The Swanage Railway Trust

General Notes

As many will be aware we had a mishap whilst undertaking some shunting at Swanage on Thursday 16th November. Could I thank all the staff who, in various ways, helped to deal with the situation in such a quick and professional manner.

As with any incident there will be a number of lessons to learn – both as individuals and as an organisation. Whilst the proper place for these lessons to be expressed is the official report that will follow form the RAIB Investigation into this incident there are one or two reminders of general principle that I would like to bring to the attention of staff.

• The Rules and Regulations provide a backstop or safety net to prevent unsafe activities. Any activity can lead to risk and there are often a number of different ways to deal with a particular situation. Always undertake work in the safest way possible – not just by obeying the letter of the rules.
• When an incident occurs only staff with a direct need to undertake work should attend the actual work-site. Where an incident is notifiable then the only activities that are allowed are those to make the site safe, preserve life or prevent further injury. All staff present should have the authority of the Responsible Officer or Incident Officer (Operations or General Manager). In certain situations you may be committing an offence if you do not follow these requirements.

Infrastructure Manager

Dave Cobb has been appointed Infrastructure Manager, filling this vacant post. Dave will retain responsibility for Signal & Telegraph work but has additional responsibilities for co-ordinating the planning of work across the Infrastructure Group.

Station Manager - Harmans Cross

John Martin, who has been Acting Station Manager for the past month, has been appointed Station Manager for Harmans Cross. Roger Orchard will be working alongside him as his Deputy.
 

Working Parties

Infrastructure Support Group (ISG)

Details vary. Contact Frank Roberts (07703 566941).

Carriage and Wagon

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

Carriage Cleaning

Meet Thursdays in November from 9am at Swanage Station. Contact martin Trott (07921 726659)

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:

Health & Safety

Assistant(s) –required to assist the Company Safety Officer in monitoring and promoting compliance with relevant H&S and other legislation. Contact Nick Brown or Malcolm Munro.

Traffic

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

Station Master – Harmans Cross –required organise and supervise platform and commercial staff working at Harmans Cross. Contact Martin Trott.

Loco, Carriage & Wagon

Fitter – required to undertake carriage and diesel traction running maintenance. Contact James Cox or Nick Brown.
 

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 unless otherwise indicated.

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 - Adam Trott

Notes from the Board Meeting on 25th November

Health and Safety

The happenings on and following 16th November were discussed. The importance of control of the site of such an incident was reiterated.

The need for further manpower to assist with H&S work was noted - see vacancies above!

Finance

The current positive financial situation was reported. It was also reported that we cannot assume continued revenue growth at the same rate and this was making the 2007 budgeting process difficult. Continued cost control remains vital if we are to continue to develop a strong financial base for the future.

Our ongoing insurance requirements were discussed. Among other things we have been requested to provide an inventory of specific insured items and we wish to look at our level of Public Liability cover.

General Manager’s Report

Quality Assurance Day

Dave Green and I attended a day relating to this scheme and the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Both these schemes have significant benefits in national benchmarking and providing the impetus for positive changes.

Bournemouth Tourism – Transport

I attended the Transport Group meeting and there was some discussion about how Bournemouth itself could be served and how links with surrounding areas would be valued to increase the attractions of Bournemouth as a destination.

Report on the HRA Meeting in Birmingham on 15th November 2005

General Trends

Most railways reported little growth this year, some indeed had seen visitor numbers drop. Those that reported a rise in passenger numbers and income were predominantly from the South West or other coastal areas. Within this group trends seemed to match our own performance.

RAIB

At the end of their first year in operation it was felt that RAIB should report to the industry on what had taken place.

Specific problem areas within the industry as a whole had been identified as:

• Level Crossings
• Runaways
• Unsafe/unsecured loads
• SPADS

It was pointed out that Heritage Railways presented unusual risks and challenges in terms of management but that the statistics of 8% of total Reports within the industry as a whole was too high and indicated a management problem. This is particularly the case as there are many railways who do not seem to be reporting incidents as they should do.

