DMU MAINTAINS PURBECK LINE TRAIN SERVICE BETWEEN NORDEN & HARMAN'S CROSS DURING SWANAGE JANUARY 2008 ENGINEERING SHUTDOWN.
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Press Release & Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 5th January 2008
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. Photos on these pages are low resolution versions. Full resolution photos are available for media use

Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied nearly 220 great photos of the Swanage Railway's heritage diesel rail car maintaining service on the line during the early 2008 engineering shutdown period.

We have split the photos over several pages. Please follow the links at the bottom of the page to see the full set of photos.

Swanage Railway DMU Services in operation on Saturday 5th January 2008.

By Andrew P.M. Wright.

For the first time in its eventful history, the Swanage Railway is running passenger trains on the relaid Purbeck Line during every weekend throughout the year - including the new year shut down - to maintain the public service.

And, in a second first in the history of the Swanage Railway - which started running passenger trains over a few hundred yards of track at Swanage station in the summer of 1979 - train drivers have been signing on for duty at Corfe Castle station instead of Swanage.

Early turn driver Nick Hanham (left) signing on before checking and starting the DMU, and late turn driver Pete Frost (right) signing off at dusk on Saturday 5th January 2008.

That's because during the annual five week engineering shutdown - this year due to major track and signalling alteration work at Swanage station to bring the bay platform back into use for passenger trains for the first time since September, 1966 - a 40-minute service is being operated on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Class 117 DMU seen at Corfe Castle (left) and passing an engineering ballast train at Harman's Cross on Saturday 5th January 2008.

Hauled by a heritage diesel rail car, the trains run between Norden park and ride, Corfe Castle and Harman's Cross where they terminate. Because of the major track and signalling work at Swanage, it is not possible for the trains to run on down to Herston and Swanage.

The January and first weekend of February shutdown service boasts nine trains in each direction, the first DMU train leaving Corfe Castle at 10.11am and the last running into the station at 3.52pm.

Tickets are £4 for adults and £3 for concessions.

The two-coach suburban Western Region Class 117 diesel multiple unit stabled on the 'up' line at Corfe Castle next to the headshunt for the goods yard, seen with guard John Stopher and early turn driver Nick Hanham on Saturday 5th January 2008.

The two-coach suburban Western Region Class 117 diesel multiple unit is stabled on the 'up' line at Corfe Castle next to the headshunt for the goods yard with drivers and guards signing on and off duty in the station signal box.

The Class 117 DMUs used to run down to Corfe Castle and Swanage in the summer of 1970 and 1971 on long excursion trains from London and the Thames Valley - some of the trains being as long as 12 coaches and almost taking up the entire length of the passing loop at Corfe Castle.

Corfe Castle signalman Paul Clements (left) and Harman's Cross signalman Bob Ponter (right) on Saturday 5th January 2008.

Andrew P.M. Wright and his camera spent Saturday 5th January, 2008, covering the first day of the new and historic train service for posterity - from early turn driver Nick Hanham signing on before checking and starting the DMU to late turn driver Pete Frost signing off at dusk. The photos in the following pages are in predominantly chronological order.

The signalman at Corfe Castle was Paul Clements while the signalman at Harman's Cross was Bob Ponter. The guard on the DMU throughout the day was John Stopher.

John Stopher, who was DMU guard throughout the day, seen at Corfe Castle confirming that the service is running to schedule. Also, early turn driver Nick Hanham (left) handing over to late turn driver Pete Frost (right) on Saturday 5th January 2008

The new year engineering shutdown DMU train service is covered by two turns - the early turn driver signing on at Corfe Castle at 9.30am and the late turn driver signing on at 12.15pm.

The Swanage Railway resumes its steam train service between Norden park and ride, Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston and Swanage on Saturday 9th February 2008.

We have split the photos over several pages. Please follow the links at the bottom of the page to see the full set of photos.

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To see the full set of nearly 220 photos from Andrew P.M. Wright of the DMU in operation on the Swanage Railway, please follow these links.
- To visit the first page of photos please click here.
- 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.