Train Working : Swanage 1954 to 1961

Last updated: 18 January 2002

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References:
     BR Operating History SR Part 3 Wessex Working Timetable 1954
     Railway Modeller January 1971 Working Timetable Swanage Branch Summer 1956
     Passenger Services Timetable 17th June to 15th September 1957
     Working Timetable of Passenger Trains 16th September 1957, until further notice
     Passenger Services Timetable 12th June to 10th September 1961
     Working Timetable of Passenger Trains 14th June 1965 to 17th April 1966, or until further notice
     Carriage Working Notice Loco-hauled Trains 14th June to 5th September 1965
     Southern Regions Engine Workings published by OPC Bournemouth 1966
     LSWR Locomotives The Drummond Classes by D.L.Bradley

The following table is based on train workings at Swanage in 1954 as described in BR Operating History SR Part 3 Wessex published by Xpress Publishing.  Workings up to 1961 have been superimposed to provide more intensive services and to show the changes over that period.  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

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?

Did T9 from Salisbury stay on shed all day? 

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 

1965/6 Bournemouth Loco BM405 2MT 2-6-2T Ivatt
                                          BM407 4MT 2-6-4T BR Standard
                                          BM408 4MT 2-6-4T BR Standard
            Swanage Shed       BM409 (ex BM408) 4MT 2-6-4T BR Standard
            Swanage Siding 2 (bay),3,4,5 - 2-set(R)/2 (ex 2-set(R)/1)
            Wareham                               - 2-set(R)/1

End of day:

1965/6 Bournemouth Loco BM405 2MT 2-6-2T Ivatt
                                          BM407 4MT 2-6-4T BR Standard
                                          BM409 4MT 2-6-4T BR Standard
            Swanage Shed       BM408 4MT 2-6-4T BR Standard

Bogie coaches were not allowed in siding 6.

According to Bradley (p158), in mid-1949 a Bournemouth 700 usually spent the day on the Swanage branch substituting for an 'M7'.  The Bournemouth allocation at that time was :  30695, 30696, 30700.  Presumably this would be on H.Jn.422? 

According to BR Operating History a Swanage M7 double-headed the 17.41 Weymouth stopping train from Wareham.