VISITORS FLOCK TO THE SWANAGE RAILWAY TO CELEBRATE ITS 120TH BIRTHDAY & ADMIRE A RARE VICTORIAN STEAM LOCOMOTIVE

Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 23rd May 2005.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright unless otherwise noted
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Almost 3,000 visitors have flocked to the Swanage Railway to help its dedicated volunteers celebrate the line’s 120th birthday - and delight in the sight and sound of a rare Victorian steam locomotive hauling trains through the Isle of Purbeck as its sister engines did back in 1885.

We are fortunate to have a large number of photos (125 in total) of this historic occasion. To visit the separate pages of photos please click here or follow the link at the foot of this page.

Back to the first train in May, 1885. Beattie Well Tank No. 30587 leaves Corfe Castle with a train for Norden.

The three days of ‘Swanage 120’ celebrations started on Friday, 20th May, 2005, with a re-enactment of the Victorian opening ceremony for the branch line that had taken place on Swanage station on Wednesday, 20th May, 1885.

Time warp back to May, 1885. The Victorian opening ceremony is re-enacted at Swanage.

Exactly 120 years later, specially invited guests included the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Captain Michael Fulford-Dobson, civic dignitaries from Dorset, Purbeck and Swanage councils, ex-staff members from the former British Rail branch line and the rectors of Corfe Castle and Swanage.

Dorset’s Lord Lieutenant, Captain Michael Fulford-Dobson (centre) with his wife Barbara and ‘Victorian’ enginemen George Crouch of Lymington and Tony Hallworth, right.

Almost stealing the show were almost 400 school children from Swanage (St Mark’s, Mount Scar and St Mary’s), Langton Matravers (St George’s and the Old Malthouse) and Corfe Castle who attended in Victorian costumes.

Bringing the past to life. School children with their Swanage Railway activity packs. Learning and living history, children and teachers alike sport Victorian costumes.

Swanage First School pupils Courtney March, aged 9 (foreground) and Emilie Bell, also 9, with ‘Victorian’ enginemen George Crouch of Lymington (centre) and Tony Hallworth (right) on their Victorian Beattie Well Tank No. 30587.

The re-enactment of the Victorian opening ceremony was followed by the running of a special commemorative train to Norden hauled by the same Beattie class of Victorian steam locomotive that hauled the first passenger train from Swanage to Corfe Castle and Wareham 120 years before.

Beattie Well Tank No. 30587 leaves Corfe Castle with a train for Norden.

Hauling the special ‘Swanage 120’ train was Beattie Well Tank No. 30587 was built in London in 1874 and withdrawn by BR in Cornwall during the early 1960s. Preserved by the National Railway Museum, No. 30587 was loaned to the Swanage Railway by the Bodmin & Wenford Railway in Cornwall.

Memories of the Swanage branch from its ex-BR staff: signalman Bob Richards (left), engine driver Stan Symes (centre) and booking clerk Bryan Green (right).

Also riding on the special Victorian train were former staff of the old Swanage branch line - Bob Richards of Corfe Castle, the line’s last British Rail signalman from 1972; former Swanage booking clerk Bryan Green; former Corfe Castle and Swanage signalman Arthur Meehan and retired driver Stan Symes who worked the line from the late 1940s through to the late 1960s.

A signalman at Wareham since the Swanage line closed in January, 1972, and living in Corfe Castle, Bob explained: "I was delighted to be invited to take part in the ‘Swanage 120’ celebrations and it was great to meet up with old faces and chat again with ex-colleagues who worked on the Swanage line.

"I think it is amazing what the Swanage Railway volunteers have achieved over 30 years in rebuilding the line and all credit to them for their dedication. Watching the Beattie Well Tank steam through Corfe Castle, as its sister engine did for the first time in 1885, was a lovely sight," added Mr Richards.

The campaigners now aged in their 80s who fought to stop British Rail from closing the Swanage line in the late 1960s - and then fought to be allowed to rebuild the line after the tracks were lifted in 1972 - were also on the special train; Moyra Cross, Pamela Emms and Margaret Clark all from Swanage.

Stalwart railway campaigners from the late 1960s - Moyra Cross (left), with Margaret Clark (centre) and Pamela Emms (right).

Moyra Cross explained: "It has been a great day and I was delighted to be a part of it. I still remember campaigning in the streets of Swanage in the late 1960s to try and stop BR from closing the line. When they did in 1972 and lifted the tracks, we were determined to put it all back and we have done."

Pamela Emms added: "I have always loved the Swanage line and wanted to see it returned to how it used to be. My first memories of the branch are travelling from Swanage to Poole in 1944 when I got my first job as a secretary. The Swanage 120 celebrations have been delightful and a real joy."

Swanage First School pupil Craig Gaskell with teacher Sue Gray board the train for their journey back in time to 1885.

After singing Victorian songs at Swanage station, the school children boarded two trains for their own trip to Corfe Castle and Norden - clutching their Swanage Railway activity packs as they boarded their steam train into history.

The faces say it all. School children about to leave for their train journey back in time to 1885.

Swanage Railway general manager Nick Brown said: "We felt it was important that the local community was at the heart of the Swanage 120 celebrations because the Swanage Railway is at the heart of the community in Purbeck.

"It was a great weekend and, for the most part, the weather was kind to us. We carried almost 3,000 passengers and visitors came to Corfe Castle and Swanage from all over the country. The rare Beattie Well tank was a major attraction as it hauled its two coaches through the Purbecks.

"I would like to thank all the Swanage Railway’s staff and volunteers for the hard work they put into the Swanage 120 celebrations because the result was magnificent. A very intensive three-train service was run between Swanage and Norden across the three days which was a challenge," added Mr Brown.

We are fortunate to have a large number of photos (125 in total) of this historic occasion. To visit the separate pages of photos please click here.