The Swanage Railway Trust

General Notes

Steam Gala

As normal this year’s Gala will round off the main summer season. The Bournemouth and Poole Preservation Club are putting on their Vintage Vehicle Rally at Harmans Cross and we will be running a service of both passenger and goods trains over the line. The locomotives that have been based at the Railway for the summer will be joined for the weekend by ex-LMS Jinty tank locomotive 47493 from the Spa Valley Railway.

Passenger Figures

A number of people have asked me how we are performing compared with last year and it is pleasing to note that we have seen a steady increase in both passenger numbers and fare revenue. The following figures are for the 1st half of 2006 (i.e. to the end of June) and are drawn from the un-audited figures.
 

There has been a steady growth in basic train operating revenue, partly driven by increased casual party visits. The evening figures reflect the different operating pattern this year and more revision of the Evening Rover Fare and its validity. As a note of caution as regards the statistics it is worth remembering that during the summer we are often operating at or near capacity so there is likely to be little growth in this period which sees us bring in about a third of our annual revenue – for this reason the growth figures are likely to be lower the further we get into the season. Despite this we should be looking at a reasonable level of growth for the season if we can maintain patronage through the autumn

I hope to provide a similar analysis of the Catering and Retail departments in a future Newsletter.

Great Dorset Steam Fair

Wednesday August 30th – Sunday September 3rd

The Swanage Railway has again been invited to attend this major event. This year we are going to use our stand for the promotion of the railway, sale of raffle tickets and the sale of an extensive range of Swanage Railway souvenirs, books, dvds and model railway items

In order for this to be a success we need volunteers to help on the stand during this event. Free passes will available to those who offer their services. If you wish to help promote our railway at this event, please contact Dave Green. Contact details are as follows: Direct Line 01929 475214, Mobile 07876 427527 email davidagreen@orange.net

Health and Safety

DMU Radiator Caps

Following a recent incident where a radiator cap leaked and blew off under pressure staff concerned are asked to take particular care with the nylon type caps fitted to these vehicles. Ongoing monitoring is in place by LCW staff. In case of leakage please shutdown the appropriate engine and wait for the radiator to become less pressurised before removing or tightening the cap.

Accident Forms

A new format of Accident Form is now being issued. This updates the information required to match the legal requirements and is on a yellow coloured paper. Please use these wherever possible in the future. Stocks are available from the General Manager.

SMS – Further issue of documents

The following documents are now being finalised for distribution during the summer:

• G014 Project Planning
• IF001 Organisation
• IF002 Maintenance and Inspection
• IF003 Level Crossing Inspections
• IF005 Risk Assessment for Level Crossings
• LCW001 Organisation
• LCW002 Acceptance of locomotives
• LCW003 Steam Locomotive Maintenance
• LCW004 Diesel Locomotive Maintenance
• LCW005 Carriage Maintenance
• Op001 Organisation
• Op003 Signals Passed at Danger
• Emergency Plan

The issue of these documents will mean that we should have defined organisations for all areas of the Railway and procedures for the inspection and maintenance of all operational assets. There are a few instructions that still need writing but these should be ready for issue during the early autumn with the SMS fully up and running by October.
 

Working Parties

Infrastructure Support Group (ISG)

Details to be agreed. Contact Frank Roberts (07703 566941).

Carriage and Wagon

Meet Saturdays and Sundays from 9am in the Swanage Goods Shed. Contact Jeremy Weller.

Civil Engineering

Meets Tuesday and Wednesday. Check times and location with Dennis Gregory (01929 422792).

Permanent Way Work

Meets Monday to Thursday at 8:30am. Please check location with Tony Andrews (07798 743016).

Signal and Telegraph Wednesday Gang

Meets Wednesdays at 9am, usually starting at Corfe Castle. Contact: Dave Cobb (07790 205454).
 

Vacancies

Contact name person (via Station House) for more information:

Traffic – Booking Clerks are required to help man Swanage and other Booking Offices on a daily basis. Contact Martin Trott.

Training Courses

Training courses for staff working towards parts of the SRVQ are held as listed below. All courses are held at the Swanage MPD. The bracketed numbers refer to the SRVQ Unit that they cover – please see the Safety Management System (General Instruction 17) for more information.
 

