50th anniversary celebrated with behind the scenes Community Weekend

Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

The 50th anniversary of the historic start of the Swanage Railway’s rebuilding is being marked with a two-day Community Weekend giving the public the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of the award-winning heritage line.

The special event this year takes place on Saturday and Sunday, 14 and 15 February, 2026, between 10am and 4pm on the Saturday and 10am and 3pm on the Sunday.

It was on Saturday, 14 February, 1976, that the first volunteers gained access to a disused and boarded up Swanage station to start restoration work after the fledgling Swanage Railway Society was allowed access to the buildings by the town council.

Some of the pioneering volunteers who started restoration work at Swanage station on Saturday, 14 February, 1976, will be gathering at Corfe Castle station at 11am on Saturday, 14 February, 2026, to recall that historic first weekend 50 years ago.

A special photographic exhibition covering the rebuilding and restoration of the Swanage Railway since 1976 will be taking part at Harman’s Cross station 10am to 4pm on Saturday, 14 February, and 10am to 2pm on Sunday, 15 February.

For Dorset residents, half-price Community Weekend train travel tickets are available in advance from the Swanage Railway website - at swanagerailway.co.uk – and on the day at the Norden, Corfe Castle and Swanage station ticket offices.

Proof of Dorset residence has to be supplied when purchasers collect their on-line tickets from ticket offices on the day or purchase tickets from ticket offices on the day.

With advance booking of tour tickets required at swanagerailway.co.uk, there will be the chance to drive a 1950s heritage diesel shunter at Swanage for £25, watch a train guard or on-train travelling ticket inspector perform their duties for £7.50 (additional train travel ticket purchase required) and enjoy a £7.50 behind the scenes tour of the award-winning mechanical signal boxes at Harman’s Cross or Corfe Castle stations.

Also with advanced booking required via the Swanage Railway website, the public can take part in a £5 behind the scenes look at the Swanage Railway Trust’s Purbeck Mining Museum and engine shed, next to Norden station, which explains and celebrates the 2,000 year history of ball clay mining in the Isle of Purbeck.

Swanage Railway Chief Executive Officer Abbie King said: “This year is really special for us with our popular annual Community Weekend taking place on the 50th anniversary of the start of restoration work at Swanage station in February, 1976.

“The special weekend is about opening our doors, celebrating 50 years of heritage and reminding the public that the Swanage Railway belongs to everyone – whether you have been involved in the heritage line for decades or are visiting for the first time.

“The Community Weekend is also a valuable opportunity to shine a light on the volunteers - who are at the heart of everything that the Swanage Railway does – as well as encouraging people to become involved.

“As well as getting to ride on our trains and enjoy activities, the Community Weekend gives the public the chance to get hands-on and see what it’s like to be a ticket inspector or train guard – offering a real insight into the people and skills behind the Swanage Railway.

“Our Community Weekend is a great way for anyone curious about volunteering to see first-hand how our dedicated teams of volunteers keep the Swanage Railway running safely,” added Abbie.

Walk-up non-advance bookable free attractions - with donations appreciated - will be visits to 1960s heritage telephone exchanges at Corfe Castle station, between 10am and 3pm, as well as at Harman’s Cross station, subject to volunteer availability.

There will also be the chance to have a go at signalling at the Corfe Castle signalling museum – housed in the station’s former British Railways signal box - subject to volunteer availability.

Visitors will also be able to chat to volunteers at Herston Halt – which is only accessible on foot or by train - about the development of the community halt, which was the Swanage Railway’s first station, since it welcomed its first train from Swanage in 1984.

Other walk-up non-advance bookable free attractions – with donations appreciated – take place on the Saturday and Sunday at Corfe Castle station where will be the chance to meet the restorers of heritage carriages and see some of the equipment that helps to lay and maintain the tracks.

Included in the display at Corfe Castle will be a large historic 1940s crane that relaid the Swanage Railway tracks from Herston to Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle, Norden and beyond to near Furzebrook between 1985 and 2002.

Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering at the Swanage Railway’s Norden, Corfe Castle, Harman’s Cross, Herston or Swanage stations should email iwanttovolunteer@swanagerailway.co.uk while details about volunteering can also be found at swanagerailwaytrust.org/volunteering.

Story and photograph by Andrew P.M. Wright,

Swanage Railway official photographer and press officer.