Full Journey, Wareham To Norden onboard Swanage railway class 117 DMU

[@petes6814]

Nice to see the line open, just need the Wareham down bay platform reopening. Last time I did that journey was about 1981 - on a Neptune recording trolley (as far as Furzebrook) when I worked at the Bournemouth Area Civil Engineer's Office.

[@ChangesOneTim]

12:39 "Lunch is ready, deer!" Thanks for the vid. Great that this connecting service has started.

[@nickedwards2904]

Good post, i did this trip a few years ago behind a pair of 73s and on the way out from swanage to wareham behind a pair of class 20s

[@stuartwalker8996]

Interesting extra equipment that has to be added to allow operation on Network Rail (on the central pillar to the right of the driver) that certainly wasn't around when the Class 117s were in daily service on BR. Drivers Reminder Device (helps prevents Signals Passed at Danger when stopped at a station) Release for the locked passenger doors (in the past it was possible for passengers to open train doors whilst the train was still moving) and the GSM-R radio (signal post telephones or a telephone box was the only communication prior to that).

[@ThatCoalSoul]

Only bit of this line I've not done ...yet.

[@Thunderer0872]

Messed up the token exchange then the guy waiting wasn't holding up his arm to collect our trains one so was ours dropped and the next one not given?

[@adamtravers856]

there a token hook catcher before the platform where the crossing men was stood :)

[@Snapdragon4472]

Nice video. It sounded like a long noisy revving at the start to get the brakes off for some reason? Does it not put additional wear and tear on the engines, as well as making it noisy and uncomfortable for the passengers?

[@stuartwalker8996]

Nothing to do with the brakes. There is an air system that operates Electro-pneumatic valves that operate the throttle and gears (similar to the pre-selector gear systems on older buses). If the air pressure falls below 60psi, they won't work and the train will not move. Revving the engine in neutral operates the compressor that will bring the air pressure above 60psi.

[@Snapdragon4472]

@@stuartwalker8996 Oic. I know I have been on these heritage units before and the train was struggling to depart so the driver puts it in neutral and revs it up for a few seconds then tries again and it departs ok. I said brakes as one I was on seemed to have dragging brakes and was squealing a bit until it revved up. Another sat in the stations in first gear with a full brake application, putting strain on the transmission! When the brakes were released and the throttle opened fully, it just sat there straining to depart without the driver doing anything to help it! After about 15 seconds or so, the brakes released slowly and the train struggled away - which must have put a huge strain on everything? I think that was caused by the driver giving a full on or off application only, instead of lapping by applying and holding and releasing and repeating until the train gently stopped? And I know they have air operated valves operating the gearboxes - which is why they have to wait for the revs to lower before changing gear - and then a further pause to allow the operation before opening the throttle again. Even so, doesn't all this revving in neutral cause excess noise and vibration making it noisy and uncomfortable for the passengers? I know how bad some of them were when they were in service many years ago! I recall somewhere I read an instruction from one of the heritage railway companies "to avoid racing [revving] the engines of railcars when in service to prevent annoyance and discomfort to the passengers". Does this instruction no longer apply these days?

[@stuartwalker8996]

Down to the heritage railway I think, probably to keep fuel costs down. I know BR advice to drivers was not to race the engines when starting them cold, but often ignored if I remember correctly. The other problem with EP valves is that they could stick resulting in an engine at full revs/gears not changing properly whilst in service. Relevant engine should be stopped locally and final drive isolated until a fitter could arrive, but again in my experience some drivers carried on regardless! Needless to say most heritage railways would take more care than BR did!

[@Housephonestimes4]

It's only about 1900 rpm. Please don't be alarmed. A very easy going, low revving Charlie Chaplin engine design. On the roads, we get diesel cars and vans engines being operated at 4000 rpm, 4300 rpm, 4500 rpm, 4700 rpm or 5000 rpm on first and second gears! Now that's what you can really classify as Extreme Noise Pollution!

[@MarkInLA]

Why was the cameraman afraid to show the view to the right or behind for a tad ? A bit claustrophobic I'd say...

[@2025SPACEDUDE]

He did turn to his left to show a lake at 4:58

[@ChangesOneTim]

I'm very grateful that the cameraman bothered to take this footage and post it on TubeFace at all.

[@Britainbyrail]

it was PACKED and i wasn't willing to violate others privacy