The 2018 Swanage Diesel Gala has a main line theme with trains running to Wareham from Corfe Castle, eight each day. So Ross and I decide to ride on the Friday as English Electric type 1 20007 was rostered on the Swanage end. 11/5/2018
So usually we start the gala at Norden but this time we went to Swanage as the first Wareham was leaving from there so we got the full branch in. On arrival at Wareham the train had to clear the down platform for a Weymouth train. Here it leaves the station to cross over and run into the up road.
Swanage resident D6515 brings 5Z43 Wareham to Wareham through the cross over into the up platform.
There were still passengers on board, Ross included. Our seats were right at end of the set next to the class 20 so we would get the full thrash on the climb from Bridge 4 to Furzebrook.
The view from the footbridge with D6515 on the back of 1Z43 1020 Wareham to Corfe Castle.
The third Wareham train gets away from Corfe with D6515 putting the power down with 1Z44 1155 Corfe Castle to Wareham.
On the back is BR green 20007. The crews were provided by GBRf.
The weather was perfect with glorious sunshine. 33111 runs in with 2N07 1130 Norden to Swanage.
The class 50's are always a popular choice for the gala and this year there were two. 50031 "Hood" stands at Swanage and has been repainted into InterCity livery to show what it would have looked like. This livery was never carried by the class, but my word it does look good.
The other class 50 this year is 50049 "Defiance" in large logo BR blue. Here it stands in platform 1 having worked in with 1N05 1320 off Norden to Swanage.
Hey Ian it's rude to point! Ian McDavid spots me has 45041 runs in with 2N13 1340 from Norden. He is the Swanage pilotman on the Peak this day.
The loco that brought in the convoy is GBRf's 66783 which carries the colours of waste management company Biffa. GBRF has signed a contract with Biffa and have painted a loco in their colours and named it "The Flying Dustman"!
Ross and I get some Peak power behind 45041 working 1N10 1546 Swanage to Norden. Running into Corfe station is a second class 20 loco, 20142 in London Transport livery. Its train is 2N19 1600 Norden to Swanage.
Back at Swanage and 20142 sits in the station loop waiting its next trip. It is owned by London Transport and carries the name "Sir John Betjeman"
50049 runs into Swanage with 2N21 1648 off Norden.
Up at Norden and BR green Hymek D7017 sits in the siding off the loop at the station.
The loco comes out of the loop with Steve Barker, Swanage pilotman, standing at the door.
Yea Gods! It's enough to frighten the French!!
At Corfe and the weather has turned wet. 66783 with 73136 tucked inside for brake translation wait for the arrival of the Wareham train. This working is 2N26 1730 off Swanage for Norden.
20007 passes 66783 with 2Z51 1741 Wareham to Corfe Castle. Ross and I will board the 4TC and ride to Wareham again and stay on for the full trip back to Swanage. 11/5/2018
Day two and Ross and I are photographing "over the road" on the Norden to Wareham section and the mainline trains. First up is 50049 with 2Z40 0815 Swanage to Wareham leaving Norden. 12/5/2018
As the train crosses the Wytch Farm oil terminal access road level crossing, Ian McDavid exchanges the token with the Norden Gates signalman. The train is about 40 minutes late due to a crew member needing their full legal rest period.
50049 passes the new road rail pad which has transformed the original ground here and obliterated the remains of the narrow gauge clay tramway that ran from Norden mines over the main road and across the railway on Skew Arch Bridge and then to the weigh bridge and onto Eldon Sidings behind me.
Turning round for the going away shot with D6515 on the rear of the 4TC set. The wagons on the right stand on Eldon Sidings where ball clay was transferred from Fayles narrow gauge wagons into standard gauge ones.
Moving on to the public crossing at Catseye and D6515 returns with 2Z41 0903 off Wareham to Corfe Castle. With the exception of the first up and last down trains all Wareham workings were not going beyond Corfe Castle.
D6515 passes below the A351 in what is now a very short tunnel, it was lengthened when the road was rebuilt and straightened. 50049 ticks over on the back of the train. These two locos are working the Wareham trains all day.
After a short layover the second Wareham service departs and here 50049 puts the power down to lift the 4TC set and class 33 up the rising 1 in 220 gradient here.
This working is 2Z42 0925 Corfe Castle to Wareham. The mainline crews are provided by GBRf. The type 4 made a lovely sound as it passed by under power.
D6515 is on the rear and it worked Wareham trains all three days of the gala.
Moving again the short distance to Motala crossing and looking towards Furzebrook D6515 and train comes into view. Ahead of it is some interesting track that won't be found on the gradient profile!
This working is 2Z43 1012 Wareham to Corfe Castle.
Turning round for the going away shot and this is where the original interchange between Network Rail and Swanage Railway was located.
50049 comes up the rising 1 in 80 gradient at Motala with 2Z44 1055 off Corfe Castle for Wareham.
The train passes by. In BR days when the Furzebrook terminal was used for oil loading, this section of track was used to store 100 tonne bogie tanks and the track was in terrible condition. Since Swanage Railway took over from Bridge 4 the branch has been rebuilt and relaid.
On the move again and now we are at Furzebrook on the road over bridge. Looking towards Wareham and D6515 is working hard bringing the 4TC and class 50 up the 1 in 78 gradient.
The Crompton is just about at the top of the climb from Bridge 4 with 2Z45 1137 Wareham to Swanage. The track on the right is the original main line and the new route takes the original loop that was here for the clay works.
As the train heads away, 50049 has passed over the turnout into the siding where ball clay was transferred from Pikes narrow gauge trains into standard gauge wagons. The reinstatement does not mean clay will once again go out by rail, that stopped in the mid 1980's.
We did not stop long at Furzebrook and we have moved to yet another footpath crossing, this time on Creech Heath. 50049 approaches through the cutting with 2Z46 1225 Corfe Castle to Wareham.
The train will be dropping for the next mile and a half to Bridge 4 then it will climb up to Worgret Junction.
Turning round for the going away shot as the train passes over the crossing. The speck of orange to the left is Swanage Railway photographer Andrew PM Wright.
This shot is taken at the actual foot crossing and the long lens bunches the view. D6515 has its Sulzer 8LDA28 1550hp powerplant working hard on the rising 1 in 78 gradient.
This is a great spot for hearing any loco working hard, I have not done it with steam though. This is 2Z47 1320 from Wareham to Corfe Castle.
D6515 is putting out a noticeable exhaust as it takes the train through the cutting towards Furzebrook and the top of the climb.
Our journey towards Wareham continues and Ross and I are now at Creech Bottom crossing. 50049 drops downgrade with 2Z48 1405 Corfe Castle to Wareham. The signs 9A and 9B are bridge numbers and relate to culverts under the embankment.
The type 4 loco is about to pass over the user worked crossing here, the location of the planned "train robbery" in January 1972 when the cowboys of the nearby Lazy C ranch planned to hold up the last ever train and "rob" the passengers for charity. The "Sheriff" stopped it all happening.
And again the obligatory going away shot.
This is another great spot for down trains as they are working hard on the climb. Here we seen D6515 again and it is just about to cross over Grange Road. The working is 2Z49 1437 Wareham to Corfe Castle.
The driver of D6515 notches up and the Sulzer powerplant puts out the clag. This is only the second time I have photographed here, the first time was on 8th August 2000 when the LPG trains still ran from Furzebrook and 66145 went in as 0V29 off Eastleigh and out as 6V29 2029 Furzebrook to Hallen Marsh loaded LPG tanks.
