Maunsell U for main line hire
HAD not the Swanage Railway enjoyed a tremendously successful August – more than 10,000 visitors turned up over the bank holiday weekend alone – U class 2-6-0 No. 31806 could have stepped in to work the Railway Touring Company's ‘Dorset Coast Express' and ‘Swanage Belle' on August 2 and 9 respectively (see separate story).
However, James Cox, Swanage locomotive carriage and wagon superintendent, said that because the railway was so busy throughout August, all three serviceable engines were needed to cope with traffic.
However, he did voice the thought that if the demand is there for No. 31806 next year there would be no reason why the engine should not spend a spell based at Southall, ready to work trains over the former Southern Region routes – with destinations such as Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth in mind.
The 2-6-0 could be made available because, as he said, next year will see three Bulleids in action out of Swanage. The 4-6-2s will be represented by Manston, 257 Squadron and Eddystone.
Should this happen, the 2-6-0 would provide a snapshot of the old days when King Arthurs, S15s and T9s ran along the Dorset coast.
If the engine was turned at Yeovil Junction it could work trains back to London direct via Eastleigh and Winchester, thus avoiding reversal at Southampton and heading home by way of Romsey, Laverstock and Andover.