Trains and Boats and Planes

**cessna152towser** · 20th October 10, 02:58 PM

I have just returned from four days away on the Isle of Purbeck.
First of all an hour's flight on a Bombardier Dash-8 Q400 Turboprop to Southampton on the English south coast.

A ride on a scenic coastal bus.

The bus crossed on a ferry to the Isle of Purbeck. (Though Purbeck is not really an island, it is actually a peninsula and can be reached overland by a much longer way round).

I have been a member of Southern Locomotives Limited for many years but now that I am no longer doing any private flying I have increased my shareholding as SLL are involved in restoring Southern Railway Battle of Britain class locomotives which were built from 1945 and which commemorate Royal Air Force personnel and airfields of World War 2. Here if you look carefully you will recognise me wielding the fireman (stoker)'s shovel.

Soon we got under way for the trip along the Isle of Purbeck.

My reward for the hard graft of firing was being permitted to drive the train back from Norden to Swanage. This is the same train, which I photographed later in the day. Locomotive number 34028 Eddystone.

Sister locomotive number 34072 named "257 Squadron" was in the workshops.
This locomotive still has its original streamlined panels encasing the boiler. Some were rebuilt without the streamlining during the nineteen fifties to simplify maintenance.

Appropriately a vintage Royal Air Force plane flew over the workshop area for several minutes prior to the start of our workshop visit and AGM. This Percival Pembroke was officially designated as a "V.I.P.transport" which enabled it to fly over East Germany during the Cold War years supposedly taking senior staff to and from the Royal Air Force base at Gatow, Berlin. It was in fact a specially equipped spy plane!

Locomotive number 34053 Sir Keith Park is being restored from dereliction as a memorial to the man himself. On left is the boiler, in the background is the rolling chassis, and on the right the water and coal tender nears completion.

The Royal Air Force crests have already been completed and affixed to the locomotive.
More to follow shortly, including kilt and scenery shots.

**cessna152towser** · 20th October 10, 03:04 PM

After a day of tr**ser tyranny in the harsh working environment of the locomotive footplate and later the workshops, it was nice to get kilted up in Royal Air Force tartan for a four course evening meal on a train, this time hauled by number 34070 Manston, which is named after one of the famous Battle of Britain airfields in Kent.

All aboard

Pre-dinner aperitif in the bar car.

Starters, pate for Tom, another retired lawyer, and carrot and coriander soup for me.

After dinner coffee in the dining car.
More to follow shortly.

**BLHS209** · 20th October 10, 03:13 PM

Alex - What is the wheel type of locomotive 34028? Looks either like a 4+6+2 or a 4+8+2 (or as we say "over here", Pacific or Mountain types). Either way looks nice and also big (long length).

Chris Shepherd

**cessna152towser** · 20th October 10, 03:17 PM

On Sunday I went hiking along the Purbeck Ridge. This view looks back towards Poole Harbour, and the ferry route which crosses the mouth of the harbour can just be made out towards the right hand side of the picture.

I encountered another means of transport on the ridge.

From the ridge a good overview of the trains could be obtained, this taken through the 20x zoom of my Olympus camera.

I walked to Corfe Castle. The castle was built on the instruction of William the Conqueror, soon after the Norman Conquest of 1066, to guard a gap in the Purbeck Hills.

Corfe Castle again, viewed from God's Acre Cemetery.

Corfe Castle railway station with the castle in the background.

I met an American railfan at Corfe Castle railway station. Michael W. Dike is a realtor from Naples, Florida.

All too soon my four day trip was over and I was back in the cold damp north at the home airport, Newcastle in the north of England, just over an hour's drive from home.
Lots more pics of my trip on my Flickr album but that's enough for here.

**cessna152towser** · 20th October 10, 03:19 PM

What is the wheel type of locomotive 34028? Looks either like a 4+6+2 or a 4+8+2 (or as we say "over here", Pacific or Mountain types).

The locomotives are 4-6-2 or Pacific type.

**Downunder Kilt** · 20th October 10, 03:29 PM

Alex, as always, great pics and descriptions, thanks for taking us along on your trip.

**McClef** · 20th October 10, 03:57 PM

Ah the Swanage Railway - they print all our train tickets for the Blaenafon Heritage Railway!

I am very jealous of their Bar and Restaurant rolling stock!

**denmcdough** · 20th October 10, 05:03 PM

OMG, did I see a pic of Alex without a kilt on?? Shorts no less! LOL!

Great pics, as always, Alex. Thanks!

**Cygnus** · 20th October 10, 05:03 PM

Wonderful pictures, as always, Alex!
Having been raised in the US, I love to see the old juxtaposed with the new (or fairly new, at least) as you demonstrated so well in your photos of the castle ruins and the railroad.

Also, that green engine (Locomotive number 34028 Eddystone) reminded me this offering of the Lego company:

It's just too bad they don't seem to have a "minifigure" in a kilt.

Thank you again, Alex, for your wonderful pictures!