Swanage to Wareham from 13th June announced

[emil]

Details of the diesel service due to be run from Swanage to Wareham starting on 13th June have been announced. Running on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays only until 3rd September.
London underground 4tc set with class 33 and class 47 as top and tail operated by West Coast Railways.
First two trains on 13th June are not for the public.
Details of times and online booking www.swanagerailway.co.uk/wareham-timetableandfares
Reasonable prices either Swanage - Wareham or Corfe Castle, Norden - Wareham booking online or Swanage or Norden ticket offices.
First days of service or peak times seat reservations will be needed.
Mobile ticket office on running days only, station forecourt at Wareham.
Historical being 40 years since last public service between Swanage and Wareham. No through tickets from National rail stations or South West Trains. No buffet or disabled toilets onboard.

 

[yorksrob]

Now that is good news. I might have to find an excuse to get down there !

 

[Cowley]

Now that is good news. I might have to find an excuse to get down there !

That's exactly what I was thinking, I wasn't expecting them to come up with this arrangement but I suppose it makes sense.
I know it's only my daydream but it'd be nice to have the TC and 33 in blue

 

[yorksrob]

That's exactly what I was thinking, I wasn't expecting them to come up with this arrangement but I suppose it makes sense.
I know it's only my daydream but it'd be nice to have the TC and 33 in blue

It would be even nicer to have a TC and 33 all the way from Waterloo !

 

[dgl]

This is great news, saw it on Dorset Echo and thought wow plus I don't work Tuesdays yay!
Will hopefully be able to book for the first day and would be even greater if it was the first trip from Wareham, will be momentous that's for sure.

I am way too young to have been on it back then so it is something I have never done before and live on Portland so it is not that far on the bus/train.

Planning commences!

 

[341o2]

This is great news, saw it on Dorset Echo and thought wow plus I don't work Tuesdays yay!
Will hopefully be able to book for the first day and would be even greater if it was the first trip from Wareham, will be momentous that's for sure.

I am way too young to have been on it back then so it is something I have never done before and live on Portland so it is not that far on the bus/train.

Planning commences!

My post appears to be missing - great news. However, the first two trains are not for the general public so it will be the 1400 or 1600 - advise book ASAP

 

[dgl]

It will end up just being a trip there and back with no time in Swanage but it will be worth it tickets booked!

 

[fgwrich]

Has the use of LULs TC Set actually been confirmed yet? I'm only wondering as on some sites it has been said that it will not be ready in time - which is understandable, as it's currently split into several sections undergoing a complete overhaul, fitment of CDL and repaint by Arlington Fleet Services in Eastleigh Works.

http://carlswatson.com/Trains/Galle...ass4914tc76324eastleighworks12thmay20172.html

Also, 47 May not now be available. Swanage's 33012 will be in use on the shuttles though, it has now been placed within a pool of 3 locos.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

What is the TC Set?

 

[dgl]

What is the TC Set?

The TC set or generally referred to as 4TC was essentially an unpowered 4 car EMU rake designed to work in conjunction with either the 4REPunits or the 33/73 locomotives, this had driving cabs like the EMU's and so could control a suitably equipped locomotive for push-pull operations or another SR EMU.

This was created as when the line was electrified to Bournemouth the money wasn't there to electrify all the way to Weymouth so a solution had to be devised.
This workaround entailed having a 4 car EMU with a much higher power rating than a normal 4 car EMU so that it could also tow a 4TC set (the 4REP) this 4TC set would be detached from the 4REP at Bournemouth and a 33 or 73 attached to the 4TC to power it on it's continuing journey to Weymouth. The reverse would happen at Bournemouth on it's return journey removing the need for passengers to change trains.

 

[yorksrob]

What is the TC Set?

They're Trailer Coach sets. Basically unpowered sets of carriages with driving cabs at each end which looked, to the untrained eye like EMU's. They spent most of their days in push-pull operations with REP units and class 33s on the Weymouth - Waterloo line.

I never made it to one, but they look very comfortable.

