Collision between 2 steam locos at Swanage

[TRP]

The Swanage Railway is currently running a diesel only service following a reported collision between SR Battle of Britain pacific No.34070 'Manston' & BR 4MT tank No.80104. The collision between the 2 locos happened between the signal box & the loco depot and the locos have both been withdrawn for assessment of damage. There are no reported injuries.
The (hopefully temporary) withdrawal of 34070 & 80104 leaves the Swanage Railway with just two operational steam locos - SR U class No.31806 & LSWR M7 class No.30053. Another Battle of Britain pacific, No.34072 '257 Squadron', is due to enter traffic in about a month's time.
Hopefully there is no significant damage to either locomotive & a full steam service can resume soon (I'm due for a visit in a few weeks, so fingers crossed!)

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news...otives-collide

Tony

[TRP]

Further to the above re available steam locomotives, 30053 is only on light duties in order to see it through to the end of it's boiler certificate in October & 31806 is still in the process of testing etc. following repairs. Hopefully they get some steam back soon.

Tony

[bramleyman]

Regardless of what the reason, as long as Nobody was hurt, I hope the reason is soon discovered and resolved.

[TRP]

As reported in the Bournemouth Echo, it appears that one of the locos involved (it doesn't specify which one) needs workshop attention for bent buffers, but the other loco has minimal damage & should return to traffic within days.
No details yet of what actually happened other than it being reported as a low speed shunting collision at around 9am on Monday.

Tony

[TRP]

Update:
The Swanage Railway has completed some maintenance on ex-LSWR M7 class 0-4-4T No.30053 & the loco is now fit to return to service tomorrow (29/7/17). As the 1905-built loco is being 'nursed' through the last few months of it's boiler certificate (expires Oct. 2017) she will be working trains at weekends only (alongside the line's class 108 DMU) - for the time being the midweek trains are to remain as diesel only - the 108 DMU & class 33 No.33111, as well as the diesel-operated Wareham services worked by WCRC class 33 No.33025 & class 37 No.37518.

Tony

[TRP]

Latest update:
U class No.31806 has been out on test today and as part of the testing it worked two of the service trains. If there are no ill effects following the testing, 31806 could be ready to be put back into full service
30053 will remain operational at weekends only for the time being.
As for the two locos which were taken out of the service following their collision last Monday, 80104 is yet to be fully assessed, whilst 34070 'Manston' (which is now reported to have 'run into' 80104) is damaged and a decision is to be made about when the repairs will take place. There is a possibility that 'Manston' will be withdrawn for overhaul early (boiler certificate expires July 2018) which would include the accident repair.
As these are both Southern Locomotive Ltd. locos, the decision on when to make repairs could have an impact on the completion of 34072 '257 Squadron' which is probably only weeks away from steaming, then a period of testing and running in with a probable return to traffic in September. It could be that the best decision is to press on with 34072 to give the Swanage Railway a 'new' loco, and leave 80104 & 34070 to one side for now.

Tony

[TRP]

Full steam service now resumed!

As of tomorrow (Saturday 12th August) the Swanage Railway will be resuming it's full steam service (2 train running).
Ex-SR U class No.31806 officially returned to traffic on Wednesday (August 9th) & will be joined tomorrow & Sunday by ex-LSWR M7 No.30053 which is currently only operating on selected days. After that, 31806 should be joined by the NRM's ex-LSWR T9 class No.30120 which has been brought in from the Bodmin & Wenford Railway as cover for the loss of 80104 & 'Manston'.
30120 had arrived at Swanage on July 28th but was known to need a retube before entering service, which should be complete by this weekend. According to the latest Steam Railway magazine, the T9 is reported to be staying at Swanage 'for the foreseeable future'.
I visited the railway last Monday with 30053 running along with class 33 No.D6515 'Lt. Jenny Lewis R.N.' and I also saw the retube of 30120 in progress at Swanage. 31806 was also at Swanage, looking in superb ex-works condition.
The 2 locos involved in the shunting collision were also at Swanage - 'Manston' was in one of the sidings just outside the station and the damage to the front of the loco was quite apparent with the front part of the frames just behind the bufferbeam particularly bent; 80104 was in one of the loco preparation sidings near the goods shed and had had it's front Pony Truck removed, but the front of the loco was not visible (shielded from view by the class 108 DMU) it was not possible to see what damage this loco had sustained. There are photos attached - for the photo of 'Manston' I have added an inset enlargement of the damaged area, showing the bent frames & buffers.

Tony

[TRP]

Best laid plans etc....

31806 was failed today with injector problems, so just 30053 in steam today with one of the diesels. They hope to have the U out tomorrow with the M7 tomorrow & then it's 31806 & 30120 from Monday.

Tony