Oxford PHAB Club visit to Swanage in 1991

Report and photographs by Simon Purbrick, introduction by Keith Morgan

N7 Tank, No 69621, visiting the line during Simon Purbrick's first visit to Swanage in June 1990.

Introduction:
Simon Purbrick, who lives in Oxfordshire, is a keen follower of activities on the steam railway preservation scene and has held a long interest in the Swanage Railway and in the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. Simon was an early visitor to our Swanage Railway website and has proven the value of the use of email and the Internet. Simon's interest in computing involved him in the WAACIS Project, which gives people - whose opportunity for communication is severely restricted due to physical or communication disabilities - a method of global communication from their own home at minimum cost to themselves.

The portable access ramp which is used to provide wheelchair access into the disabled coach

This report describes the visit to Swanage of Simon's local PHAB club in 1991. Many thanks to Simon for providing both the photographs and the written report of the visit, and he is now planning another trip for this Spring. Simon has also sent us some photos of Corfe Castle which were taken in June 1993, before trains started running into the station once again.

Oxford PHAB Club visit to Swanage in 1991: by Simon Purbrick

Inside the disabled coach which provides ample room for wheelchair access

When I was still at school in 1990, I was doing a project on steam railways for my GCSE exams. For this I sent letters to the Swanage Railway and the Isle of Wight Steam Railway asking for any information to help with my project. Both railways sent me useful information, and I found out that the Swanage Railway had a special disabled coach built from a Mark 1 coach.

I became interested in booking the disabled coach for a day trip for the Oxford Phab Club which is a social club for young people (of all ages!) some of whom have a physical disability. We chat, play games, go out, have holidays and a great time. New members are always welcome, and we meet every Friday from 7:15 to 10:00 pm at Wesley Memorial Hall, New Inn Hall Street, Oxford (unless otherwise stated in the programme, published on the website).

I asked the committee to support my proposal for the trip to Swanage, and with their agreement I booked it for Saturday 23rd March 1991. We arrived at Swanage in the early afternoon after the long drive from Oxford. The afternoon was mostly sunny, but windy. The group waited at the station for our train, while I completed the arangements and bought the tickets at the booking office.

Although steam hauled, our locomotive was not a former BR main line engine (unlike the variety of locomotives on the Swanage Railway today) as at the time the Railway was still struggling to establish itself. Our guard then unloaded the ramp, just like the ones in common use throughout the Railtrack network to ensure safe loading, and the group all got in to the coach.

There was plenty of room for everyone and their wheelchairs, and the toilet facilities for the disabled were much appreciated.

A later photo of No 34072 257 Squadron - June 1994

Our train then left Swanage for Harman's Cross, passing No 34072, T9 No 120, and GWR tank No 5619 which was stored in the station yard. No 120 and No 5619 were on loan at the time of our visit. I took this photo of No 34072 257 Squadron in June 1994.

Soon we arrived at Harman's Cross, where the group stayed in the coach while the engine ran round for the trip back to Swanage, as at the time the line had not reopened to Corfe Castle let alone Norden. A friend of mine filmed the trip for me and I still have it. Soon we got back to Swanage, and the group confirmed that they had liked the trip very much, and everyone had thought the coach was great!

Photos of Drummond M7 No 30053 taken at Swanage in 1993 and 1995.

Now that the railway is running from Swanage to Corfe Castle and Norden, I am going to take the club to Swanage for a trip sometime this spring. I have the booking form and now that the new timetable is confirmed the club can fix a day to go.