 

[theageofthetra]

They're Trailer Coach sets. Basically unpowered sets of carriages with driving cabs at each end which looked, to the untrained eye like EMU's. They spent most of their days in push-pull operations with REP units and class 33s on the Weymouth - Waterloo line.

I never made it to one, but they look very comfortable.

Do they still have the bars on the windows from when they were used for Steam on the Met events?

 

[Cowley]

Do they still have the bars on the windows from when they were used for Steam on the Met events?

They did last year at the SVR gala in May.

 

[pdeaves]

Do they still have the bars on the windows from when they were used for Steam on the Met events?

The one in the image linked by fgwrich does.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Thanks for the info about the TC sets, I may have travelled on one without realising, when I travelled through from Waterloo to Weymouth years ago. I remeber the diesels coming on and off at Bournemouth. (It confused me when it said somewhere in the above posts that it was a LUL TC set. I was thinking therefore it was old London UndergrounD stock.)

 

[Deepgreen]

They're Trailer Coach sets. Basically unpowered sets of carriages with driving cabs at each end which looked, to the untrained eye like EMU's. They spent most of their days in push-pull operations with REP units and class 33s on the Weymouth - Waterloo line.

I never made it to one, but they look very comfortable.

Very much the same as any other slam door EMU - i.e. no ironing boards!

 

[yorksrob]

Very much the same as any other slam door EMU - i.e. no ironing boards!

There were differences - Phase 1 CIG's, HAP's, EPB's and thumpers were more cushioned than Phase 2 CIG's and VEP's, which in turn were more padded than refurbished CEP's. But as you say, they were all infinately preferable to ironing boards.

From pictures, the TC's look to be at the Phase 1 CIG end of the comfort spectrum

 

[fgwrich]

Don't forget though that the TCs weren't initially "born" as EMUs, having been converted from standard BR Mk1s by York Works in the late 1960s.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

I remember years ago travelling on the TCs west of Bournemouth, the lights would go out for what must have been about 30-60secs whilst they got switched between power supplies.

Assuming the trial is successful, what are the chances that there'll be a joint ticket for SWTs and Swanage Railway, similar to the Island Liner on the Isle of Wight?

 

[yorksrob]

Don't forget though that the TCs weren't initially "born" as EMUs, having been converted from standard BR Mk1s by York Works in the late 1960s.

Being pedantic, they never actually became EMU's (with the exception of the driving trailer which replaced the VEP driving trailer which was written off at Yalding).

 

[341o2]

For those planning a visit on the 13th, the first two departures (1000 and 1200 Swanage) and their corresponding return trips are for guests only. Seat reservation is advised for the 1400 and 1600 Swanage and their return journeys

 

[emil]

I remember years ago travelling on the TCs west of Bournemouth, the lights would go out for what must have been about 30-60secs whilst they got switched between power supplies.

Assuming the trial is successful, what are the chances that there'll be a joint ticket for SWTs and Swanage Railway, similar to the Island Liner on the Isle of Wight?

From 2018 through tickets might be available. Depends on discussions with new franchise First/MTR with Swanage railway and the heritage diesel multiple units working..

 

[swt_passenger]

This workaround entailed having a 4 car EMU with a much higher power rating than a normal 4 car EMU so that it could also tow a 4TC set (the 4REP) this 4TC set would be detached from the 4REP at Bournemouth and a 33 or 73 attached to the 4TC to power it on it's continuing journey to Weymouth.

The 4 REP was more powerful than required for what you describe, as it was designed to push or pull 2 x 4TC sets, i.e. it had the power of a 12 car EMU concentrated in two cars.

I cannot remember whether 8 cars ever carried on to Weymouth though, does anyone else know for sure?

 

[theageofthetra]

The 4 REP was more powerful than required for what you describe, as it was designed to push or pull 2 x 4TC sets, i.e. it had the power of a 12 car EMU concentrated in two cars.

I cannot remember whether 8 cars ever carried on to Weymouth though, does anyone else know for sure?

