BULLEID BRILLIANCE MARKS THE END OF A MAGNIFICENT WEEKEND - 9th July 2007
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News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 15th July 2007
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright unless otherwise acknowledged.
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.

To see the full set of over 200 photos of the 40th Anniversary services on the Swanage Railway on 9th July, please scroll to the bottom of the page.

By Andrew P.M. Wright

An unrebuilt 'Battle of Britain' class Bulleid Pacific steaming into Corfe Castle station with 'The end - the last one' aptly chalked on its smokebox door - as in July, 1967 - marked the end of a magnificent three days of steam on the Swanage Railway's relaid Purbeck Line.

It was a fitting end to the commemorations marking the 40th anniversary of the end of steam traction on the Southern Region of British Rail.

And as No. 34081 '92 Squadron' steamed into Corfe Castle station, the sinking summer sun casting long shadows across the line, the train's arrival was covered live on BBC TV South's local news magazine programme 'South Today' broadcast across the south of England.

With a satellite truck parked on the end loading dock next to the goods shed transmitting live pictures back to Broadcasting House in Southampton, reporter Chris Coneybeer used the end of the Swanage Railway event to introduce a special package marking the end of steam trains in the south of England back in July, 1967.

After the end of the package, which included archive film and interviews, Chris and cameraman Trevor Adamson quickly re-positioned to carry out a live interview with the driver of the newly arrived Bulleid Pacific - Mel Cox.

A volunteer driver at Swanage for many years, Mel works as a driver for Virgin trains based at Bournemouth. But, Mel is not new to the railway industry because he joined Bournemouth MPD as a 14 year old cleaner back in 1964 - becoming a fireman in 1965 at the age of 16.

He fired Standard Tanks and Ivatt tanks down to Corfe Castle and Swanage in 1965 and 1966 and - during the branch's final five years up to 1972 - he was a second man on the three-coach 'Hampshire' class DEMUs that moaned and juddered their way between Wareham and Swanage.

The weather at Corfe Castle for the arrival of the last train of the day covered by BBC TV South may have been warm and sunny - like that on Sunday, 9th July, 1967, the last day of steam traction in southern England - but Monday 9th July, 2007, dawned cloudy with the threat of rain.

It was the arrival of the 6.30pm Swanage to Corfe Castle train - driven by Mel Cox and fired by Graham Froud - that was covered by BBC TV South. After the live transmission, the Bulleid Pacific shunted the five coaches into the yard before running back to Swanage light engine.

Corfe Castle was the place to be on that fine early evening as just before the Bulleid pulled into the station with the last 'up' train from Swanage, the 6.30pm 'down' train from Norden park and ride pulled into the station with two locomotives on the front - Class 4 2-6-0 No. 76079 and Class 5 4-6-0 No. 73129.

After depositing its rake of coaches in the goods yard at Corfe Castle, '92 Squadron' scurrying out of the station and up the 1 in 80 bank to Corfe common marked the end of a very, very busy three days on the Swanage Railway.

Driver Mel Cox recalls: "That final trip up from Swanage was great - brilliant. It was a very spirited run and the Bulleid was performing perfectly - really gassing.

"As the Bulleid Pacific passed Woodhyde Farm and climbed up to Afflington Bridge before dropping down the gradient towards Corfe Castle over the ancient common, the weather was sunny with a warm breeze and a clear blue sky - just as on that final Sunday of southern steam on Sunday, 9th July, 1967.

"Looking down the side of '92 Squadron's streamlined casing with the sun glinting on the nameplate and crest as we ran into Corfe Castle, I have to admit that I did have a tear in my eye - and I know that I was not the only one," explained Mel.

All credit must go to everyone involved in the planning, organising and execution of the marvellous event which was the perfect way to pay tribute to the 40th anniversary of the end of steam traction in the south of England. It was a pleasure and indeed a privilege to photograph it.

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To see the full set of over 200 photos of the 40th Anniversary services on the Swanage Railway on 9th July, 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.
- To visit the sixth page of photos please click here.
- To visit the seventh page of photos please click here.

All photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright unless otherwise acknowledged.
Photos on these pages are low resolution versions.
Full resolution photos are available for media use

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Last updated 17th July 2007 by Keith Morgan.
© Swanage Railway