PERMANENT WAY AND SIGNALLING & TELEGRAPH WORK AT SWANAGE DURING THE JANUARY 2008 ENGINEERING SHUTDOWN.
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Press Release & Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 3rd February 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

Swanage Railway Permanent Way work led by Tony Andrews lifting the bay and main lines opposite the Swanage signal box on 30th January 2008.

Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied nearly 140 photos of Swanage Railway's Permanent Way and Signalling & Telegraph teams hard at work on improvements at Swanage station during the January 2008 closedown 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.

Andrew's photos were mainly taken on Wednesday 30th January 2008 with some additional photos taken on Sunday 3rd February 2008.

Swanage Railway Permanent Way gang led by Tony Andrews lifting the bay and main lines opposite the Swanage signal box on 30th January 2008.

The photos show the permanent way gang led by Tony Andrews lifting the bay and main lines opposite the Swanage signal box so that the clay contaminated ballast can be dug out, special one-way porous membrane sheeting laid, ballast put back and then the track reassembled.

The tracks are lifted opposite the Swanage signal box on 30th January 2008.

The photos also show Dave Cobb and his team working on the newly installed down home signal post by the Swan Brook stream bridge and engine shed which now sports signals for the main and bay platform as well as a signal for the run-round loop at Swanage.

Dave Cobb and his team working on the newly installed down home signal post by the Swan Brook stream bridge and engine shed on 30th January 2008.

The final photo shows the new crossover pictured from the Northbrook Road bridge running from the bay track (formerly the headshunt) to the main line - the crossover being a facility that was taken out by BR in the winter of 1967 when all the tracks (except for the main line) - together with the signal box and signals were lifted and demolished.

The new crossover pictured from the Northbrook Road bridge running from the bay track (formerly the headshunt) to the main line

When commissioned, the bay platform track and crossover on to the main line will enable the Swanage Railway's historic DMU to depart the bay platform as soon as a steam train arrives at the main platform.

The bay track and platform next to the goods shed at Swanage existed from when the line opened in May, 1885.

Track removal at Swanage on 30th January 2008.

The last train left the bay platform at Swanage on Sunday 4th September, 1966 - the last day of steam traction between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage before the branch was dieselised with Hampshire three-coach DEMUs on Monday 5th September, 1966.

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 140 photos from Andrew P.M. Wright of the work 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.