The Swanage Railway Trust

Infrastructure Support Group

The embryonic Infrastructure Support Group has now met on three occasions and completed two important tasks – the painting of the lamp posts at Swanage Station and the re-fencing of the Picnic Area at Swanage. Both these tasks have improved the environment and passenger experience and have been made possible by just a small number of people. IF YOU FEEL YOU COULD HELP PLEASE JOIN THEM ON THE THIRD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. Please contact Frank Roberts for more details.

Terms and Conditions for Paid Staff

As I hope all paid staff are now aware we have undertaken the task of revising contracts and putting all existing policies together in a new staff handbook. A small number of staff have already had these issued and this process will continue over the next few weeks. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Keith Gooding.

Staff Barbeque

Debbie Wilkins (a volunteer in the shop) is organising this event for all staff, both paid and volunteer on Sunday 14th August at 7pm (postponed from July due to the weather).

• Venue – The Picnic area at Swanage Station
• Cost – £2.50 meal and soft drink
• Alcohol will not be served, please bring your own.

Tickets will be available from the Birds Nest or Debbie in the Shop.
Please support this event.
 

Around the Railway

Marketing

July has been a difficult month with passenger revenue during the early part of the month down on last year. This last week has seen revenue levels recover somewhat and I now think we shall end the month just ahead of last year. This will however leave us £9k short of budget which was set at what was considered a reasonable increase based on the proposed fare increase and new business. I do not think that our failure to reach budget is because of what we have or have not done, but due to the general slow down of the economy. From talking to other attractions in the area it would appear we are faring better than most.

The Santa leaflet has now been published and copies are available from the Marketing Office.

Retail

Shop opening times are Monday to Sunday 9.30am to 5.30pm. Receipts for the month of July are expected to be over budget.

Station Buffets

The Birds Nest Buffet still struggles on Sundays with a big shortage of staff/volunteers to cover for a very busy weekend. We try to give a good service to the public but it is a strain on the staff and resources so any help would be very welcome.

Operations

Due to passenger demand we started to operate the Green timetable on the 12th July, with the DMU running in the second pathway.

I am sorry to report that Peter Duncalfe has resigned as training officer for Cleaners, for personal reasons. Peter has carried out these duties in his own time for the benefit of the railway, since the start of the NVQ system the competency of our staff has improved beyond all expectation. Unfortunately his deputy John Edwards has also resigned; this is a big blow to the training of our staff. I am in the process of reorganising the elements of the training so that it will not be such a drain on one persons free time. The Track Safety training will be done separately although it will remain part of the NVQ logbook.

On Tuesday 26th July a DOGFISH ballast wagon arrived on the railway, this will be followed by two Maunsell coaches from the Mid Hants Railway, and four coach bogies when we have a crane to lift them. Two TURBOT wagons will be leaving for the Bluebell Railway on loan, they will be used on their spoil trains on the extension to East Grinstead. The Bulleid brake coach is ready to be moved to Rampart as soon as it is requested.

Locomotive, Carriage & Wagon

Locomotives

• 80078 Available for traffic.
• 34028 Available for traffic.
• 813 Available for traffic.
• 6412 Available for traffic.
• D6515 (Class 33) Available for traffic.
• 33 108 Available for traffic.
• 08 436 Available for traffic.
• 108 DMU Available for traffic.

DMU class 117 DMB 51346 entered service on 14th June 2005 and failed on 30th June 2005 with water in one of the cylinders owing to a faulty cylinder head. A replacement cylinder head, from a spare power unit at Herston works, is being fitted this week. It is hoped the vehicle will be available for traffic in early August.

Coaches

TSO 4349 entered the goods shed on 10th June 2005 for attention to doors and a repaint of sides, ends and roof, and internal varnishing. This vehicle was returned to traffic on 27th July 2005.

BG 92607 is now in the goods shed undergoing repairs to the body panels and overhaul of all the doors. It will then be repainted inside and out. It is estimated that this vehicle will be in the goods shed for 12 weeks.

Two sets of five coaches for the daily service trains and the five coach dining train are available for traffic.

