This summary of activity around the Railway is compiled from the departmental manager's monthly reports.
On Train CateringOctober Thomas – Mrs Kyndley Tea RoomsWessex Belle staff helped along with the ladies and gentlemen from Harmans Cross. We were all able to increase the takings on 2005 by about £700. Takings for the week £ 3337.61 gross and expenditure £ 1214.57 gross. Thank you letters were sent out to all the volunteers. Wessex Belle FunctionsThere was two running on 28th October and 4th November. Running at this time of year has proved to be popular. We are now getting ready for the Christmas Luncheons, bookings are going well and the increase in price has not made any difference to the take up. The closing down period gives us time to clean and redecorate for Christmas. We are hoping the customers will be warm as the engine will only be on the train for a few minutes before boarding. Pat Welham.
On Train Catering Manager
Station BuffetsFigures for October were well above predictions. Thomas Week in October was very busy for both the station buffets. Dorset Food Week co-existed with the Thomas event. Sales of our promoted ice creams and Dorset Apple Cake have continued to make a good profit. Both Nests now have new free non-slip matting externally and new interior oil mats are being made. Penny Jones
Station Buffets Manager.
RetailNo report Operations‘Thomas’ returned to the Midland Railway Centre on Monday 30th October following a successful visit. The locomotive proved to be popular with most crews; we are all looking forward to its return in February when the teething troubles associated with a freshly overhauled engine should have been ironed out. On Saturday 4th November the fire grate on 80104 collapsed while the fire was being cleaned after the days operation and prior to the evening Wessex Belle. Graham Froud was on site and tried to repair the damage but was unsuccessful, 33108 was offered as a replacement but this was declined as there is no steam heating available. The following morning Graham went into the firebox to repair the grate, this was achieved by 09:15 the fire was then lit. Due to the cold weather it was decided to use the DMU for the 09:50 service, this would allow the steam locomotive to heat the carriages as soon as enough steam had been raised. Unfortunately the DMU failed at Norden with a broken drive belt on the vacuum exhauster, this was rescued by the Class 20, which was in Lakeside siding. The 11:10 service left Swanage on time, passing the failed DMU at Corfe Castle. A collision occurred in Swanage station on Thursday 16th November involving 33108, which was being used for Permanent Way work and a rake of coaches stabled in platform 2 for cleaning purposes. The RAIB were informed immediately and were on site by 16:00hrs. Their investigation continued until mid-morning on Saturday, the 09:50 service being delayed until 10:47, good work by the crews concerned allowed the 12:30 departure to leave on time. The non-availability of both Class 33;s means a revised timetable for the 1960’s weekend, two steam locomotives D8188 and the DMU will be in service. Steve Dyer
Operations Manager
Locomotive, Carriage and WagonNo Report
Permanent Way and Civil EngineeringWork doneW/C 16th October W/C 23rd October Collecting buffer stop and rail from Motala and sorting scrap at Eldons, mend fence and clear some vegetation. W44 30th October Collecting rails from whole line Move sleepers Norden to Afflington Move skips to Road/Rail Move concrete Skew Arch to Woodyhyde Remove HX Up distant signal post to Herston Move rail for mile posts and other movement jobs, fence posts etc.