All courses are held at Swanage Motive Power Depot.

For details of additional courses please contact the person responsible as follows:

• SR PTS - Mike Standhaft
• NR PTS - Nick Brown
• Signalling Rules - Mike Whitwam
• First Aid - Nick Brown

Notes from the Board Meeting on 29th July

Health and Safety

No specific report was tabled. A shunting incident and the injury caused to the driver of a DMU were discussed and noted.

Finance

It was reported that income to the end of June was in excess of budget figures. A note of caution was sounded that, due to the hot weather, July’s figures may not reach the target. Cash flow is still a concern although the overdraft is lower than previous years. The purchase of 3 Mk I coaches had now been completed and SRCL now owns most of the operational vehicles on the Railway. Details of the SRT loan to fund these purchases were agreed. Matters to pursue payment of the remaining licences by occupiers in Kings Road was progressing in line with our agreement with DCC.

General Manager’s Report

Jurassic Coast Access

I had met with Sally King (the Access Manager for Dorset) and we discussed the Railway’s interaction with the Jurassic Coast bodies. She suggested stocking more of the leaflets at Norden and ensuring a full supply to Swanage. She confirmed that we are unable to use the Jurassic Coast logo on our advertising but encouraged us to promote ourselves as a sustainable way of accessing the Coast. We have been offered reciprocal links from the website.

DCC liaison

I had met briefly with officers from the Estates Department of DCC following a guided walk of the line with Philip Wycliffe-Jones. A subsequent meeting with the new Head of Valuations and Estates had taken place to introduce him to the Railway.

SLL

A very productive meeting had been held with SLL at which future maintenance schedules were discussed. Availability of locomotives and possible future hire/lease arrangements were also discussed and SLL are going to consider different possibilities.

DLL

A meeting was held with Bob Payne to discuss arrangements for the completion of 30053’s overhaul and the running agreement for the loco when it returns to the Railway.

Corfe Castle Chamber of Trade

A proposal for the marketing of Corfe Castle was reported and, subject to PDC backing and resources, this will take place this autumn – this is in connection with a Visit Britain promotion to overseas visitors. The Railway will be highlighted as a prime and appropriate way to travel around ‘Blyton Country’.

Marketing

The main topic of discussion had been the Swanage Railway News magazine.

Business Link

I had met with a representative from Business Link and we have agreed funding for some training courses as identified at staff appraisals. This is likely to take place in the autumn.

BP

Together with Keith Gooding I had attended a meeting between ourselves, DCC and BP to discuss future use of the Furzebrook site. This is looking promising at the moment but discussions with Network Rail are needed to establish a method of rail access to the site.

RMB

A meeting with the owners representative had taken place and we have discussed a revised agreement to replace that which has expired and fit in with company procedures relating to capital expenditure.

2007 fares

Fares for 2007 were discussed and it was thought best to maintain the current level of return fare.

Coal Conveyor

A project to improve the coaling arrangements at Swanage was approved in principle. Work to be undertaken in two phases. First phase will see replacement of the existing conveyor with a new build conveyor. Second phase will see existing conveyor refurbished and repositioned with necessary enlargement works to coal storage area to allow back-up facility for coaling locomotives.

Estimated for completion by the end of 2006/7 shutdown.

Harmans Cross Signalling Overhaul and Upgrade

Plans to undertake work to the signalling at Harmans Cross were approved. This will include:

• 10 year refurbishment of signal box mechanical locking and additional locking for 1 extra shunt signal at the Swanage end.
• Replacement of the rotten timber beam supporting the frame.
• Replace the Down Starter with a taller signal post to improve sighting if new station building is built.
• Install new shunt signal.

Estimated completion for 30th March 2007

Crane repairs

The purchase of replacements castings to replace those cracked was approved.

Future Meetings

• Manager’s Meeting, 3:30pm 30th August, Bar Car
• Board Meeting, 9:30am 2nd September, Rectory Classroom
• CoM Meeting, 2pm 2nd September, Rectory Classroom

Nick Brown
General Manager
Swanage Station
Tel: 01929 475213
Email: generalmanager@swanage-railway.co.uk

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Photographs

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