News | swanagerailwaytrust

Latest News

This page provides a list of all news items published on the Swanage Railway Trust web site. The most recent story story is shown first. Each story is assigned to a particular category - for example. Heritage Coaches. The category is shown as a link in the footer of each story. Clicking on that link will show all stories in the same category.

News items are also split into two further categories as described below. Selecting either of these categories gives access to older items than are shown on this page.

General News

News of general interest about the Trust, appeals and major announcements.

Around the Railway

News of projects, volunteer activities and daily happenings around the railway.

Dedicated volunteers launch £450,000 ‘Save Your Railway’ appeal

Andrew P.M. Wright

Nov 7
3 min

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...

Church bells ring to mark unique Victorian steam locomotive hauling first passenger train since 1945

Andrew P.M. Wright

Oct 10
5 min

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...

Unique Victorian steam locomotive to haul first train since 1945 after six year £650,000 restoration

Andrew P.M. Wright

Oct 3
4 min

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...

Unique Victorian locomotive arrives after six year £650,000 restoration project to return to steam

Andrew P.M. Wright

Aug 31
4 min

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...

Rail minister visits the Swanage Railway using its trial Wareham heritage diesel train service

Andrew P.M. Wright

Aug 24
2 min

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 –...

Victorian steam locomotive steams for first time since 1948 at Gloucestershire restoration base

Andrew P.M. Wright

Jul 17
3 min

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...

£40,000 appeal launched to help restored Victorian steam locomotive haul first train since 1948

Andrew P.M. Wright

Jun 21
3 min

£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...

Nostalgic 'Roads to Rail Steam Rally' to take place next to Norden station near Corfe Castle

Andrew P.M. Wright

Jun 16
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...

Nine 1960s heritage diesel locomotives to star in annual Diesel Gala & Dorset Beer Festival

Andrew P.M. Wright

May 2
3 min

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...

Swanage Railway starts first DMU heritage train service to main line at Wareham since 1972

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...