W/C 6th November W/C 13th November Move spoil from Pondarosa (2 days) Pick up 140 sleepers from trackside at Afflington, CC, HX and Swanage and offload – clear other rubbish Continue sleeper changing at Afflington
W/C 20th November Continue Sleeper changing at Afflington Cut trees obscuring signal sighting at HX Clear ditch at Afflington Lifting and packing at Woodyhyde
Work programmedComplete sleeper changing at Afflington Jack and pack at Woodyhydeand New Barn Prepare for flail Prepare materials for January
2 wagons have been found unsuitable for further spoil movement (Plate and wooden Tunny) which leaves only the steel Rudd until the Turbots return from Bluebell . This is now planned for January. Currently only one ballast wagon available. Tony Andrews
PW Manager
Signal & Telegraph and TelecomS&TMaintenance The current maintenance schedule is up to date and every location is being serviced ready for Santa trains. Outstanding Repairs and Replacement work is still ongoing. Equipment Point motors, a signal post, point rodding, concrete rodding stools, cabinets and numerous other pieces of equipment which has been stored on a Conflat D and a tube wagon in Woodpecker siding at Eldons have been moved down to Herston Bank S&T store and off loaded. These 2 wagons are now empty. Corfe Castle Down Starter Signal A revised position for the platform signal repeater on the Swanage end of the waiting shelter has been agreed with the Station Manager. This will move it away from any works involved with the new signal box. The repeater should be installed during the winter. Swanage Outer Home Signal The sighting board on this signal has been in a poor state recently due to the surface rusting because of the damp conditions under the trees. A new white powder coated aluminum board has been installed and the top section has been modified to match the sighting boards at Harmans Cross. Faults No faults reported during the month, the system is continuing to worked well. Dave Cobb
S&T Manager TelecomInternal Telephone System & Cable Network The aerial cables at Pondarosa survived their time on the ground, and have now been re suspended back on their poles out of harms way. The door on one of the phones at Pondarosa had been pulled off its hinge. This could only be deliberate damage. It has been repaired. Further progress has been made on the Harmans Cross concentrator. The key and lamp unit has been restored and re attached to it’s base unit. We are at present reconnecting some 120 wires that were cut when it was originally recovered. We hope to complete this and start commissioning it this week. It was reported that the Wessex Belle internal phone was out of order. On investigation, we found that the cable that plugs into the kitchen had been chewed through by rats. The cable has been replaced. The performance of the internal system continues to improve. Each week we make a series of test calls, and for five consecutive weeks there were no failures. We have certainly not been able to achieve this before. The system is now beginning to provide the steady reliability that we know it is capable of. I hope all users are also experiencing a better service, we are certainly not getting as many fault reports, or complaints. I have heard that there was a sighting of a shooting party on the track near Dicker’s Crossing. Bearing in mind the damage that can be caused to our cables (as was the case last year) I hope that fines for trespass might keep them off. Business Communications Manager & BT Lines All appears to be well, with no problems that we are aware of. Dave Cobb
S&T Manager
StationsSwanageStation Platform: Three of the Seats on the platform have been repainted by Brian Clifford. Station Toilets: A door lock was broken in the Ladies Toilets. Some Door Locks have been moved following people getting locked inside the Cubicles. There has been some vandalism to a cubicle door in the Gents Toilets in Thomas week. Station House: New lockers have been put in place in the Porters Room and I am now waiting for the old lockers to be emptied. The working party day at Swanage is Thursday and everyone is welcome to come along, there is a lot to do. Thanks to Mike, Brian and John for all their help so far. Harman’s CrossAt this stage, I have little to say other than am arranging with John Drew to carry out works to trench at rear of Up path re land slip. We are in discussions presently and expect works to be carried out during shut down. Works continuing on refurbishment of lamp heads. 'Annabel' needs to be moved re land slippage to down platform ditch. Haven’t had a chance to inspect myself but am told there is concern over platform movement with gaps appearing to up platform, between edge slabs and platform surface. Corfe CastleWe plan to do the following over the winter period: - Continue with the refurbishment of the canopy on the ‘up’ platform;
- Clean/partial re-paint of the kitchen;
- Clean/partial re-paint of the ladies loos;
- Further minor repairs to the waiting shelter roof (we think that a complete re-roof will be needed within the next few years and should perhaps best be done when a roofer is on site to roof the new signal box);
Partial re-sign to reflect the opening of the footbridge in due course (Question: has a decision been made yet on whether the Bramley gates will remain open at all times except for when trains are signalled? I think that they should). Finally, a location has been agreed for the siting of a signal on/off indicator on the ‘down’ platform, for the use of guards who no longer have a clear view of the down starting signal. Dave Cobb will install the indicator in the New Year. NordenBoundary fence behind siding has been strimmed. Undergrowth and low branches has been cleared from bank leading up to Skew Arch Bridge and site of old tramway leading to Corfe Road has been cleared. (Wayne’s gang) Xmas decorations have started to be put in place. Construction of steps at Station end of Norden Buffet has been finished and passed by M Munro. (Health + safety) Many thanks to John Drew. Lighting attached to Norden Buffet to light the path up from main access path. |