Heritage

Back in about 1971 or thereabouts I attended a very early meeting to preserve the Swanage Railway.  Sadly at the time my finances and resources were insufficient to maintain my involvement and membership lapsed a long time ago.  There have been infrequent visits and of course the big news is that plans are now being put in place for re-opening to Wareham and a commuter service from Autumn 2015.

My outing commences with a class 444 as far as Winchester.  My first ride in this direction in a long time.  Although unable to see the identification we pass a new Colas Rail locomotive.  In the fields the corn is ripening.  There is huge clearance of the bank at Winchfield.  There are new housing estates visible at most towns until Basingstoke.

Another class 444 from Winchester to Wareham.  The growth of container traffic is evidenced by the changes at Southampton plus the various new loco stabling facilities.  Our train loses a little time approaching Bournemouth.

At Wareham I can stand in the sun until the bus comes.  A very helpful bus driver who makes sure I can find Norden station – my previous arrivals have been by car as this station was created to keep cars out of Corfe and Swanage and to encourage use of the train service.  I just about make the 12:40 departure which consists of Class 33 6515 (which has now been named Lt Jenny Lewis RN; she was the daughter of one of the owning group; sadly she was the first UK Naval servicewoman to lose her life whilst on active service) plus 3 coaches.

At this time the Swanage runs an interesting timetable with two trains in service, one diesel headed and the other by a steam loco.  The website normally identifies the locos in service but I remained in ignorance of the other one until we reach Harmas Cross where the trains cross on this timetable – to find it is Bulleid Pacific 34028 “Eddystone” hauling the steam service.  34028 is coming to the end of her ten year boiler ticket and is due for withdrawal later this year.

I travel through to Swanage and head for the Bird’s Nest Cafe for lunch which is a sausage in a brown bap.  Service speed is not high (for the cafe) and the diesel departs before I can get more photos.  More interestingly 60103 “Tornado” is on a visit to the Railway and I walk around to the overbridge at the end of the stations to obtain a photo – the first time I have seen the newest UK steam locomotive.

Finally I join the steam service with 34028 plus 5 coaches back to Norden.  Loco runs round and I return to Corfe Castle and an ice cream.

Bus is late and at Wareham I can see the train in the station.  Run like mad.  Make the train and drop into a seat.  On my way home.

Time to go to deepest, darkest Kent, on another bright, sunny day.  Oddly the K&ESR was visited as recently as August last year so in many respects there is likely to be far less change here than noted on many other recent visits.Start off with South West Trains 444012 on 09:30 ex Farnborough and the wapping sum of  £24.70 to Ashford International.  And this is the first time that the cost of travelling by public transport exceeds the variable cost of using the car.  We live and learn.  Once at Waterloo I take the Northern line from Waterloo to Warren Street then Victoria line to Kings Cross St Pancras and head for platform 12 where my train is waiting.

It is reasonably well sign posted to Platform 12 walking under the roads (but it is quite a walk) where I catch 395 009 “Rebecca Adlington”; the service running to Margate.  This is my first Javelin trip, although the route is identical to a previous Eurostar trip to Paris (and thence to Nice).  London Tunnel 1 is 7.5km (and interestingly is largely directly below the North London line recently visited, the routes splitting soon after Homerton) so a lengthy run  before emerging on the approach to Stratford International where another passenger’s bicycle in the doorway prevents an individual joining the coach, leading to an athletic sprint to the next coach.  We return into tunnel, this time the snappily named London Tunnel 2, for 10km before we emerge into daylight., shortly before passing under the A13 in the delightful Essex countryside and Dagenham Dock station is to the left.   We head across Rainham Marshes partly running alongside domestic services before again descending into another tunnel under the Thames for 2.5km.  On the other side of the river we emerge back into daylight and reach Ebbsfleet International.  HS1 to Ashford International then passes over the Medway viaduct (1.2km) and under the North Downs (3.2km)  and through the Ashford Tunnel at 1.5km before arriving at Ashford International.

Time to change the mode of transport and it is eventually a Stagecoach bus running late and costing £6 return to Tenterden and a gentle walk down to the station in the sun.  This week there is a special offer – a “Pensioner’s Treat” of £10 for a Rover ticket; so this cuts the cost slightly!

Tenterden signal box on the day of this visit is in the charge of a female signaller who is also responsible for  the manual opening and closing of the gates over the line to the car park (or the line to Rolvenden depending on how you look at it).  This requires a walk to and from the box by her in uniform but without (I am pleased to record) a hi-viz jacket.  And indeed unlike some railways there are no hi-viz jackets worn by other operational staff.  A nice touch.

Ex-BR Pannier tank 1638 is in charge. An interesting loco as it is built in 1951 to a design which dated back about 80 years at that point.  The engine has often operated in an unauthentic GWR green livery (although given the history of the design one can understand why).  At present however it is in plain BR black which may not be as attractive but certainly feels good.

It is a busy day on the railway – we are told by the trolley staff that there are 40 diners being served in the restaurant and wandering along the five coaches just before departure there are not many empty seats.

51571 & 50971 form the heritage DMU service which we pass at Wittersham Road, which only has a platform on the north side of the line, so the DMU heading eastwards does not stop.  This is operating the two non steam return trips of the day and both are clearly identified as such not only on the timetable but also on the train departure boards at each station.  Nice touch.

This being a Col Stephens Railway time keeping does not seem important as we drift through the afternoon and along the line to Bodiam arriving close to the time shown as departure.   As ever Bodiam Castle has a wonderful presence to the north of the line.  Many travellers disembark but there are significant numbers waiting to join having visited the castle and if anything the return trip is heavier.

At Rolvenden there is the opportunity as we pass to inspect the new carriage shed to the north of the line.  On the visit last August this was simply cleared land.  Now new pointwork and track runs alongside the running line and then there are points acting in kickback fashion into the newly erected carriage shed with access from the western end.  There are as yet no tracks inside the building but the sleepers and rails are waiting outside the shed to be positioned and another railway will soon have proper protection for its passenger rolling stock.

Time for the reverse journey from Tenterden!  The bus proves slightly difficult to catch – and turns into a mainly school bus service as we race around the Kent countryside visiting some small villages before reaching Ashford almost back on time.  Javelin 395016 ex Ashford Int., runs to time but there appear to be no rubbish bins on Southeastern (either trains or station; I suppose we are still afraid of bombs), so I am well into the Underground before one is found – inevitably full! – before I can dispose of a coffee cup.  For the return Underground journey I go via the Victoria line then changing at Oxford Circus to the Bakerloo.  This turns out to be a same level walk though, no stairs or walkways, much the fastest link between two lines!

I manage to catch 17:53 ex Waterloo to Basingstoke – a 12 coach 450 formed working.  Had I managed to catch the traditional service departure from Ashford International at 16:33 I would have been at Waterloo East (theoretically) at 17:50.  So catching the 17:53 would probably not have been possible (nor the purchase of a magazine at W H Smiths) – but the High Speed line is not the only way to go.  Reach Farnborough on time at 18:39.  A good day out.