Hot News!Branch Line Weekend 1-2 April. Full details in last month’s Gazette or pick up a handbill at any station. Easter SpecialsOn Good Friday and Saturday, 14/15 April, there will be a Hot Cross Bun for every passenger on our trains and on Easter Day and Easter Monday, 16/17 April, there will be a Swanage Railway Easter Egg for every child passenger. There will be lots of trains, departing Swanage at 9.50 and Norden at 10.30 and then every 40 minutes. Evening TrainsOur augmented evening services between Swanage and Corfe Castle re-start over the Easter break. After then evening trains run every Friday and Saturday until the end of September. Travel on any train after 5.00 pm and enjoy unlimited travel for the evening for £4. Sometimes the train is a diesel multiple-unit, but sometimes it is a diesel-loco-hauled Dining Train:- The Travelling TavernThis service re-starts on Friday 14 April and then runs virtually every Friday until the end of September. The TT offers a selection of pub-type food with a full bar service and departs Swanage at 7.10 pm. A 3-course meal costs just £19.00, including the train fare. Those not taking a meal might like to take a drink in our Bar Car; the train runs until quite late. Booking strongly advised if you want a meal. For dates, bookings and train times call at the Station, phone 01929 425800 or visit our website at www.swanagerailway.co.uk. If you are interested in helping us on any of our catering trains, please contact Pat Welham on 01929 427 904. Purbeck Railway CircleOur next meeting is on Friday 21 April when Andrew Hook will tell us how the Great Western Society is re-creating a GWR Steam Railmotor. In the early 1900’s a number of railways experimented with self-contained steam-powered carriages to maintain branch-line services cheaply or to meet the competition from the new electric tramways. Our own London & South Western Railway built 17 of these but they were not unduly successful. The Great Western Railway built 99 and one of them is now being reconstructed from a steam railcar of 1908. Come and hear all about this exciting project. We meet in the Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Road, Swanage, at 7.00 for 7.30 pm. All welcome. Michael Walshaw, Secretary PRC, Station House, Swanage, BH19 1HB, phone 01929 421913. A Day in the Life of an Engine DriverIn 2004 Nick Hanham told us about his career and how he became a Driver on the Swanage Railway. He now tells us about a typical day as a Driver, so take a deep breath, folks, here goes: Early Turn. Up at 0500 so that I can be in Swanage by 0600. I sign on and read the notices, then check the fault book for my loco in case there have been any problems. Check with my fireman and cleaner. Ensure the water level is OK. While my fireman and cleaner attend to their duties, I oil and check the loco. This is very important as it gives me a chance to examine the loco in great detail, especially all the moving parts. I remove any water from the axleboxes, as water is not a very good lubricant! The water in the boiler is brought up to working temperature gradually to minimise the stress and strain caused by heat and steam pressure. Time for tea or coffee. I ensure that my loco has sufficient coal, water, oil and essentials such as the first aid burn kit. Before going ‘Off Shed’ (i.e. leaving the Loco Depot) I check with the Operations Manager whether any staff members are working line-side. I attach my loco to my first train, normally the 9.50 from Swanage, and check with the Guard the time, the weight of the train and any special requirements, for example if there are any passengers to alight at Herston Halt. Work trains as per timetable (this is what Nick wrote, but he is being ultra modest – it really is not as easy as that! Mike Walshaw). Most importantly, check that I have the correct single-line token for the section in my possession. I look out for all signals, with my fireman’s help where necessary for signals best seen on his side – it’s all teamwork. Keep a good lookout forward and back. I work my loco as lightly as possible to minimise the strain on the moving parts and the boiler. I use the gradients for slowing down or speeding up and know the exact stopping points at stations, aiming always give my passengers as smooth a ride as possible. After typically 7 hours on duty and three return runs, I hand over to the late-turn crew and sign off, logging any faults. Have a wash, cup of tea or coffee and sign off. That’s another day completed on the Swanage Railway! Nick Hanham, Driver, Swanage Railway If you are interested in helping us in any way contact Volunteer Liaison Officer Mike Whitwam on 01202 430894, write to him at SRT, Station House, Swanage, BH19 1HB or leave a note for him at Swanage Station Booking Office. |