The story of a REP hitting 115 during a pre Eurostar test of the 3rd rail with several presumably shaken AND stirred SNCF engineers aboard gives you an idea of their performance.

 

[theageofthetra]

The one in the image linked by fgwrich does.

that's a shame but understand why they need to be there.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

The 4 REP was more powerful than required for what you describe, as it was designed to push or pull 2 x 4TC sets, i.e. it had the power of a 12 car EMU concentrated in two cars.

I cannot remember whether 8 cars ever carried on to Weymouth though, does anyone else know for sure?

I remember in the late 80s there was a summer Saturday Weymouth - Bristol turn which utilised a 33 and 2 4TC sets.

 

[Firesprite]

The 4 REP was more powerful than required for what you describe, as it was designed to push or pull 2 x 4TC sets, i.e. it had the power of a 12 car EMU concentrated in two cars.

I cannot remember whether 8 cars ever carried on to Weymouth though, does anyone else know for sure?

It depend on the time of day and traffic flows. In the peak hours it was always 2 sets of TC's to Weymouth and back.

 

[Firesprite]

I remember in the late 80s there was a summer Saturday Weymouth - Bristol turn which utilised a 33 and 2 4TC sets.

I travelled on that service quite often, But it was an normal MK1 set of coaches with a standard 33 on front (One of the Cardiff-Portsmouth sets) There was also DMU run via Eastleigh and Romsey to Bristol on Saturday.

 

[fgwrich]

Being pedantic, they never actually became EMU's (with the exception of the driving trailer which replaced the VEP driving trailer which was written off at Yalding).

Very true, although while never actually being an EMU in the true sense, they were put under such classification by BR as Class 442s initially, before being renumbered to 491 then to 438 - The designation they carried until withdrawal.

The story of a REP hitting 115 during a pre Eurostar test of the 3rd rail with several presumably shaken AND stirred SNCF engineers aboard gives you an idea of their performance.

I can imagine, when you consider that the power output available from a 4REP was a hugely impressive 3,200 hp (8 x EE546 traction motors, each putting out 400 hp each) then that's more than enough to pull the skin off the rice pudding and leave the bowl full and steaming on the table. I wish I'd had the chance to sample a REP, sadly the last had been converted as I came into the world.

Am I right in thinking they were limited to working as just one REP + TC or other units if there were traction motors isolated due to their power thirst?

that's a shame but understand why they need to be there.

The thing we need to remember is that while Swanage may be able to make use of it (It hardly spends that much time being used on the Underground network and no doubt can be a useful money earning asset for TfL when loaned to lines like this), it's still LULs and the window bars / restricted droplights will be for the occasions that it does see use on the London Underground network. It's a shame, but a necessity - after all, it only takes the one incident. The fitment of Magnetic CDL is a welcome addition though.

 

[yorksrob]

Very true, although while never actually being an EMU in the true sense, they were put under such classification by BR as Class 442s initially, before being renumbered to 491 then to 438 - The designation they carried until withdrawal.



I can imagine, when you consider that the power output available from a 4REP was a hugely impressive 3,200 hp (8 x EE546 traction motors, each putting out 400 hp each) then that's more than enough to pull the skin off the rice pudding and leave the bowl full and steaming on the table. I wish I'd had the chance to sample a REP, sadly the last had been converted as I came into the world.

Am I right in thinking they were limited to working as just one REP + TC or other units if there were traction motors isolated due to their power thirst?



The thing we need to remember is that while Swanage may be able to make use of it (It hardly spends that much time being used on the Underground network and no doubt can be a useful money earning asset for TfL when loaned to lines like this), it's still LULs and the window bars / restricted droplights will be for the occasions that it does see use on the London Underground network. It's a shame, but a necessity - after all, it only takes the one incident. The fitment of Magnetic CDL is a welcome addition though.

I have a picture in a book (can't remember which one) of an REP working in multiple with a CIG. It was noted in the caption that the train would have had an unusually high power output. Of course, it might have been hauling the CIG, I suppose.