Specific risks for Heritage Railways seem to be:

• Level Crossings
• Track – adherence to Group Standards
• S&T interlocking
• Safe systems of work – possessions and shunting
• Mechanical state of locomotives (e.g. blowback, axles, couplings, coupling rods)
• Staff training and fitness – age not a problem as long as managed

HMRI

Open and honest relationship is vital. HMRI provides advice and help – it doesn’t want to ‘come the heavy’. Focus in 2007 on Level Crossings, Workshops and SMS implementation.

Particular concerns from investigations:

• Cranes
• Radius indicator
• Mechanical stops
• Warning sign
• Systems of work for use and maintenance
• Asbestos - records

Report into the collision of locomotive 33 108 and stationary coaching stock at Swanage Station at 12 21pm on 16th November 2006

On the afternoon of 15th November locomotive 33 108 had arrived with a short engineers train and been stabled overnight on the main line alongside the loco shed. This train required to work back out of Swanage and on the morning of 16th November the Operations Manager instructed the Driver and Signalman to arrange to move the locomotive to the sidings. It was planned that, following this move the stock would be hauled into the loop at Swanage Station and the locomotive would then reverse from the sidings onto its train ready for the return working on Friday 17th November.

The Signalman set the route for Platform 2 which, while occupied by coaching stock provided enough clearance for the locomotive to reverse and run to the sidings. Meanwhile the Driver checked and started the locomotive.

Whilst preparing the locomotive for the move the Driver had asked Richard Winslade, a qualified Fireman and Shunter, to ride on the brake van. It is clear that between receiving the ‘phone call from the Operations Manager and undertaking the move the Driver had forgotten that the move was to be made by the locomotive alone. Once the locomotive was ready the Driver moved, with the train still attached towards the Station, driving from the rear cab of the locomotive.

As the train moved towards Platform 2 the driver looked out and checked the shunting signal that controls access to both Platform 2 and the Loop. The Driver thought that the indicator was showing the route set for the Loop and crossed to the other side to the locomotive where he looked out and saw that he was in fact heading into Platform 2. The locomotive brake was applied and, almost immediately, the locomotive collided with the stock in Platform 2.

The General Manager was informed at 12 33 and the RAIB were informed by the Operation Manager within 20 minutes of the collision occurring. RAIB confirmed that 2 investigators would attend site during the afternoon. HMRI were contacted during the afternoon and it was agreed that an inspector would not attend.

Following inspection of the stock the Class 33 locomotive was removed and shunted to sidings. On visual inspection the following defects were found:

• Damaged buffers on the collision end.
• Damage to buffer beam.
• Damage to front body work panels.
• Recurrence of cracks to previous welding repairs within the engine.

Following jacking and replacement of the collision end bogie the coach was moved to a siding. On visual inspection the following defects were found:

• Damaged buffers (cut off to allow recovery).
• Some damage to bogie centre casting.

The engineers train was examined as fit to run and re-entered traffic. The other vehicles involved were inspected and deemed fit to move but required lifting from their bogies before return to service.

HXXX Down Platform Building

Completion date January 2010, with the build starting in 2007 and spread over 3 years.

Estimated Cost: £64,373

Approved in principle – subject to funding agreement from SRT.

Magazine Editorial dates

• 7th Jan. for publication in 1st week of March
• 21st May for publication in 1st week of July
• 10th Sept. for publication in 1st week of November

Future Meetings

• SRT CoM Assets Group, 7pm 12th December, Corfe Castle Training Room
• SRT/SRCL Marketing Group, 6:30pm 14th December, Rutland Room
• Manager’s Meeting, 3:30pm 20th December, Bar Car
• SRCL Board Working Session, 9:00am 13th January, Off-site
• SRT Fundraising / brief CoM, 2pm 13th January, Rectory Classroom
• SRCL Board Meeting, 9:30am 10th February, Rectory Classroom
• SRT CoM, 2pm 10th February, 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