Swanage Railway 09-10/08/2023

Steam and diesel traction would share the spotlight in the Isle of Purbeck, as the Swanage Railway embrace the swing of their summer season, and the increased holiday traffic that it brings. The railway would be operating their Green timetable, which comprises of a steam service between Swanage and Norden making 5 return trips, while the heritage DMU makes four trips ‘over the road’, onto the mainline and up to Wareham.
The steam service would be handled by U Class - 31806. Due to high passenger demand on the railway, two of the return trips with the steam service would be bolstered up to 6 coaches from the normal 5. However, due to operational limits in Swanage station, this would necessitate operating the service top and tailed since the run-around loop at Swanage can only accommodate a 5 coach set. This would see Class 33 - 33111 called upon to assist 31806. With the U left to do the heavy lifting on these runs, the result would be a load of roughly 280 tons on the drawbar, with the Southern mogul handling the weight in typical noisy fashion; with a similar story for 33111 on its turns, with roughly 300 tons in tow.
Locomotives:
Ex-SR U Class - 31806
BR Class 121 'Bubble Car' - W55028
BR Class 117 DMU - W59486+W51388
BR Class 33 - 33111
All footage filmed on Wednesday the 9th, and Thursday the 10th, of August 2023.

[@petercollingwood4108]

Excellent, thank you

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Cheers

[@Pjs75]

What a joy, to see your take on this lovely heritage railway. The lingering scenic shots, beautiful angles and interesting emphasise highlights. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thanks very much, Peter!

[@conceyullena]

Beautiful video,, greetings 👍🚂🔝🙋‍♂️

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Cheers

[@johnkerr1953]

What a trimendous video, also a very nice group of trees kinda near the end,& very nice views through out the video, so A very big thank you to all who have taken the time to make this great video. PS great to see these old steam engines coming back into action - what a Joy.

[@derekdee9592]

Good filming 31806 still steaming remembered from watercress days !

[@bobingram6912]

You just made me feel very old with that 31806 observation!!!!!!

[@shipsarerubbish]

it only left the railway 10 years ago @@bobingram6912

[@oldfart6318]

Great video, loved the station sequences,

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@kierianpowell962]

Always top notch with your filming, let's hope we see the "N" in the near future.

[@SimonTog]

Nice video :)

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@johnmilner0859]

Very nice video. Always enjoy them but this one was 👍

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thanks very much

[@stephenbell3616]

First time ive seen myself in a video. Top work recording

[@robturner5168]

Another high quality top notch video, great angles thanks so much. Excellent.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you

[@herbypumpkin1256]

31806 hauled my Wedding Train on Saturday 22nd June 1985 on Watercress Line. Glad she still going strong as are both my Wife and I after nearly 40 years together.

[@bobingram6912]

Summer Southern Steam, magic😊😊 Loving the new shooting locations👍👍 Was going to say everything is always turned out to perfection then 33 appeared🤣🤣🤣!! - Nice though, just as I remember them. Top notch filming Matthew.

[@brianbunn3604]

33111 is now very work-stained with faded and chipped paintwork however it provides an excellent contrast with Swanage Railway’s sister 33 loco, the immaculate green liveried No. D6515 “Lt. Jenny Lewis RN”, likewise the contrast between the work-stained steam loco 34070 “Manston” and it’s gleaming sister 34028 “Eddystone” at Swanage 😊 Nice to see this on a Heritage Railway !

[@AndreiTupolev]

Well, that's good to see that they need to add extra coaches. I must go down there when the T3 is in service, whuch shouldn't be long now 😀

[@bazza3643]

Great video, it brings back so many great memories. But won’t it be great if they painted the Crompton back to its original green livery.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Cheers. 33111 never carried green, after being upgraded to a 33/1. Personally think its weathered appearance in blue looks great. But each to their own.