Train Working : Swanage 1954

Last updated:18 July 2003

The following table describes the train working at Swanage in 1954. It is based on the working timetable in BR Operating History SR Part 3 Wessex published by Xpress Publishing. There are many outstanding questions and hypotheses indicated in italics. I would welcome further input on these or any other comments. Please send comments to: John Walker

Go back to Train Working : Swanage

Main - platform 1
Bay - siding 1; goods shed - siding 2 ...

Where were push pull coaches and Waterloo coaches berthed overnight?  I have pictures of the Royal Wessex coaches in the bay.  Did they remain there overnight?

How were Waterloo coaches detached from push pulls?  I have assumed the train from Wareham would arrive in the main platform with the Waterloo coaches on the Wareham end, then:
- M7 and pushpull push Waterloo coaches in front of signal box
- M7 and pushpull detach and set back into main platform
- M7 and pushpull run round Waterloo coaches
- M7 and pushpull push Waterloo coaches into main platform, or bay platform, or couple up and transfer to siding 3, 4 or 5

How did the goods run round?  I have assumed the goods would arrive in front of signal box then:
- if goods does not fit in loop excess wagons pushed in to headshunt
- loco runs round wagons using loop from double slip to crossover in front of engine shed
- wagons shunted into yard
- similarly any remaining wagons in headshunt run round and shunted into yard

At what point in shunting did goods loco visit turntable?

How often did push pull locos need to visit shed?  Presumably they uncoupled from coaches?

At start of day:

Shed - M7 (ex BM408) SWA421
Siding 2 (bay),3,4,5 - 2 coaches (ex 1030 Waterloo), 2 coaches (ex 1635 Waterloo), 2 Royal Wessex (ex 1830 Waterloo) + Pushpull (ex PP2) PP3 

Bogie coaches were not allowed in siding 6.

Train Arr Dep Destination

0547 Bournemouth Central Motor
         PP1 + M7 BM407 facing Wareham

 0648 Bay 0715 Bay Bournemouth West
         M7 SWA421 off shed to collect PP3 + 2 Royal Wessex coaches from siding  3/4/5
         M7 SWA421 facing Wareham + PP3 + 2 Royal Wessex coaches		 0736 Main Waterloo (Royal Wessex)

0651 Christchurch
         M7 BM410 (pushpull fitted?)  +4 coaches to Main
         Runround and collect 2 coaches from siding 3/4/5

 0840 Main

0831 Wareham Motor
         PP3 + M7 SWA421 facing Wareham

 0853 Bay 0858 Bay Wareham Motor

         M7 BM410 facing Wareham +  2 Waterloo + 4 Christchurch
         Waterloo or Christchurch coaches next to M7?

 0924 Main Waterloo

0655 Hamworthy Junc Goods
         M7 H.Jn 422 + max 22 wagons
         Loops not long enough to run round 22 wagons
         Run to bay line.  Reverse into headshunt if required.
         Run round in front of signal box as required.
          Shunt yard.

 0952

0947 Wareham Motor
         PP2 + M7 BM407 facing Wareham
         Swanage Railway in Colour p27 1960

 1009 Main

Main
         M7 H.Jn 422 + max 22 wagons.
         Assemble in siding 3/4/5.   M7 to shed to turn and service.		 10.45 Siding 3/4/5

Wareham Goods
Swanage Railway in Colour p36 1961

         PP2 + M7 BM407 facing Wareham 11.06 Main Wareham Motor
1106 Wareham Motor
         PP3 + M7 SWA421 facing Wareham		 1128 Main 1136 Main Wareham Motor
1157 Wareham Motor
         PP2 + M7 BM407 facing Wareham		 1219 Main
1216 Wareham Motor
         PP3 + M7 SWA421		 1238 Bay
         PP2 + M7 BM407 facing Wareham 1242 Main Wareham Motor
         M7 SWA421 + PP3 collect 2 coaches for Waterloo from siding 3
         M7 SWA421 facing Wareham + PP3 + 2 coaches		 1333 Main Waterloo

1030 Waterloo
         PP2 + M7 BM407 facing Wareham + 2 coaches from Waterloo
        Shunt 2 coaches to front of signal box.  PP2 + M7 run round.
        2 coaches to siding 3/4/5.  PP2 + M7 BM407 to Main

1354 Main
1416 Wareham Motor
         PP3 + M7 SWA421 facing Wareham		 1438 Bay
         PP2 + M7 BM407 facing Wareham 1442 Main Wareham Motor
1537 Wareham Motor
         PP2 + M7 BM407 facing Wareham		 1559 Main
         PP3 + M7 SWA421 facing Wareham collects PP5 from siding 3/4/5 or headshunt?
         PP5 + PP3 + M7 SWA421 facing Wareham 		1623 Bay

1604 Main		 Wareham Motor
Swanage Railway in Colour p41 1962
Around the Branch Lines pl154
         PP2 + M7 BM407 facing Wareham 1700 Main Wareham Motor

1657 Wareham Motor
         PP5 + PP3 + M7 SWA421 facing Wareham
         Shunt PP5 to siding 3/4/5 or headshunt?

1721 Main 1738 Main Wareham Motor

1700 Bournemouth Central Motor
         PP4 + M7 BM408 facing Wareham
          Swanage Railway in Colour p26 1957
         Branch Lines of the SR Vol 1 p119

1800 Main

Bay
Main		 1836 Main

Bay
Main		 Wareham Motor
1833 Wareham Motor
         PP3 + M7 SWA421 facing Wareham		 1857 Main
1635 Waterloo
         PP2 + M7 BM408 facing Wareham + 2 coaches from Waterloo		 1952 Bay?
         PP3 + M7 SWA421 facing Wareham 2010 Main Wareham Motor
         Shunt 2 coaches to front of signal box.  PP2 + M7 run round.
         2 coaches to siding 3/4/5
         PP2 + M7 BM408		 2120 Main Wareham Motor

1830 Waterloo (Royal Wessex)
         PP3 + M7 SWA421 facing Wareham + 2 Royal Wessex
         Shunt 2 Royal Wessex to front of signal box.
        PP3 + M7 run round.
        2 Royal Wessex to siding 2/3/4/5

2142 Main
         PP3 + M7 SWA421 facing Wareham 2204 Main Wareham Motor
2204 Wareham Motor
          PP2 + M7 BM408 facing Wareham
          PP2 to siding 3/4/5, M7 to shed 		2226 Main

Go to start of Train Working : Swanage 1954