HISTORIC VICTORIAN RAILWAY FOOTBRIDGE SAVED FROM LONDON & REBUILT AT CORFE CASTLE IS TO BE OFFICIALLY OPENED ON 28th APRIL 2007

News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 20th April 2007
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright.
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An historic Victorian railway footbridge saved from demolition in London and restored and rebuilt – over five years – for use at the Swanage Railway’s Corfe Castle station is to be officially opened by the former chairman of the Government’s Strategic Rail Authority.

David Quarmby CBE – also former chairman of the British Tourist Authority and London’s Docklands Light Railway – will be cutting an official ribbon and unveiling a special plaque on the wrought iron footbridge connecting the ‘up’ and ‘down’ platforms during a special ceremony starting at 11.30am on Saturday 28 April 2007.

Swanage Railway General Manager, Nick Brown, said: “The new footbridge has come from the Croydon Tramlink development and was built in 1893. It is important because people will be able to cross the tracks between the platforms whenever they like instead of using a gated crossing which has to be locked – before trains approach – for safety reasons.

“Corfe Castle station never had a bridge between 1885 when the line opened and 1972 when it closed and, between those years, passengers used an ungated timber foot crossing. We have had to install the new footbridge for health and safety reasons.

“Corfe Castle now has a footbridge for the first time in the 121 year history of the station with the fine latticework and graceful columns of the footbridge fitting in perfectly with the 1885 Purbeck stone station buildings. The new footbridge fits in so well that you would think that it was an original feature of the station which is dominated by the castle ruins,” explained Mr Brown.

The footbridge project has taken five years of hard work to bring to fruition with the team of dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers responsible being led by civil engineer Philip Wycliffe-Jones who lives near Christchurch.

The bridge was built in 1893 by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. With cast iron columns and a wrought iron span, the bridge spent its life at Merton Park in London, near Wimbledon, on the West Croydon line.

Philip Wycliffe-Jones said: “The advent of Croydon Tramlink scheme spelt the end for the charming bridge – which is distinctive for its lattice work – until we stepped in and acquired the bridge for use at the south end of Corfe Castle station's two five-carriage long platforms.

“It was a challenging job planning and executing the dismantling of the bridge in London and then transporting it down to Dorset before we could start work on restoring and adapting it for use on the relaid Purbeck Line.

“Passengers will be able to use the bridge and admire stunning views from its lengthened span which has been extended by the manufacture and installation of a new centre section built to look exactly like the rest of the Victorian structure. The height of the bridge has also been shortened to fit in with Corfe Castle station.

“Equipped with specially made smoke deflectors above the 'up' and 'down' lines, the bridge has two ornate staircases – on each side of the span – that have been shortened from 23 to 16 steps for health and safety reasons.

“As well as saving the bridge, we have also saved some of the original solid oak floorboards from the cross span, boards that have been refitted to the structure,” explained Mr Wycliffe Jones.

Nick Brown, Swanage Railway General Manager, said: “The installation of the new footbridge at Corfe Castle is an important part of the continuous improvement and development of the Swanage Railway.

“The aim since the start of the railway project in the mid-1970s – when there were no tracks or infrastructure at all – has been to connect the relaid Purbeck Line with the national railway network at Worgret Junction near Wareham on the main London to Weymouth line,” explained Mr Brown.

To see a full photo report on the installation of the footbridge at Corfe Castle, please click here.