The Swanage Railway Trust

Visiting Locos

Thanks to the efforts of some of the volunteers we have been able to agree, in principle, the short term hire of a Class 37 locomotive to add additional interest to the Rail Ale Festival services. This locomotive will be available to us for about two weeks and we are hoping that some of the remaining transport costs can be recovered by offering some ‘Driving Experience’ services using this locomotive.

In addition, many of you will be aware that the overhauls of both 80104 and 30053 are now running behind schedule. To cover the period until both locomotives are in traffic (hopefully, when the M7 returns in June/July) we have, at short notice, arranged for the hire of the S160 that is based on the Churnet Valley Railway for a period of two to three months until the end of June. During this time it will provide a spare locomotive in case there should be a failure of either 80078 or 6695 during this critical period with three Bank Holiday Weekends and a Special Event. Whilst certainly not Southern this class of locomotive did work trains into Southern territory during World War II so, in some ways there is a precedent for a visit to the south coast.

Driving Up Passenger Numbers

It is one of the key aims of the Strategic Plan that we increase the number of people visiting the Railway to increase our basic income. At peak times of the year our Norden to Corfe/Swanage services often run at or near capacity with similar loadings, spread more evenly through the day, originating from Swanage. With this in mind there is little room at the moment to increase our passenger numbers at this time of year other than encouraging more journeys from the Swanage end of the line. This is one of the reasons for the trial with Wilts and Dorset last year where passengers could board the bus in Bournemouth and purchase a joint ticket that included the train to Corfe – it is hoped that Wilts and Dorset will support this idea again this year but details need to be confirmed.

Outside the peak period there is more capacity to be filled and to this end we are starting to develop better links with coach companies to encourage group bookings and we hope to trial a schools package that we can market for the 2006/7 academic year. The addition of some more special events during the shoulder months is also aimed at increasing passenger numbers and keeping our name in front of people through press and other reports.

. . . And How You Can Help

We currently spend a substantial amount of money on marketing the Railway but the most effective forms of advertising are often not the most expensive and the following are ways in which YOU can help:

• Providing our passengers with the best experience that we are able – their recommendation to others is worth much more than we may at first think. This part of marketing the Railway costs nothing but effort.
• Help with the distribution of leaflets and other publicity. The distributors that we pay service a certain number of locations – including many hotels and other tourist venues. Distribution in this way is very expensive and other locations may well be willing to display our publicity if a personal approach is made. Past appeals for help with this have led to ONE PERSON offering to help so please consider this way of helping to put our name in front of more people.

Please contact myself, Dave Green or Martin Trott so that we can ensure that we can add you to the list of willing distributors and produce enough literature and posters. (Please don’t just take them from the Booking Offices as this often leads to them running short at unpredictable times).

PLEASE think how you can help and let us know how we can help you.
 

Spring Special Events

Members Weekend

On the last weekend of March (25th and 26th) we will be holding the annual Members Weekend. There will be a steam hauled service on both days, with evening (Sat.) and lunchtime (Sun.) dining trains which will be available to the public as well as members. In addition the following additional attractions for members of SRT: Brake Van rides over part of the line from Norden (Saturday morning and all day Sunday)

• Open Forum with the SRT Council of Management (Sat.)
• Special opening of Herston Works
• Book Fair at Corfe Castle station (details below)

Branchline Weekend

The 1st and 2nd April will see our second Branch Line Weekend. There will be a wide variety of trains operating, hauled by steam and diesel locomotives. As well as passenger services there will be a demonstration goods train running the length of the line and a vintage vehicle display at Corfe Castle. As a former Somerset and Dorset engine 34028 will be marking the 40th anniversary of its closure at this event. Holders of Special Event tickets may enter a photographic competition with a range of railway related prizes.

Locomotives in use will include (subject to availability):

• GWR 0-6-2T No. 6695
• SR 4-6-2 No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ (Prior to visiting NYMR)
• BR 2-6-4T No. 80078
• BR Class 20 No. D8188
• BR Class 33 No. D6515
• BR Class 33 No. 33108

Easter Specials

From 14th to 17th April we will be running our annual Easter Specials. As normal we will be offering Free Hot Cross buns to passengers on Good Friday and Saturday, free hand made Easter Eggs for all children travelling on Easter Sunday and Monday and students from Bournemouth College will be providing additional activities for children. A full two train service, with evening trains, will operate on all four days.

Swanage Real Ale Festival

A new venture this year is the Swanage Rail Ale Festival which will take place at Norden on 19th, 20th and 21st May. Admission to the Beer Tent will be FREE. Whilst many of us are experienced drinkers of ale the East Dorset branch of CAMRA will be giving us the benefit of their experience at serving it – though we do need to share the burden of manning the Beer Tent. There will be a frequent service of both steam and diesel hauled trains on both Saturday and Sunday during the day with diesel operated trains on the Friday and Saturday evenings.

