Corfe Castle
What could be its final working, with suggestion the engine from 37703 will be used in either 37503 or 37405, the loco then going for scrap or used as a spares donor. Formerly owned and operated by DRS, and recently acquired by Harry Needle, 37703 is seen here at Townsend bridge at Corfe Castle working 5C17 17:58 Corfe Castle - Harmans Cross empty coaching stock move, having potentially just worked its final passenger service; 1C17 17:32 River Frome Viaduct - Corfe Castle on the final evening of the 2022 Swanage Railway diesel gala.
08 May 2022
(6D)
(RW 11/03/2023)
08 May 2022
(6D)
(RW 11/03/2023)
Corfe Castle
Pride of the Swanage Railway home fleet, the immaculate D6515 (33012) Lt Jenny Lewis RN passes over Corfe Common working 1N18 17:39 Swanage - Norden, the final up train of the day, bringing to a close another fantastic Swanage Railway diesel gala.
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
Corfe Castle
A fine addition to the 2022 Swanage Railway diesel gala was Class 25 No. D7612 (25 262) courtesy of South Devon Diesel Traction. In glorious evening light it passes beneath Townsend bridge on the approach to Corfe Castle operating 2C18 17:15 Swanage - Corfe Castle, 50026 Indomitable trails to the rear just beyond the bridge.
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
Corfe Castle
The closing couple of hours on the final afternoon of the 2022 Swanage Railway diesel gala, and you couldn't have wished for better weather after a frustrating Saturday, and a disastrous Friday. Like all the other locomotives this one is a credit to all involved, and D182 (46045) looks fantastic as it passes over Castle View footpath crossing working 1R16 16:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct, its final service of the event. To the rear is 37703 which is just clearing Corfe Viaduct.
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
Stoborough
A going-away shot of D4 (44004) Great Gable from Holme Lane bridge which is now on the tail-end of 1R15 16:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage, lead locomotive 31128 leaving a blue exhaust haze as it climbs towards Furzebrook.
08 May 2022
(6D)
08 May 2022
(6D)
Stoborough
From a standing start on the level at Tidmore Crossing 31128 Charybdis gets away with 1R15 16:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage. The operational boundary between the Swanage Railway and Network Rail is towards the rear of the train at 126m 77ch, however the maintenance boundary is a little closer to Worgret Junction at 126m 61ch. The gradient is a consistent 1-in-78 from here to Furzebrook, a distance of about two miles. In a style typical of the Class 31 it makes a smoky departure with five coaches and the 'dead weight' of a Class 44 on the rear, much to delight of those on-board, and those watching on from Holme Lane bridge, including Tom Curtis (right) and Mark Few (second right) who record the scene. To the left is my work colleague Steve Green, I didn't expect to bump into him.
08 May 2022
(6D)
08 May 2022
(6D)
Stoborough
I'd never have believed that just a 20 minute drive from home I'd be able to savour this beast! Courtesy of the Peak Locomotive Company comes Class 44 'Peak' No. D4 Great Gable approaching its destination working 1R14 15:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct, 31128 Charybdis is at the rear. Under TOPS this was numbered 44004 and is one of two preserved Class 44s, from an original fleet of ten locomotives originally introduced in 1959. The Class 44 had a relatively short operating life and this locomotive, along with 44007 Ingleborough were the final two of the fleet to be withdrawn by British Rail on 30 September 1980.
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
Furzebrook
Making another return to the Swanage Railway diesel gala courtesy of GB Railfreight is 73136 Mhairi. From Creech Heath, and looking north, comes the veteran locomotive paired-up with Swanage Railway's resident Class 33/1 No. 33111 as they climb towards Furzebrook working 1R13 15:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage, 50026 Indomitable is at the tail-end.
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
(RW 11/03/2023)
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
(RW 11/03/2023)
Furzebrook
With the vast majority of locomotives in blue at this year's Swanage Railway diesel gala its was nice to see something different, and 50026 Indomitable in its revised Network SouthEast livery certainly ticks the box. Standing out nicely in the almost barren looking landscape of Creech Heath it heads 1R12 14:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct at Furzebrook footpath crossing, out of sight at the rear is 33111 and 73136 Mhairi.
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
Furzebrook
What a credit to all those involved in the recent overhaul of D6515 (33012) Lt Jenny Lewis RN at Eastleigh Works, it looks superb. Having been at the rear heading up to the Swanage Railway / Network Rail operational boundary, it now leads 1R11 14:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage at Furzebrook, D7612 now trailing.
08 May 2022
(6D)
(RW 11/03/2023)
08 May 2022
(6D)
(RW 11/03/2023)
Furzebrook
Looking quite at home on the Swanage Railway is South Devon Traction Group's D7612 (25262) which is viewed passing Furzebrook. To the left is the Perenco terminal, once served by LPG and oil traffic, the former clay siding is to the right at the third coach. Swanage Railway took over responsibility from Network Rail of this section from Worgret Junction to the former Motala Ground Frame near Norden in October 2014, more detail can be found here.
