Swanage Railway Grand Steam Gala 1997

Report and photographs by Keith Morgan

Hundreds of visitors flocked to the Swanage Railway for the Gala Steam weekend of 13th & 14th of September 1997. Those expecting an exciting weekend were not disappointed. The weather was fine and sunny on both days, and the crowds of visitors to Swanage were able to relax in the sunshine and soak up the atmosphere while the volunteers busied themselves with the intensive schedules.

Locomotives carried ex-Somerset & Dorset headcodes and special headboards, including the famous Pines Express which used the 1966-closed Somerset &Dorset via Blandford, Templecombe and Bath en route from Bournemouth to Manchester.

Four steam locomotives dating from 1905,1948,1955 and 1959 - M7 Tank 30053, Battle of Britain Class No. 34072 257 Squadron, BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 Tank No. 80104, and Class 9F No. 92203 Black Prince, - were all to play their part in hauling passengers and freight from Swanage to Norden and back during the weekend. All ex-main line steam locomotives, the M7 tank No. 30053 was built in London in 1905 and is the world's only fully working example.

Services were run against a special two-train timetable based on the peak summer timetable which allowed for three mixed goods trains in both directions, starting simultaneously from Norden and Swanage and passing at Harman's Cross. These trains replaced the normal 12:30, 13:50 and 15:10 passenger services from both Swanage and Norden. Photo opportunities abounded. Here we also see Andrew P.M. Wright, photographer and reporter for the Swanage News, hot on the trail of another perfect photograph.

The planned schedule had required Black Prince to take a starring role hauling passenger services during both days. Saved from the scrapyard in November 1967, the 139 tonne SR-designed Standard 9F 2-10-0 wheel arrangement express steam locomotive No. 92203 was purchased by the famous wildlife artist David Shepherd who named it the Black Prince. This powerful locomotive which had pulled the prestigious 'Pines Express' at speeds of up to 70 mph on the long-closed and much-lamented Somerset &Dorset main line between Bournemouth, Blandford, Templecombe and Bath had returned to Dorset for the first time in 37 years for a working summer holiday on the Swanage Railway.

Unfortunately, during Saturday morning's safety checks, with 140psi in the boiler, water and steam was found to be leaking from the fireman's side mudhole door seal. This necessitated the removal of the locomotive from Saturday's schedules whilst emergency repairs were carried out at the Swanage shed. Fortunately, rapid rescheduling meant that services continued as planned, and what could have been a major setback became another example of the excellent team work in operation throughout the railway allowing Black Prince to resume full service on Sunday morning, on its last day at Swanage before it returned home to the East Somerset Railway.

Black Prince's absence on Saturday meant that the three remaining locomotives (and the Swanage Railway staff) had to be even more versatile than normal in order to achieve the combination of the two train operating service and the various freight movements which added to the atmosphere of the weekend.

Further drama was to occur late on Sunday afternoon when the leading two axles of M7 Tank, 30053, came off the rails at the points opposite the platform at Swanage Station during a goods demonstration movement. As this incident did not affect the main running track (although it prevented running around), services continued as scheduled.

The throngs of spectators were then treated to a fine example of professional expertise as a small team of railway staff swiftly brought up a breakdown train hauled by BR Class 08 diesel shunter D3591 and returned 30053 to the rails to enthusiastic applause from the crowds. There is a full photo report on a separate News Page.

Throughout the weekend the volunteers staffing the Bird's Nest buffet provided an excellent range of refreshments at Swanage Station, and the new picnic tables on the platforms were in constant use.

As predicted, this weekend turned out to be a memorable occasion which will not be easily forgotten by anyone who attended. So, if you didn't make it to the Swanage Steam Gala in 1997, then why not treat yourself to a visit to next year's event? Full details will be provided in these pages nearer the date.

Last Updated 16th September 1997 by Keith Morgan.