Please contact Graham Cope (graham.cope@71b.co.uk) if you are able to help with the manning of the Beer Tent and would like to benefit from the free food and beer that you will be rewarded with (in moderation).
 

Book Fair

Following recent generous donations there will be a Book Fair of over 400 good quality 'previously owned' railway books at Corfe Castle station on Members Weekend.

Don't miss this opportunity to fill up your shelves with good reading at unbelievable prices - most books at £5 - all proceeds to the Swanage Railway Trust.

Open from 10.30 - 12.30 Saturday 25th March (closed in the afternoon so members can attend the Members Forum in the Mowlem Committee Room at 2pm) and Sunday 26th March from 10.30 - 16.00
 

Vacancies

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

Traffic Assistants – to provide cover for essential tasks during the peak operation periods. An ability to provide a combination of the following skills is desirable:

• Ticket Inspector
• Booking Clerk
• Signalman
• Guard

Contact: Martin Trott

Electrical Manager – to plan and supervise the maintenance and installation of electrical equipment. Contact Frank Roberts.

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.
 

PTS Training Courses

Please contact Mike Standhaft for details of PTS Courses.
 

Working Parties

Please come and help prepare for 2006.

Permanent Way Work

Meets Monday to Thursday. Please check time and location with Tony Andrews.

Carriage and Wagon

Meet weekends in the Swanage Goods Shed. Contact Jeremy Weller.

Infrastructure Support Group (ISG)

18th March - Painting Corfe footbridge. Location tbc.

Signal and Telegraph Wednesday Gang

Meet most Wednesdays, usually starting at Corfe Castle. Contact: Dave Cobb
 

Notes from the Board Meeting on 25th February

Finance

The Finance Review Committee’s review of the budget was reported. It was acknowledged that the budget was much tighter that would be desirable but that the revenue predictions were, on the basis of experience, on the prudent side. It was agreed that profitability needs to be improved. The funding of capital projects is not easy and it was hoped that new funding would be found for significant ‘new’ projects to avoid squeezing profitability and cash flow even further.

General Manager's Report

SMS

It was reported that good deal of work has gone into introducing further elements of the SMS.

Marketing Group

The production of a Walking Guide is in progress with Peter Sills is leading. Website upgrading is continuing and this has led to a much improved image on the web already. It is also planned to revise the Visitors Guide and Andy Vincent is working on this project.

Volunteer Facilities

A brief report was made on meetings with Sleeping Car users. A new system of bookings will be implemented during March with a parallel programme of repairs and improvements.

PDC Planning

The latest meeting with PDC planners was reported on. There are no burning issues from their side although it is clear that we need to continue to act at clearing the Swanage and Eldons sites. A brief mention was made of containers at Herston – we need to consider our long term strategy for this area.

Purbeck Rail Partnership

There has been much activity on this front and I anticipate that it will require even more time in the coming month as the franchise award process continues.

Swanage Town Partnership

I was invited to attend this group which is looking at strategic planning issues for Swanage. I will attend further meetings to represent the Railway’s interests as required.

CAMRA

Further meetings have taken place to plan May’s Rail Ale Festival. Arrangements are now well in hand and Graham Cope is co-ordinating practical requirements for the event. Publicity is now ready and CAMRA are going to help with distribution.

Network Rail

Signal Sighting Forms have been returned for the Motala Project but we still awaiting confirmation of access arrangements to carry out the final work on NR land. This is now a major hurdle for the project and we do not seem able to unlock answers from the NR staff dealing with the project.

HRA AGM

This took place in Newcastle and I attended on behalf of the Railway.

Durlston

I met Martin Cooke for DCC to discuss transport issues to Durlston. He is in the process of putting together an access plan and we hope that travel from Norden to Swanage and then road transfer will be one of the options. A couple of possible methods may be tried on a small scale this year.

2006-11 Strategic Plan

A revised version of this document had been prepared – it was agreed to ratify this at the next meeting to allow more time for comments.

Locomotive for Hire

Discussion took place on our locomotive needs with the overhauls of both 80104 and 30053 running behind schedule. It would seem a prudent move to have an additional cover locomotive for the early season if commercial terms can be reached. Negotiations are ongoing to find a locomotive that is of suitable power for our services.

Harmans Cross Down Platform (Stage 1)

This project was discussed and it was agreed that a full feasibility study should take place to establish accurate costs and investigate planning and rating matters.
 

Future Meetings

• Manager’s Meeting, 3:30pm 22nd March, Venue tbc
• Board Meeting, 9:30am 25th February, Rectory Classroom
• CoM Meeting, 2:00pm 25th February, Mowlem Theatre

SRT Open Forum

An Open Forum is held before the monthly meeting of SRT Directors (CoM) – the next meeting is on 25th March 2006. It will be an extended session to accompany Members Weekend and take place at 2pm at the Mowlem Theatre.
 

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