08 May 2022
(6D)
08 May 2022
(6D)
Stoborough
The threat of heavy cloud cover was never too far away, but thankfully far enough to the north which provided the 2022 Swanage Railway diesel gala with fantastic weather all day on the Sunday. Powering nicely up the 1-in-78 gradient is D182 (46045) with 1R09 13:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage, 37703 is the tail-end locomotive this time round.
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
(RW 11/03/2023)
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
(RW 11/03/2023)
Stoborough
Thankfully I didn't encounter the usual herd of cattle that frequent this area, which allowed me time to consider and compose my shot. This is a going-away view of D182 (46045) at the rear of 1R08 12:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct, out of sight is 37703 leading the service. In an ideal world the following service an hour later would have been preferable for the better side light, but under the circumstances I'm not complaining.
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
Herston
Originally intended to be the first target of the day here at Herston, and what a difference a day makes as I was stood here 24 hours earlier with Sparky playing cloud roulette, which unfortunately we lost. Making another return visit to the Swanage Railway diesel gala, Courtesy of PTG Tours, is 50026 Indomitable heading past Herston at the head of 1R05 11:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage with a mile to go before reaching the Dorset seaside terminus.
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
(RW 11/03/2023)
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
(RW 11/03/2023)
Herston
Passing the site of what will eventually be the carriage shed is the railways resident Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) Lt Jenny Lewis RN working 2C05 11:39 Corfe Castle - Swanage in glorious sunshine.
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
Herston
A photographic view that will eventually be 'lost' so an opportunity was taken to try and make the most of it as we'd arrived here earlier than planned. Swanage Railways long overdue carriage shed will be located here at Herston, and the bases for the steel framework can be quite clearly seen. Passing myself and Steve Clark is D7612 (25262) with 1R03 10:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage, the first service of the day to run the entire length of the Swanage Railway, a distance of about nine miles.
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
08 May 2022
(6D, PL)
Corfe Castle
The end of a very frustrating Saturday, photographically speaking, at the 2022 Swanage Railway diesel gala. After seven hours of trying, myself and Sparky were left with about four usable shots in the sun. Courtesy of Nemesis Rail is 31128 Charybdis which was one our targets, so it was good to finally catch it in some welcome sun at Townsend bridge at Corfe Castle leading 1R15 16:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage, trailing at the rear is 37703.
07 May 2022
(6D)
(RW 11/03/2023)
07 May 2022
(6D)
(RW 11/03/2023)
Corfe Castle
What a pity the view of Corfe Castle is obscured by trees. Heading south away from Corfe station is 50026 Indomitable heading 2C15 16:39 Corfe Castle - Swanage in a lucky patch of sunshine. Above the roof to the left can just be seen the church tower of St. Edward, King & Martyr located in the village centre.
07 May 2022
(6D, PL)
(RW 11/03/2023)
07 May 2022
(6D, PL)
(RW 11/03/2023)
Corfe Castle
Until recently this Class 37 was in use with Direct Rail Services (DRS), but following a purge by the freight operator to reduce its 'heritage fleet' even further 37703 was made available, and was one of several locomotives acquired by the Harry Needle Railroad Company. With DRS branding removed the locomotive sports a kind of BR blue livery, although it is the DRS blue basecoat. With the application of a small BR arrow, and its original TOPS number of 37067 (although it is still registered on TOPS as 37703) it blends in quite nicely with the other BR blue liveried locomotives at the 2022 Swanage Railway diesel gala. So, courtesy of the Harry Needle Railroad Company 37703 (37067) approaches Corfe Castle on the Saturday afternoon with 2C16 16:15 Swanage - Corfe Castle shuttle.
07 May 2022
(6D, PL)
(RW 11/03/2023)
07 May 2022
(6D, PL)
(RW 11/03/2023)
Harmans Cross
After a total right-off on Friday for anything in the sun Saturday looked promising, but in reality delivered so little if you wanted a full sun shot. The first full sun shot, after several hours of trying, and it was of Swanage Railway's resident 33111 seen here working 1R09 13:32 River Frome Viaduct - Swanage over Dickers Crossing. This location was an old favourite which I'd not visited for some years, and would perch myself in a tree at this very spot, and around a similar height that I now set the pole too, away from all the crowds. Of course once the location became known, and the footpath through Leeson Wood up to Windmill Knapp became public, it was no longer as 'exclusive'.
07 May 2022
(6D, PL)
07 May 2022
(6D, PL)
Stoborough
Making its ascent on the 1-in-78 gradient up to Furzebrook is 50026 Indomitable leading 1R11 14:32 River Frome - Swanage, 33111 and 73136 Mhairi trail to the rear.
Note the sky has been enhanced using the Luminar AI software.
06 May 2022
(6D, PL)
Note the sky has been enhanced using the Luminar AI software.
06 May 2022
(6D, PL)
Stoborough
33111 and 73136 Mhairi lead 1R10 13:39 Swanage - River Frome Viaduct with 50026 Indomitable trailing to the rear as they approach the operational limit of the Swanage Railway.
6 May 2022
(6D, PL)
6 May 2022
(6D, PL)
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by an individual, or organisation, without prior consent.
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