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...
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Andrew P.M. Wright
- Apr 5
- 4 min
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
- 5 min
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
- 4 min
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
- 4 min
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
- 3 min
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
- 3 min
£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
- 3 min
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
- 3 min
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
- 3 min
‘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
- 2 min
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
- 3 min
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...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Oct 22, 2022
- 3 min
Daughter of ‘Flying Scotsman’ saviour waves off world famous steam loco on first train from Swanage
Making the emotional pilgrimage to Dorset’s Isle of Purbeck from her home in Portugal for the special occasion on the morning of...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Oct 17, 2022
- 3 min
World’s most famous steam locomotive ‘Flying Scotsman’ arrives for three-week visit
The world’s most famous steam locomotive ‘Flying Scotsman’ has arrived on the Swanage Railway for an historic visit with the...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Oct 11, 2022
- 3 min
Swanage Railway founders from 1972 return to lay flowers at heritage line’s volunteer memorial
Two pioneering Swanage Railway founders who started the battle to rebuild the Dorset heritage line as university students in 1972 – just...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Oct 9, 2022
- 4 min
Daughter of man who saved ‘Flying Scotsman’ to make pilgrimage to ride behind the iconic locomotive
The daughter of the man who saved the record-breaking ‘Flying Scotsman’ from being cut up for scrap is to make a pilgrimage to Dorset’s...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Sep 8, 2022
- 1 min
Queen Elizabeth II
On behalf of the Swanage Railway's members and staff, I would like to express our condolences to the Royal Family, after the death of Her...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Sep 1, 2022
- 3 min
Close to celebrating its centenary, iconic ‘Flying Scotsman’ to visit the Swanage Railway
Close to celebrating its centenary, record-breaking ‘Flying Scotsman’ – the most famous and iconic steam locomotive in the world – is to...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Aug 23, 2022
- 3 min
Sygnets group appeals for adult volunteers as it celebrates 25 years of helping youngsters
A youth group that has inspired generations of children to find and develop their skills – some becoming adult Swanage Railway volunteers...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jul 31, 2022
- 4 min
Swanage Railway 50th anniversary celebrated with loco headboard & long service badges presentation
The 50th anniversary of the birth of the Swanage Railway has been celebrated with a special locomotive headboard and the presentation of...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jul 18, 2022
- 2 min
Re-creation of 1950s ‘Royal Wessex’ train launched with reserved seats in 1930s heritage carriage
An evocative taste of a 1950s ‘Royal Wessex’ express steam train that carried excited holidaymakers from London to Corfe Castle and...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jul 3, 2022
- 3 min
Unique Victorian steam locomotive re-wheeled towards return to steam for first time since 1948
A unique Victorian steam locomotive has been re-wheeled in “a hugely significant milestone” towards restoring the historic engine to full...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jun 12, 2022
- 3 min
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
- Jun 4, 2022
- 3 min
Come and join us! Swanage Railway volunteer appeal as part of National Volunteer Week
An appeal for volunteers with a wide range of interests, and from varied backgrounds, is being made by the Swanage Railway as part of the...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- May 29, 2022
- 2 min
Volunteer crafts special headboards marking Queen's Platinum Jubilee to grace steam locomotives
A dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer has crafted two special headboards marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee that will grace the front...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- May 3, 2022
- 3 min
Convoy of heritage locomotives arrives for first 'Diesel Gala and Beer Festival' since 2019
A convoy of four classic 1960s main line heritage diesel locomotives - from across the country - has arrived on the Swanage Railway to...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Apr 27, 2022
- 3 min
Eagerly awaited 'Diesel Gala & Beer Festival' returns with eight heritage locomotives
Eight heritage diesel locomotives – that help to tell the fascinating story of Britain’s railways during the transition from steam to...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Mar 17, 2022
- 3 min
Wareham trial train service postponed to summer 2023
Dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers have postponed their planned trial diesel train service to the main line at Wareham until the summer...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Feb 17, 2022
- 2 min
Great Western Railway steam locomotive brings a taste of the west country to the Swanage Railway
An evocative taste of the West Country has come to the Swanage Railway with the visit of a 1920s Great Western Railway 2-6-2 tank wheel...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Feb 9, 2022
- 3 min
£5,000 needed to reach £25,000 appeal total to restore tender of unique Victorian steam locomotive
A £25,000 appeal by the Swanage Railway Trust to help fund the restoration of the tender belonging to a unique Victorian T3 class steam...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jan 3, 2022
- 3 min
Last Corfe Castle signalman from 1972 welcomes 50th anniversary train to Swanage
A retired Corfe Castle railwayman who signalled the last British Rail train from Wareham to Swanage through the picture postcard village...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Dec 22, 2021
- 3 min
Teenage passenger on last train to Swanage in 1972 to drive 50th anniversary heritage diesel service
A dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer who rode on the last British Rail train from Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage as a young...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Dec 1, 2021
- 3 min
Special heritage diesel service to mark 50th anniversary of last British Rail train to Swanage
A special three-day New Year heritage diesel service is to operate on the Swanage Railway to mark the 50th anniversary of the last...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Nov 15, 2021
- 3 min
Dedicated museum volunteers at Corfe Castle station win first grant to improve visitor experience
Dedicated Swanage Railway museum volunteers at Corfe Castle station are celebrating after winning their first grants – the money being...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Oct 16, 2021
- 3 min
Volunteers to stage Christmas ‘Steam and Lights’ trains after last year's sold out success
Evocative Christmas ‘Steam and Lights’ trains – featuring more operating days together with refreshed lineside and station lighting...
