
The pair are actually working 2N08 1045 to Norden from Swanage, a class 2 service.
The pair head away from Corfe for Norden just under a mile away.
Another up service arrives with English Electric type 4 50026 Indomitable at the head in Network SouthEast livery. Its train is 1N04 1116 Swanage to Norden. The class 50 is a favourite choice for the annual gala.
The electro-diesel pairing of 73961 and 73116 return with 2N07 1130 Norden to Swanage. 73961 differs greatly from 73119 in that it was re-engineered by Brush in 2014 and is now fitted with a MTU 8V4000 R43L 1600Hhp power plant.
Another popular class of loco, especially for me, is the class 45 Peak and this year 45041 Royal Tank Regiment is guesting. 33 years and 3 days since I first photographed this loco I get it again as it enters Corfe up station loop.
45060 runs through the up platform with 2N10 1130 off Swanage to Norden. This is my favourite class of loco.
D8058 and D8188 pass over Sandy Hills Lane bridge with 1N03 1150 Norden to Swanage. The tall double acting down home signal is off for the pair. D8188 was a resident of the railway for several years but left in 2007 to assist in the rebuilding of the Severn Valley Railway after the devastating flood of that year.
50026 returns with 2N09 1215 Norden to Swanage and it passes the roof of a house built into the formation just inches from the passing trains.
The Swanage Railway pilotman is founding volunteer and good guy Pete Frost. The weather has turned quite dull and overcast.
Displaying the correct headcode of 2N12 is 1842 on the 1215 Swanage departure for Norden. It has brightened up somewhat.
The clean but weary looking paint job on 1842 really does look authentic. The Brush type 4 slows for its station stop. The Swanage pilotman is Pete Duncalfe.
The convoy of visiting locos was brought in by GBRf using 66741 named Swanage Railway. Here the loco approaches the up home signal at Schools Crossing just south of Corfe station.
The loco had one round trip a day in the rota and this is it, 1N06 1246 off Swanage for Norden.
Looking down to Corfe station from Schools Crossing and up and down trains cross. 45041 pauses with 2N11 13100 Norden to Swanage.
The familiar sound of a Sulzer 2,500hp 12LDA28B power plant hard at work as the driver powers away from Corfe. The Royal Tank Regiment name was rededicated in a ceremony on Swanage station the previous day. The Regiment HQ is at nearby Bovington.
45041 passes the down starter and the gradient is about to change to a climbing 1 in 80 over Corfe Common.
The 1300 up and down departures cross at Harmans Cross station and here is the 1300 up service with 56096 and 33111 providing the power.
The train has the road into the station loop.
Corfe becomes very busy again as trains cross each other. 66741 with 73116 makes its trip back to Swanage with 1N05 1320 Norden to Swanage.
The class 1 trains are not booked to stop at Herston or Harmans Cross stations. 66741 will not be taxed with its load of a class 73 and five mkI coaches.
The next down service runs into the station with no up train to cross. The loco crew are playing the game and changing the headcode blinds each trip. 2N13 is the 1345 off Norden for Swanage.
The driver notches up and the Sulzer 12LDA28C 2,580hp powerplant puts out the clag. The stiff 1 in 80 climb over Corfe Common lies ahead.
The exhaust has cleared as 1842 passes the down starter located at the end of the loop.
The familiar face of Bournemouth SWT driver and mate from school, Phil Milesko makes himself known.
Dropping off the common at 1 in 80 falling is D5343 with 2N16 1345 from Swanage to Norden.
Turning round for the going away shot of D5343 with the Pullman Observation coach getting a good trade.
A lizard catches some rays and gets a warm. I do not know what kind of lizard this is.
The rare reptile soaks up the sun and gets a heat.
After a few minutes it is joined by another. I am guessing these are a male and a female as the markings are different.
The pair of class 20's return with their next working, 1N08 1416 off Swanage to Norden.
The Jolly Fisherman headboard relates to these locos working holiday trains to Skegness on the East Coast. Swanage driver Ian McDavid looks out as he brings the train in towards Corfe.
Colas 56096 stands well clear of the end of the platform as it waits the token and the guards whistle. The train is 2N15 1430 Norden to Swanage.
There are a lot of heads at windows to get the thrash from the Paxman 16RK3CT 3,250hp powerplant as it lifts the class 33 brake translator and five mkI coaches away from the station and up the 1 in 80 climb to Afflington.
Standing on the foot crossing as the train heads south and the Pullman Observation coach is the end of the train.
The pair of class 73 locos approach now with 2N15 1430 Swanage to Norden, they are passing over Wurzel's crossing.
