SWANAGE RAILWAY LAUNCHES ITS NEW ALL-DAY RAILWAY EXPERIENCE SERVICE ON THE PURBECK LINE FOR 2007
Page 1 of 5

News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 8th May 2007
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.

The Swanage Railway has launched a new and exciting opportunity for the public - its new all-day railway experience service on the Purbeck Line.

Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied over 100 photos of the Swanage Railway's new all-day railway experience service. Please follow the links at the foot of this page to see the full set of photos.

It is not only a chance to drive and fire an ex-BR steam locomotive between Norden park and ride and Harman's Cross - participants enjoying four round trips - but also the rare opportunity to enjoy a fascinating and informal insight into the workings of a steam locomotive with ex-BR fireman George Crouch of Lymington.

The new all-day product joins the existing taster railway experience opportunity for the public which has been running on the Swanage Railway for several years.

Andrew P.M. Wright followed the new all-day driver experience service - which is based at Corfe Castle station - during its first weekend of operation, these photographs being taken on Sunday 22nd April 2007.

The locomotive in use for the all-day railway experience on the Sunday was ex-BR Standard Class 4 Tank No. 80104 - built at Brighton in 1955 - which had a brake van in tow.

The rostered crew of 80104 were Les Frampton from Wimborne and the fireman was Andrew Harvey from Yeovil. The guard was Martin Boscott from Bere Regis.

After welcoming the participants at Norden park and ride station at 10.15am, George Crouch - who was based at Basingstoke and Eastleigh, and whose duties included the Lymington branch from Brockenhurst - introduced himself, and the schedule for the day, during the short train journey to Corfe Castle which departed Norden at 10.30am.

Alighting at Corfe Castle, George took the participants to the training room at Corfe Castle where he explained the technical and working details of an ex-BR Standard Class footplate and just how to achieve the best from the steam locomotive.

Next, Standard Class Tank No. 80104 - with brake van in tow - arrived from Swanage at 12.30pm with the participants boarding its spacious footplate before the steam locomotive shunted itself and the brake van into the goods yard at Corfe Castle as the service trains, made up of Standard Class 4 Tank No. 80078 and the two-coach DMU, passed by.

With the footplate crew departing to the station house for a well deserved cup of tea, George showed the participants around the footplate of No. 80104 and around the exterior of the steam locomotive. Later, the driver and fireman - Les Frampton and fireman Andrew Harvey accompanied by guard Martin Boscott - returned to the locomotive.

Armed with new found knowledge - or existing knowledge re-enforced - George accompanied the participants back to Corfe Castle station where they tuck into a provided packed lunch and still talk about steam locomotives and the days of steam on BR.

Later, 80104 and its brake van moved out of the sidings at Corfe Castle and into the 'up' platform where they picked up the participants before George Crouch said goodbye and good luck as a Norden to Swanage train, headed by ex-BR Standard Class 4 Tank No. 80078 built at Brighton in 1954, passed through.

Now, it is time for some hands on driving and firing - putting the morning's accumulation of knowledge and experience into good use. The participants had the exciting chance to drive a return trip and fire a return trip on 80104 between Norden park and ride and Harman's Cross - the all-day railway experience locomotives running round their brake van at Harman's Cross between 'up' and 'down' service trains.

On Sunday, April 22nd, 2007, the Corfe Castle signalman was Alan Dymock while his equivalent at Harman's Cross was Tony North. With the all-day railway experience trains running between the intensive steam and diesel train service between Norden park and ride and Swanage, it was a busy time for the signalmen at Corfe Castle and Harman's Cross.

While not driving or firing, all-day Railway Experience participants can ride on the brake van or visit the signal boxes at Harman's Cross and Corfe Castle.

After the participants had driven and fired between Harman's Cross and Norden park and ride, it was time for Les Frampton, Andrew Harvey and Martin Boscott to say goodbye at Norden around 4pm. The participants were presented with a footplate certificate of achievement, and a commemorative railway experience T-shirt, to mark their special day.

A good time was had by all and the participants had enjoyed a great day out that they will never forget. 80104 and its crew then returned to Swanage with the brake van in tow - until the next all-day railway experience.

Page 1 of 5

To visit the other pages featuring Andrew P.M. Wright's photos of the Swanage Railway's new all-day Railway Experience service please follow these links.
- To visit the second page of photos please click here.
- To visit the third page of photos please click here.
- To visit the fourth page of photos please click here.
- To visit the fifth page of photos please click here.