Unexploded live First World War bomb found near Norden station

Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - 6th September 2003
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
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QUICK THINKING AND DETERMINED SWANAGE RAILWAY VOLUNTEERS MAINTAIN THEIR TRAIN SERVICE - DESPITE AN UNEXPLODED BOMB

Quick thinking and determined Swanage Railway volunteers are being praised by passengers for maintaining their steam train service - despite an unexploded live First World War bomb being found near Norden station.

An unexploded live First World War bomb found near Norden station - photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

The alarming find of the rusty and intact rifle grenade - by a Dutch metal detector enthusiast who was digging during the visit of his metal detector enthusiasts' club - happened in a field belonging to Norden Farm just before 10.30 am on Saturday, 6th September, 2003.

The police set up a 100 metre cordon around the mystery item and Swanage Railway volunteers closed and cordoned off Norden station - trains from Swanage, Herston and Harman’s Cross terminating at Corfe Castle station which is half a mile from the Norden station terminus and its park and ride car park.

The 100 metre cordon around the unexploded grenade did not apply to the busy A351 Wareham to Corfe Castle road or to the Norden station park and ride car park but Swanage Railway staff closed it as a precaution.

A Royal Logistics Corps Army bomb disposal team from Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire were called by the police to the scene where the soldiers examined the unexploded grenade before destroying it through a controlled explosion just before 1.30 pm.

Swanage Railway passenger services manager David Green said: "Thanks to the quick thinking and professionalism of railway staff, the steam train service was maintained for our passengers and visitors. I am very proud of the fact that no trains were cancelled while public safety was also maintained.

"Everyone on the Swanage Railway acted with great professionalism in a cool and competent manner when the unexploded bomb was discovered in a field next to Norden park and ride station just before 10.30 am on Saturday.

"Although the unexploded bomb was not found on Swanage Railway land, we felt it was prudent to seal off Norden station and close its park and ride car park as a precaution in the interests of public safety.

"We also felt it was very important to maintain the steam train service so as not to disrupt and disappoint the public but while also not risking public safety.

"That was achieved by stopping trains from Swanage, Herston and Harman’s Cross at Corfe Castle station where special arrangements were made to use the points, which are not normally working, so that the steam locomotive could run round its train carriages at Corfe Castle before returning to Swanage," explained Mr Green.

So that two further trains could be run and the public not be disappointed or disrupted before the all clear from the police and the Army bomb disposal team, Swanage Railway volunteers put a Class 33 heritage diesel locomotive on the Swanage end of the train.

"That meant that the steam locomotive at the Norden end of the train did not need to run round its carriages at Corfe Castle via the station loop - which is normally not used - so that the timetable was maintained," explained Mr Green.

"It’s not every day that you get an unexploded bomb on your doorstep and I am just glad that no-one was injured or killed and that the bomb disposal team was able to destroy it through a controlled explosion.

"It’s ironic that the day that this unexploded bomb was found was a day that we had provisionally chosen for holding a War on the Line weekend but the planned event had to be cancelled at an early stage for various reasons.

"The thanks of everyone on the Swanage Railway goes to the police and the Army bomb disposal team for their swift and professional response," added Mr Green.

The 11.05 am train from Swanage was terminated at Corfe Castle where the station’s points were used to enable the steam locomotive - Standard Class 4 Tank No. 80104 built at Brighton in 1955 - to run round its five carriages.

Swanage Railway pilotman Mike Banks at Corfe Castle

The 12.15 pm and the 1.25 pm trains from Swanage had Class 33 diesel locomotive No. D6515 (TOPS No. 33 012) ‘Stan Symes’ on the Swanage end to eliminate the need for the steam locomotive to run round its carriages at Corfe Castle.

Normal locomotive working arrangements resumed with the 2.35 pm train from Swanage which called at Norden station after the all clear from the police and the Royal Logistics Corps Army bomb disposal team.