Freight vehicles

Four wheeled box van number 775832 was in the goods shed from 10th June until 27th July during which time a new sliding door was made and fitted. Vehicle back in traffic.

Queen Mary brake van B56289 is back in the goods shed to have a new timber floor installed and repairs to doors and bodywork. This will be followed by inspection of the brake and running gear and a repaint.

Infrastructure

A meeting of the Inf Gp Managers was held on Sat 23 July, during which the state of the Inf Gp was discussed.

It is increasingly clear that the Railway needs a waste management policy. Dennis Gregory and myself are due to meet on Mon 1 Aug to consider the practical aspects of this.

Signal and Telegraph

Corfe Castle Shunt Signals to No. 6 siding. Documentation has been vetted by our independent consultant and is be ready for submission to the HMRI. Equipment for the 2 shunt signals has been sourced, refurbished, assembled and is ready for installation later in the year.

Motala signaling. Documentation has been seen by Network Rail who have suggested minor alterations to the locking of the ground frame. The revised documents will now be sent to the HMRI. Equipment is still being sourced and refurbished. A site inspection and program of works will be prepared shortly

Swanage signaling to No 2 platform and loop. The 2 aspect route indicator, which was donated by a member from the Colne Valley Railway, has been refurbished and installed. The wiring to the location cabinet and signal box is complete and the indicator is now working. Minor adjustments may be required before practical completion is given. This is only a temporary solution. A permanent solution will involve replacing the Inner Home Signal with a bracket signal which will have a dedicated signal for the loop. This will be a separate project.

Telecom

The Telecom Fault Report Line H28 has now been transferred from Frank’s house to the Telecom store at Swanage. This means that all Telecom staff will be able to take messages from the answerphone, and hopefully speed up response time.
The two Peters continue with their unseen but vital work in improving the exchanges. Peter Harris is spending much time at home producing new exchange diagrams, which will be printed soon.

Stuart Nutbeem, our newest member, has agreed to take on the BCM as his responsibility, and will be familiarising himself with the system over the coming weeks. He will also look at any IT issues that may arise. – Good to have someone who understands these things!

Civil Engineering

On going masonry repair work to the abutments and wing walls to Br. 17, Sandy Hill Lane.

Permanent Way

W/c 27th June:

• Spraying Corfe Castle and Afflington.
• Fencing at Woodyhyde.
• Cutting rail at Eldons for scrap sale.
• Fishplate lubrication from Herston to Swanage.
• Collect tools from Harmans Cross to New Barn for strimming.
• Line inspection.

W/c 4th July:

• Strimming ditch at New Barn and crossings at Pondarosa, Wilderness, Quarr and Corfe.
• Line inspection and paperwork.

W/c 11th July:

• To Harmans Cross for tools.
• Strim and clear Swanage to Herston signals etc.
• Paperwork.
• Lift and pack at New Barn (Swanage side of Br. 25)
• Lift and pack from Br. 25 to hut.
• Strim fire break from Nursery Bridge to Pondarosa.
• Pick up odd dropped sleepers at New Barn.
• Line inspection.

W/c 18th July:

• Unload grit at Woodyhyde and New Barn Bank.
• Lift and pack near New Barn hut and south of Nursery Bridge.
• Slew near Dickers hut.
• Unload ash wagon at Quarr and near the Up distant for Harmans Cross.
• Attend to fallen tree.
• Liase with Tony Trood and sort out materials.
• Sewing at Dickers.
• Tools to Corfe to lift and pack and slew Crorfe embankment.
• Inspect Br 18.
• Line inspection.
• Take out sleepers at Norden.
• Make new cover for hand point.
• Strim boundary fence near growing crop.
• Reg and Terry strimming at Corfe.
• Tony Trood clearing crossing at Norden – track gauge widening.
• Infrastructure Meeting.

W/c 25th July:

• Lift and pack around Br. 18 then up onto Corfe Common.
• Use pick up to take stone blower form Dickers to Harmans Cross and jacks from Corfe.
• Lift and pack Woodyhyde to Harmans Cross using stone blower – assisted by IoW P. Way gang.
• Tony Trood working at Norden.
• Sleeper survey Corfe Castle to Afflington.

