Last week proved to be very much the lull before the storm as this week we have enjoyed many rare visitors along our patch of railway line, mostly associated with the 2023 Swanage Diesel Gala which proved to be a resounding success judging by the numbers of enthusiasts who turned out to travel and photograph the trains during the special event weekend. 

But before any special movements to Swanage took place, another rare locomotive here these days, in the form of GBRf Class 47 No. 47727 ‘Edinburgh Castle,’ turned up on Wednesday 10th May heading for Bournemouth Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot where it was rostered to collect a Class 701 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) which was being stored at the depot and move it to Eastleigh Traction TRSMD prior to an onward working taking it to Worksop Down Yard for storage the following day.

None of the Class 701 units have yet to turn a wheel in revenue earning service , but they continue to run mileage accumulation and test runs between Eastleigh, London Waterloo, Staines and Poole. It’s believed that SWR are moving any units in store from their facilities until they have accepted the 701’s into service. Despite the rain, I opted to see the Class 47 and 701 drag at Poole as this was the first location I ever saw one of the ubiquitous Brush type 4 locomotives way back in 1977 or thereabouts. 

Later on Wednesday the first of the visiting locomotives destined for the Swanage Diesel Gala arriving via the main line worked through to the branch in the form of GBRf Class 73 Electro-Diesels No.’s 73107 ‘Tracy’ and 73201 ‘Broadlands’. As we reported last week, Clayton Class 17 No. D8568 arrived on the Swanage Railway via road transport in readiness for the Diesel gala being held over the weekend of 12-14th May 2023. The Clayton was also involved in a warm-up day on Thursday 11th and was to scheduled to remain after the gala for driver experience runs before a returning to the Severn Valley Railway, again by road, on 16th May.

The 73’s arrival was followed by Swanage resident Class 33/0 No. D6515 (33012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ travelling light engine away from Swanage on her way to Eastleigh in order to collect the London Underground Class 438 4TC unit. Originally this combination was to have formed the Branch Line Society organised rail tour “The Jurassic Crompton” which had been designed to take the following pathing on Thursday 11th May: Eastleigh P3 (PU 11.12) – Fareham – Havant P2 – Haslemere P3 – Guildford P8 (PU 12.42) – Wokingham – Reading P14 (PU 13.22) – Dn Feeder Relief – Basingstoke P4 (PU 13.58) – Wallers Ash DPL – Shawford Jn – Dn Slow – Eastleigh – Southampton Central P4 (PU 15.07) – Up Fast – Church Lane Jn – Dn Main – Brockenhurst P1 (photo stop) – Bournemouth P4 (photo stop) – Poole P2 – Wareham – Norden – Swanage (SD 18:41). In the event paperwork associated with the rail tour and the 4TC’s ability to carry passengers on the main line was apparently submitted late and the special train cancelled, although the 33/0 and 4TC still ran to Swanage via the same convoluted route, only without fare paying passengers! 

The final special working of the day included a surprise visitor in the form of “Dave”, or to give the correct identification; Class 50 No. 50021 ‘Rodney’, which although previously announced as a visitor to the Swanage Gala had been withdrawn from the guest list as the loco was not going to be ready in time. After some tremendous effort by the team behind ‘Rodders’ the locomotive made the cut and was included in the convoy which was headed by English Electric Class 40 No. D345 (40145) and included Peak Class 45 No. 45108 and another Class 50 No. 50026 ‘Indomitable’. 

With two more guests due to arrive on Thursday 11th May it was a busy half hour as I waited at Hamworthy station for Class 33/0 No. D6515 on her return journey to Swanage having collected the LU 4TC unit forming 5Z34 1112 Eastleigh to Swanage closely followed by light engine Freightliner Class 47 No. 47830 ‘Beeching’s Legacy’ working as 0Z47 1635 Southampton Maritime Container Terminal to Swanage. Both these were signal checked at Hamworthy as they were running behind stopping service trains.  

Yoshi and I spent Friday at the Swanage gala, with a couple of brief visits to the railway on the Saturday.

Sunday saw guest attractions moving away from Swanage, the first working being the two GBRf Class 73’s which headed off with the LU Class 4TC for a night being berthed at platform 5 of Southampton Central before onward movement the following day. But for the late paperwork, the 4TC would again have been intended to carry passengers as “The Return Of The Jurassic Crompton” rail tour which would have involved D6515 (33012) and the two GBRf Class 73’s traversing the following route: Swanage (PU 15.30) – Norden – Wareham – Poole – Bournemouth – Brockenhurst – Southampton Central (SD 17.30) – Redbridge – Laverstock Curve – Andover – Basingstoke (SD 18.55) – Woking – Wimbledon – London Waterloo (SD 20.00 / RM) – Wimbeldon – Woking – Basingstoke (SD 20.55) – Andover – Laverstock Curve – Romsey – Southampton Central (PU 22.20) – Eastleigh (SD 22.40).

Later on Sunday the Freightliner Class 47 made her escape heading back to Southampton MCT. 

The remainder of the visiting locomotives (with the exception of the Class 17 of course) formed a mini convoy on the morning of Tuesday 16th May and made a fine sight as they passed through Hamworthy in full sun where I was able to see them. I would have liked to have found a straight length of track to photograph the four departees, but time constraints meant Hamworthy was far more convenient. I did however, manage to mess up the video settings on my phone. Oh well! 

After all the Swanage associated activity, the week was not yet done as on the evening of Tuesday 16th May 2023 there was one last special working as Colas operated an engineers train from Eastleigh to Dorchester West. We went to Wareham to see the train as it was booked to stop here for fifteen minutes. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t stop. I thought maybe I should have travelled to Dorchester after all as Class 66 No’s 66850 ‘David Maidment OBE’ and 66848 sped through the station working 6C15 1946 Eastleigh East Yard to Dorchester West.

Looking at RTT this train was to enter engineering possession and work up through Yeovil overnight and arrive at Castle Cary before onward working to Westbury. In fact, the train appears to have reversed via Dorchester Junction and worked back up the South.

Time to catch our breath! We’ll be back properly in two weeks, although please check in next week as we’ll hopefully have a petit quelque chose for you. Thank you so much for reading and for your comments and corrections.