The Royal Wessex Railtour from Wareham to Waterloo on Sat 6th December 2003

Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright. To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph and subsequently use the Back button on your browser to return to this page.

Andrew P.M. Wright has provided us with this page of photos taken at Wareham of Battle of Britain Class 34067 Tangmere hauling The Royal Wessex from Wareham to Waterloo on 6th December 2003.

For further photographs taken on the trip, together with a full description of the event, also see the associated news page by clicking here.

Battle of Britain Class 34067 Tangmere hauls The Royal Wessex from Wareham to Waterloo on 6th December 2003 - photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

Thirty-six years on from the end of steam traction in the south of England - and with the locomotive carrying a special headboard - the train called the Royal Wessex made its historic return run from Wareham to Waterloo via Poole and Bournemouth on Saturday, 6th December, 2003.

Andrew's photos show Ken Hordle of Wareham with his bicycle and wearing a yellow dayglow vest talking to the driver of the support diesel locomotive. Ken is a veteran Swanage branch fireman and driver who ended his career with BR driving Wessex Electrics between London and Weymouth.