Winter programme

• Approx 400-500 sleepers need to be changed together with some crossing timbers and repadding of concrete sleepers.
• Harmans Cross Bank stabalisation.
• Rail changing at various locations.
• Fencing and tree work.
• Motala project.

There are already strong pressures on time in this programme so all help would be gratefully received.
 

Notes from the Board Meeting on July 30th

Freedom Parade – The success of the Freedom Parade for the Signals Regiment and the subsequent events with their positive mentions of the Railway were noted and thanks passed to Frank Roberts for all that went into this event.

Matters Arising

Crane – It was reported that the resistors were now back and work could now turn to fitting these.

Carriage Shed – In planning terms it would be possible to locate a small temporary structure alongside Herston Works for carriage restoration. Some possible practical problems were raised and later passed on to Andy Vincent.

Future plans beyond Norden – a number of senior figures from DCC hoped to visit the Railway to discuss plans, probably in September.

Health and Safety

Norden Park and Ride – Following an incident last weekend there was a discussion about this site, some remedial measures were already in place (or soon to be) and a list of improvements was being drawn up for action when appropriate.

Eldons Site – It was reiterated that all work taking place on this site should have the approval of Tony Andrews. It is not acceptable for any work other than the storage of rail vehicles to take place without his permission. It was also noted that a Waste Management Policy was being worked on by Frank Roberts and Dennis Gregory to try and address some of the core problems.

Financial Report

It was reported that income was not now meeting the expectations of our budget plan. The Finance Review Team will be meeting on 6th August to put recommendations before the Board on the 5th September.

It is vital that we maximise revenue and contain costs as we do now seem to being affected by the down turn in the wider economy. We have spent the last few months making great improvements and preparing for any difficulties for which I pass on the Board’s thanks – please help in any way that you can as the next few weeks are critical.

Response to GM’s Report

A proposal for marketing within the trains was passed on to the CoM for discussion.

A proposal for changes to the Driver Experience package for 2006 was discussed and commended for further development as a complete package.

A project to install a Ground Frame at Southampton was approved.

The summer opening of Pondarosa was discussed. HMRI’s recommendations were being followed regarding user responsibility and written confirmation would be sought.

Progress Reports

The Basic Asset Protection Agreement with Network Rail had been signed to allow the design and installation of double catch points at the connection.

The permissive path at Norden was still closed. It was discussed whether this should be permanently closed and whether funds may be available for its reopening. Peter Sills was going to investigate.
 

Vacancies

Contact the named person (via Station House) for more information:

• Station Manager for Herston – to look after the maintenance of Herston Halt and assist with the management of Herston Bank. Contact Frank Roberts.
• Station Manager for Swanage – to look after the maintenance of Swanage station. Contact Frank Roberts.
• Carriage & Wagon Admin - a person is required to help with the maintenance of records regarding maintenance and inspections. Contact Roger Sinar.
• First Aid Officer – to monitor training of staff as appropriate and ensure the routine examination and restocking of First Aid Boxes across the railway. Contact Malcolm Munro.
• Reservations Staff – to answer passenger enquiries and take bookings for parties and dining passengers. Contact Martin Trott.
• Draw Ticket Sellers – to sell Draw Tickets on Swanage Station to fund winter projects. Contact Liz Sellen or Mike Stollery.

Future Meetings

• Finance Review Committee, 10:30am 6th August, Finance Office
• Business Review, 9:30am 27th August, Venue tbc
• Manager’s Meeting, 3pm 31st August, Bar Car
• Board Meeting, 9 30am 3rd September, Rectory Classroom
   

SRT Open Forum

An Open Forum is held before the monthly meeting of SRT Directors (CoM) in the Rectory Classroom – the next meeting is on 3rd September 2005. It will take place at the new time of 2pm.
 

Nick Brown
General Manager
Swanage Station
Tel: 01929 475213 or 07901 852198
Email: nick.brown@71b.co.uk

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Photographs

All photographs on this page by and copyright Andrew P.M. Wright,
Swanage Railway official photographer