Andy Vincent
- Aug 18, 2021
- 2 min
London Transport Museum: Hidden Hangouts
Based in Covent Garden, the London Transport Museum hosts exhibits relating to the heritage of London's transport, as well as conserving...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Aug 2, 2021
- 3 min
Swanage Railway gets on board national ‘Love Your Railway’ campaign to raise heritage line awareness
Swanage Railway volunteers are joining organisations across the United Kingdom in a new ‘Love Your Railway’ campaign to raise awareness...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jul 7, 2021
- 3 min
August bank holiday weekend ‘Roads to Rail’ mini steam rally to take place near Corfe Castle
Dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers are to stage a nostalgic fund-raising mini steam rally in a field next to Norden station near the...
Andy Vincent
- Jul 2, 2021
- 2 min
'New' 130 year old coach body arrives at the Swanage Railway
The body of a former London and South Western Railway coach dating from 1890 has arrived on the Swanage Railway. Starting around 1886,...
Andy Vincent
- Jul 1, 2021
- 1 min
Herston carriage shed appeal update
An update from Randy Coldham, Chairman SRT Fundraising Group On 12th March 2021 we launched an appeal to raise £65,000 by the 30th June....
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Jun 20, 2021
- 3 min
Match funding pledge to help public donate £9,210 so work can resume on new carriage shed
A match funding pledge is being made by the Swanage Railway Trust to encourage the public to donate £9,210 in ten days and reach a target...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- May 23, 2021
- 3 min
Real time train information for passengers in a heritage railway first
In an attractive and engaging heritage style, constantly updated live train information has come to the Swanage Railway in a first for a...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- May 17, 2021
- 3 min
New volunteer recruitment officer for Swanage Railway and main line station support groups
A new recruitment and retention officer has been appointed to attract volunteers to the Swanage Railway – as well as the Wareham and Wool...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Apr 26, 2021
- 3 min
1940s express steam locomotive ‘Eddystone’ returns after a three-year £350,000 overhaul
A classic 1940s express steam locomotive has returned to the Swanage Railway after an extensive three year £350,000 overhaul by its...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Apr 13, 2021
- 3 min
Covid-safe steam train service resumes between Norden, Corfe Castle and Swanage
Featuring assigned and socially distanced seating, Covid-safe steam trains have resumed between Norden, Corfe Castle and Swanage – after...
Andy Vincent
- Apr 11, 2021
- 1 min
Members Update: Members Forum April 2021
Members Forum As announced in the new issue of the Swanage Railway Magazine, there will be a Member's Forum this week. This is scheduled...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Apr 9, 2021
- 3 min
Covid-safe Swanage Railway steam train service to resume on Monday 12 April 2021
Covid-safe steam trains – featuring assigned and socially distanced seating – are to resume between Norden, Corfe Castle and Swanage on...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Apr 5, 2021
- 3 min
New video launched to boost £65,000 appeal so work can resume on new carriage shed
Dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers have produced a new fund-raising video explaining why they are battling to raise £65,000 so that...
Andrew P.M. Wright
- Apr 2, 2021
- 2 min
Swanage Railway wins government grant to help with Covid-safe transition to full re-opening
The Swanage Railway has been awarded a £189,200 Government grant from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage to help the popular Isle of...
Andy Vincent
- Mar 16, 2021
- 1 min
Double Your Donation! Match funding helps accelerate Swanage carriage shed appeal
Last week we launched our Herston Carraige shed appeal, which aims to raise £65,000 by the end of June, to enable the steel girders to be...
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