Swanage Railway - 'Spring Steam Gala' 24-25/03/2023

After an absence of over three years, the Swanage Railway have welcomed the return of a steam gala to their rails for the first time since the 2019 'Autumn Steam Gala'. As 2023 marks the 75th anniversary since the formation of British Railways during the nationalisation of 1948, the Swanage Railway would play host to a pair of visiting BR Standards for their 'Spring Steam Gala', held over the weekend of March 24th-26th.
The first locomotive to be built by British Railways to their own design, and therefore the pioneer of the BR Standards, 70000 "Britannia" made a welcome return to the Isle of Purbeck for the event, visiting courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd. Joining "Britannia", 4MT - 76084 would make a visit to the Dorset branch line from its regular home of the North Norfolk Railway. To date, this is the furthest south the 4MT has made it during its preservation career. Running alongside the visiting duo, would be a trio of home-fleet locomotives. U Class - 31806 would be shouldered by the resident pair of Bulleid pacifics: 34028 "Eddystone" and 34070 "Manston", the latter looking wonderfully weathered.
For the duration of the gala, the railway worked passenger services beyond their usual limit of operations at Norden, going 'over the road' and onto the Wareham extension. Services would go as far as to the River Frome Viaduct, which serves as the current limit of SR metals. In order to acheive this, services from Swanage would gain a tail locomotive at Norden before before continuing west, due to the absence of a run around loop on the extension. Also woven into the timetable would be a demonstration freight service, consisting of a typical ballast set.
There is some fitting beauty in the pair of pacifics, 34070 "Manston" and 70000 "Britannia", rubbing shoulders for this event, given BR's 75th anniversary. "Manston", the final locomotive (and by extension, pacific) to be built by the Southern Railway before nationalisation. "Britannia", the first locomotive (and by similar extension, pacific) built after nationalisation by BR to their own design.
Locomotives:
Ex-SR 'Battle of Britain' Class - 34070 "Manston"
BR Standard Class 'Britannia' 7MT - 70000 "Britannia"
Ex-SR U Class - 31806
BR Standard Class 4MT - 76084
Ex-SR Rebuilt 'West Country' Class - 34028 "Eddystone"
All footage filmed on Friday the 24th, and Saturday the 25th, of March 2023.

[@anthonykeep929]

As always beautifully filmed and you managed again to take full advantage of the inclines on the SR . Thanks again . Anthony Keep

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you! It's always nice filming on the Wareham extension; some good gradients, and a variety of locations.

[@lauriefielder8762]

I can hardly believe that I saw Britannia at the Festival of Britain in London in 1951 looking as great as ever

[@IowaTrainGay]

Absolutely amazing! Stunning video yet again, and I just love the Swanage Railway! Thank you for sharing! OMG And the Devon Belle Observation car!!!!! That's the car that really got me into British trains! Absolutely Stunning!

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thanks very much, Chris! The kind words are always appreciated. The Observation Car is always a pleasure to see out and about.

[@iankemp1131]

They have done a great job of refurbishing the observation car so it looks even more stunning inside and out than it did before. I did a bit of volunteering when Flying Scotsman came down in October, and the people who travelled in it absolutely loved it. Looking forward to giving it a go myself some day.

[@grahammansbridge3108]

​@@TheSouthernerYTChannel pp⁰

[@nigelstride6158]

Another cracking video ! It was a pleasure to meet and chat to you at Dickers X on Friday - always good to put a face to a name. Looking forward to more superb quality output from you throughout the year. Many thanks for sharing.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thanks very much! A pleasure to meet you too, hope you had a great day.

[@iankemp1131]

Worth noting that from 4 April, the Swanage Railway will be running through diesel railcar services to Wareham four days a week until early September. So now you can get down all the way to the railway and the resort by train without having to drive to Norden or catch connecting buses. Worth telling family and friends, whether they want steam trains or the beach or both! Also hoping to see the Adams T3 No. 563 in steam by the end of the year, when I reckon it will be the oldest express passenger engine in operation at 130 years old. When the Drummond T9 can be returned to operation there could be two Victorian 4-4-0s on the Swanage Railway, outside and inside cylindered; that will be quite a sight!

[@anthonywarrener1881]

What an excellent video ! All the locomotives were driven well, and it was especially good to see the two Bulleid driven without a trace of slipping. Many thanks.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thanks very much. The crews at Swanage are very good at handling them.

[@bobingram6912]

Had to watch this on big screen with the volume up, it all ended too quickly though😢 You're right, dirty Manston looked great on that freight. 70000 stunning as usual. Thanks Matthew, a great half hour lost in deepest Dorset.👍👍

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Glad you enjoyed it, Bob! Don't worry, more videos already in the planning. Manston really does look amazing weathered.

[@iankemp1131]

Manston also sounded very slightly off beat, or was that my imagination? Maybe representative of unrebuilt Bulleids in BR days though!

[@barbaratroughton2810]

Excellent video thank you. I love all the countryside views as well. I really enjoyed the gala it was a fantastic weekend

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@johnkerr1953]

One trimendous video of a steam train really great to see these steam engines coming back to life, & giving pleasure to hundreds of people - may they keep going for a long time to come, PS thanks to everyone who made this great video l say well done 👍👍✅.

[@juliegray6003]

Amazing video. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it

[@herbypumpkin1256]

Really nice Video, and I've watched quite a few.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@lauriefielder8762]

Once again the Swanage team put on a fantastic show thank you so much from AUS. Still think the Eddystone name plates stand out better when red background is applied not black

[@elijahglasser1421]

big trains coming through

[@SimonTog]

Super well done video, thumbs up :)

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@bernicewild5979]

Great Vid ,all ways great at the Swanage railway.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you. Can't beat a day in the Purbecks

[@oldgittarist]

A real feast!!

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@JakesTrains52]

Lovely video

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thanks

[@robertbester]

Very good video.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@TickledFunnyBone]

Interesting to hear that extra chuff from the "spam cans".

[@iankemp1131]

I hadn't quite realised before the strong family resemblance between rebuilt Bulleid Pacifics and the Britannias, particularly the high running board, though it's logical given the links between the BR design teams responsible (Brighton and Derby, I believe). The Bulleids have a more rounded appearance though.

[@paulcaswell2813]

The Bulleids are way better looking IMO. And the rebuilt MNs even moreso!

[@AndreiTupolev]

That's a good load for the class 4 up the grade there at9:00, equal to at least load 10😊

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Made an exceptional noise. The microphone doesn't do it justice.

[@ludwigsamereier8204]

Wonderful pictures! What's the function of the white balloon cube positioned on the elevated platform at 16:16?

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you. It's a new build signal post, not yet ready for use, so covered over to protect it from the elements.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Scotland is only 1 mile from Corfe Castle? I never knew that 💁‍♂️

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Been the butt of a few jokes, that. The name of a lesser known small area. Includes a farm.