Devoted Swanage Railway volunteers are to stage a fascinating two-day Community Weekend giving the public the opportunity to go behind the scenes of the award-winning heritage line that has been rebuilt since 1976.
The special event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, 22 and 23 February, 2025, - between 10am and 4pm - with staff at Swanage, Herston, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden stations taking part.
For people living in Dorset, half-price Community Weekend standard travel train 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 tickets or purchase standard travel train tickets from ticket offices on the day.
With advance booking of tickets recommended at swanagerailway.co.uk, there will be the chance to drive a 1950s heritage diesel shunter at Swanage for £20, watch a train guard or on-train travelling ticket inspector perform their duties for £7.50 (additional train travel ticket purchase required) as well as enjoy a £7.50 behind the scenes tour of the award-winning mechanical signal boxes at Harman’s Cross or Corfe Castle stations.
The public can also book – via the Swanage Railway website – visits to the Swanage Railway’s steam locomotive engineering works, located on the outskirts of Swanage, with a heritage bus service operating from Swanage and Norden stations to the works.
Walk-up non-advance bookable free attractions - with donations appreciated - will be visits to 1960s heritage telephone exchanges at Harman’s Cross and Corfe Castle stations (both subject to volunteer availability) between 10.30am and 3.30pm as well as the chance to have a go at signalling at the Corfe Castle signalling museum, 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. There will be the chance to meet the restorers of heritage carriages as well as view, and sit in, an historic 1940s crane that re-laid the Swanage Railway tracks from Herston to Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle, Norden and beyond to near Furzebrook between 1985 and 2002.
Demonstration narrow gauge diesel trains will also be operating between 11am and 3pm at the Swanage Railway Trust’s Purbeck Mining Museum, next to Norden station, which explains and celebrates the 2,000 year history of Isle of Purbeck ball clay mining.
Event organiser and volunteer train guard Clare Collins said: “I am so excited to again be throwing open the doors of the Swanage Railway and welcoming the public to see behind the scenes of how one of Dorset's major tourist attractions is operated and maintained by our dedicated team of staff, most of which are devoted volunteers.
“The atmosphere at our first Community Weekend last year was incredible and it was wonderful that the event was so well supported and prompted so many compliments from the public who attended.
“Volunteering on the Swanage Railway is very fulfilling, it’s a great way of meeting new people while assisting with worthwhile community projects at what has become one of Dorset’s major tourist attractions,” added Clare who is also a volunteer director of the Swanage Railway Trust which manages the heritage line and is a registered charity.
Swanage Railway Trust chairman Frank Roberts said: “It takes more people to operate, maintain and develop the Swanage Railway than many people realise. I find volunteering on the Swanage Railway very fulfilling and enjoyable while working with a splendid group of talented and committed people of all ages.
“We are delighted to give people across the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset and beyond the chance to enjoy a behind the scenes view of a very special heritage railway that has been rebuilt since 1976,” added Frank who has been a dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer for more than 40 years.
More details about the Community Weekend’s varied events – as well as terms and conditions for some of the activities and visits - can be found at swanagerailway.co.uk.
Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering should contact the Swanage Railway volunteer recruitment and retention officer Lisa Gravett on 01929 475212 or email iwanttovolunteer@swanagerailway.co.uk. 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.
Comments