AN HISTORIC FIRST SINCE 1972 – SWANAGE RAILWAY’S PERMANENT CONNECTION WITH NETWORK RAIL IS USED FOR THE FIRST TIME - 10th May 2007

News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 11th May 2007
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright unless otherwise acknowledged.
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History has been made with the Swanage Railway’s permanent connection with Network Rail being used for the first time – four large ex-BR diesel locomotives running from Eastleigh down to Swanage to star in the Purbeck Line’s largest ever diesel gala and beer festival.

Also making the trip – the first such working since the summer of 1972 when the tracks to Corfe Castle and Swanage were lifted – was a preserved four-carriage electric VEP unit kindly provided by South West Trains.

The four diesel locomotives, with the VEP in tow, ran from Wareham to Swanage yesterday evening, Thursday, in torrential rain – passing over the new permanent connection with the national railway system between Furzebrook and Norden around 5.30pm.

The historic train started its journey in London and ran via Eastleigh and Bournemouth. It was the first time that three of the four class of ex-main line diesel locomotives – two Class 73 electro-diesels and a Class 47 diesel – had run down to Corfe Castle and Swanage since the 1960s.

Swanage Railway volunteers are running their three-day beer festival and diesel gala from today, Friday 11th, to Sunday 13th May, 2007, with different permutations of diesel locomotives operating an intensive day and evening train service between Swanage, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden park and ride.

The focus of the fund-raising event – with proceeds going towards the further development of the Swanage Railway, which has been rebuilt from nothing since 1976 – will be a large marquee offering more than 30 specialist beers in a field close to Harman’s Cross station.

Swanage Railway General Manager, Nick Brown, explained: “The movement of a train – albeit with no passengers on board – from the national railway network down to Corfe Castle and Swanage has been the objective of the Swanage Railway’s since 1972 when the line from Wareham was closed.

“The pouring rain did not dampen the spirits of everyone involved – it was a great moment and one that several generations of volunteers have been working towards since work started on rebuilding the railway from nothing at Swanage in 1976.

“The operation ran to time and like clockwork. I would like to thank Network Rail and GB Railfreight for their help and co-operation,” he explained.

The visiting ex-BR main line diesel locomotives are two Class 73 electro-diesels built for the Bournemouth to London electrification scheme switched on in July, 1967 – No. 73 136 owned by the Class 73 Locomotive Preservation Group and No. 73 208 owned and operated by GB Railfreight.

They have been joined by ex-BR Class 52 No. D 1015 ‘Western Champion’, owned by the Diesel Traction Group and based on the Severn Valley Railway – the first time that class of diesel locomotive has ever run on the Swanage Railway. Ex-BR Class 47 diesel locomotive No. 47 635 is also appearing.

The diesel gala and beer festival will also see another first not seen at Swanage and Corfe Castle since the BR days of 1971 – the running of a rare ‘push-pull’ operated train using a preserved ex-BR 4VEP class four coach train dating from the mid-1960s and kindly provided by South West Trains.

As well as the visiting diesel locomotives, some of the trains will be hauled by two diesels based on the Swanage Railway – ex-BR Class 33 No. D6515 ‘Stan Symes’ and the James Bond 007 ‘Goldeneye’ Class 20 D8188 owned by the Somerset and Dorset Locomotive Company Ltd.

Special one, two and three-day rover tickets for unlimited train travel will be available, as will be normal return and single fares between stations.

One-day rover tickets are £11 for adults, concessions £8 and £30 for a family while two-day rovers are £20 for adults and concessions £15. Three-day rovers are £25 for adults and £20 for concessions.