It’s been a quiet week on the rails here, with only one special rail movement to report on the Bournemouth to Weymouth line. We’ve also been entertaining friends for an extended Coronation weekend, although I was fully behind the suggestion from Yoshi’s Mama of exploring Corfe Castle and Swanage on the Tuesday. I had hoped to see the Class 17 Clayton Type 1 diesel-electric locomotive arrive at Norden on a low loader in the afternoon but I was informed by the Norden crossing signalman that it wasn’t going to arrive that afternoon. I’ve since heard it did – so big sighs all round!
Instead of watching an old diesel locomotive being unloaded off the back of a lorry, Yoshi enjoyed zoomies in Corfe Castle – 09/05/2023
On Sunday we took a walk down Poole Quay in order to celebrate the sights, sounds and smells of the age of steam with visiting mini steam traction engines, all lovingly built and maintained by their owners and representing many hours of hard work. The traction engines are recreated from original Victorian drawings or old photographs. It was lovely relaxing on a sunny afternoon with a drink in one of the many pubs along Poole Quay as the smell of steam wafted in through the doors. Yoshi was initially quite happy to see the steam engines but later decided to bark at each one individually. Just like he would their full size cousins.
Before Yoshi took a dislike to the mini steam traction engines, he happily posed with this example – 07/05/2023Mini Steam On The Quay at Poole – 07/05/2023Mini Steam On The Quay at Poole – 07/05/2023Mini Steam On The Quay at Poole – 07/05/2023Mini Steam On The Quay at Poole – 07/05/2023Mini Steam On The Quay at Poole – 07/05/2023Mini Steam On The Quay at Poole – 07/05/2023Mini Steam On The Quay at Poole – 07/05/2023
The monthly Class 73 Electro-Diesel top and tailed Colas Test Train ran on Monday evening, passing through Hamworthy in a shower of rain on its outward journey to Weymouth. The weather put me off going back out to see the ensemble on the return journey as it headed to Eastleigh East Yard and journeys end. The locomotives utilised on the 1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard working this time were GBRf Class 73 No’s 73964 ‘Jeanette’ and 73965 ‘Des O’Brien’.
1Q51 1115 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Eastleigh East Yard – 08/05/2023
Thanks for reading. As always, thank you for your comments and corrections. With the 2023 Swanage Diesel Gala just days away as I write this, I’ll leave you with some images taken from the 2016 event.
Class 20 No’s. 20205 and 20142 pass Class 50 No. 50035 ‘Ark Royal’ at Corfe Castle – 07/05/2016Swanage resident Class 33 No’s 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ and 33111 head to Norden – 07/05/2016BR Blue liveried Class 31 No. D5580 (31162), owned by A1A Locomotive Limited runs round her train at Swanage – 07/05/2016Class 40 No.D213 ‘Andania’ (40013) having departed Corfe Castle. A total of 200 Class 40 locomotives were built by English Electric between 1958 and 1962. Seven examples are preserved – 07/05/2016Warship No. D832 ‘Onslaught’, the first member of the class to visit the Swanage Railway, on the approach to Corfe Castle – 07/05/2016Class 31 No. D5580 (31162) recreating a Kings Cross service with head code 1N08 – 07/05/2016Peak Class 46 No. D182 (46045) catches the sun crossing Corfe Common on her way to Swanage – 07/05/2016Class 50 No. 50035 ‘Ark Royal’ heads towards Corfe. The Hoover was a late substitute for 50049 ‘Defiance’ which was unavailable to attend – 07/05/2016Class 33 No’s 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ and 33111 between Harmans Cross and Corfe Castle – 07/05/2016Another view of Swanage based Class 33 No’s 33012 (D6515) ‘Lt. Jenny Lewis RN’ and 33111 – 07/05/2016Class 40 No.D213 (40013) ‘Andania’ leads Class 46 No. D182 (46045) out of Norden towards Corfe Castle – 07/05/2016Unusually coupled cab to cab, English Electric Class 20 No. 20205 leading No. 20142 which was acting as a translator as 205 is air-brake only and the coaching stock is vacuum brake, crossing Corfe viaduct – 07/05/2016Hastings gauge “Slim Jim” Class 33 No. 33202 with a Swanage bound train 07/05/2016Warship No. D832 ‘Onslaught’ makes a fine sight and sound powering out of Corfe Castle on her way to Norden – 07/05/2016
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