Dedicated volunteers launch £450,000 ‘Save Your Railway’ appeal
The ‘Save Your Railway’ appeal is aimed at boosting the financial reserves of the Swanage Railway through the early months of 2024 before...
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Andrew P.M. Wright
- Oct 10
Church bells ring to mark unique Victorian steam locomotive hauling first passenger train since 1945
Church bells rang out in Swanage to mark a unique Victorian steam locomotive hauling its first passenger train since 1945 - following a...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Oct 3
Unique Victorian steam locomotive to haul first train since 1945 after six year £650,000 restoration
A unique Victorian steam locomotive is to haul its first passenger train since 1945 - following a challenging six-year £650,000...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Aug 31
Unique Victorian locomotive arrives after six year £650,000 restoration project to return to steam
A unique Victorian steam locomotive that has taken six years and £650,000 to restore to full working order – after escaping being cut up...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Aug 24
Rail minister visits the Swanage Railway using its trial Wareham heritage diesel train service
The Minister of State for Rail and HS2, Huw Merriman MP, has made an informal visit to the Swanage Railway in the Isle of Purbeck –...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jul 17
Victorian steam locomotive steams for first time since 1948 at Gloucestershire restoration base
A unique Victorian steam locomotive that has taken six years and £500,000 to restore to full working order has steamed – and moved under...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jun 21
£40,000 appeal launched to help restored Victorian steam locomotive haul first train since 1948
A £40,000 appeal has been launched to help a unique and historic Victorian steam locomotive – saved from the scrapyard so it could...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jun 16
Nostalgic 'Roads to Rail Steam Rally' to take place next to Norden station near Corfe Castle
Dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers are to stage a nostalgic fund-raising steam rally in a field next to Norden station near the village...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- May 2
Nine 1960s heritage diesel locomotives to star in annual Diesel Gala & Dorset Beer Festival
Nine heritage diesel locomotives – that help to tell the fascinating story of Britain’s railways during the transition from steam to...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Apr 5
Swanage Railway starts first DMU heritage train service to main line at Wareham since 1972
The first diesel multiple unit train service to the main line at Wareham since 1972 has been started by the Swanage Railway – with a...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Apr 2
Child on last British Rail train to Wareham is conductor driver on first heritage train to return
A dedicated volunteer who was one of the first to start rebuilding the Swanage Railway – and who travelled on the last British Rail train...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Mar 19
Historic locomotive that hauled King George VI funeral train to star in Spring Steam Gala
An historic locomotive that hauled the funeral train of King George VI is to star in the Swanage Railway’s Spring Steam Gala along with a...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Mar 8
Trial train service from Wareham into the heart of Purbeck - thanks to working in partnership
Leave your car at home and travel by rail is the message from the Swanage Railway which is to operate a trial heritage diesel train...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Feb 10
Chance for public to drive historic steam locomotive that hauled King George VI funeral train
She is an impressive and historic leviathan of steam – an iconic and powerful 95-ton express locomotive that had the honour of hauling...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Feb 6
£85,000 appeal to complete restoration so unique locomotive can steam for the first time since 1948
An £85,000 appeal has been launched to complete the ambitious and meticulous restoration of a unique and iconic Victorian locomotive to...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jan 28
Public invited to enjoy Swanage Railway ‘Behind the Scenes’ community engagement weekend
The Swanage Railway has been rebuilt from nothing by dedicated volunteers since 1976 after the ten-mile branch line from Wareham to...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jan 24
Volunteer who set up Swanage Railway signalling school retires after 31 years of dedicated service
A volunteer who set up the Swanage Railway’s first signalling school – and helped ensure the safe operation of its trains as a signaller...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jan 1
‘Winter Warm Up’ steam & diesel event includes nostalgic re-creation of 1950s & 1960s freight train
An evocative weekend ‘Winter Warm Up’ event is to bring a mixture of steam and diesel passenger trains – as well as a nostalgic...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Dec 25, 2022
Explore the Isle Of Purbeck thanks to a restored 1950s heritage diesel train
A restored 1950s heritage diesel train – of the same type that ran on Dorset’s last branch line between Maiden Newton and Bridport for a...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Nov 29, 2022
Steam and Lights trains to bring festive cheer to young and old thanks to dedicated volunteers
Ten days of evocative Christmas Steam and Lights trains – featuring refreshed lineside and station lighting displays – will be bringing...
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