CLASS 47 No 47 635 IN OPERATION ON SPOIL DISPOSAL WORK AT CORFE CASTLE DURING THE 2008 ENGINEERING SHUTDOWN - 6th February 2008

Press Release & Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 6th February 2008
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
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Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied over 60 photos of Class 47 No 47 635 at work at Corfe Castle on the Swanage Railway during the 2008 closedown period. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the full set of photos.

The mighty BR blue and yellow liveried Class 47 No 47 635 propelling a rake of spoil wagons up the incline from Corfe Castle viaduct to Norden

It looked for all the world like a grim track-lifting train in the fine winter sunshine as the mighty BR blue and yellow liveried Class 47 gave out a throaty growl as it propelled a rake of wagons up the incline from Corfe Castle viaduct to Norden.

But the Rudd wagons hired in from the English Welsh and Scottish railway company were not transporting sleepers, they were carrying clay and earth contaminated track ballast from the major permanent way shutdown works at Swanage station - as well as embankment grading work between Swanage and Herston Halt.

No. 47 435 runs light engine from Swanage through Corfe Castle to pick up the wagons

The mighty Class 47 diesel-electric locomotive No. 47 635 - built by Brush in 1964 - looked a fine sight in the winter sunshine as it ran light engine from Swanage to Corfe Castle to pick up the wagons.

Mark Bosley uses a mechanical digger to empty the spoil wagons of their redundant ballast

The rake of wagons had been parked just on the Norden side of Corfe Castle viaduct where the highly skilled Mark Bosley had been using a mechanical digger to empty the wagons of their redundant ballast - depositing it along the lineside before covering it with top soil that will be later sown with grass seed.

The driver of the Class 47 diesel-electric locomotive was Swanage Railway senior operations inspector Mike Standhaft with Swanage Railway deputy operations manager Mel Cox as his second man. Also in the cab of the locomotive was passed cleaner Pete Doel of Yeovil.

Swanage Railway senior operations inspector Mike Standhaft (left) with Swanage Railway deputy operations manager Mel Cox as his second man in the cab of No 47 635.

Mike used to be a BR fireman and driver at Bournemouth - driving the Class 47s on the Eastleigh to Swanage summer Sundays only working in 1965 and 1966 - a duty usually given to a Standard Class 4 tender steam locomotive.

Mel was also a fireman and driver at BR's Bournemouth motive power depot - starting as a cleaner there in 1964.

No 47 635 prepares to run up the incline to Norden with the rake of empty wagons

After its arrival at Corfe Castle viaduct, the Class 47 was coupled to the empty Rudd wagons which were then propelled up the gradient to the station at Norden park and ride.

Once at Norden, Mel and Pete walked across the Norden park and ride access road and on to the construction section - operating the catchpoints to allow the Class 47 to push its wagons over the access road and under the Scotland Road bridge before passing Eldon's Siding and continuing into the Woodpecker cutting.

No 47 635 at Norden with the rake of empty wagons

Once the rake of Rudd wagons had been secured and left at Woodpecker, the Class 47 returned light engine to Norden with a low-flat wagon in tow and down the incline to near the Corfe Castle viaduct.

No 47 635 returns light engine to Norden with a low-flat wagon in tow, then down the incline to near the Corfe Castle viaduct to load the digger onto the low-flat wagon.

It was here that the mechanical digger was carefully manoeuvred on to the low-flat wagon. Once the digger was on board and secured, it was towed back to Swanage by the Class 47.

No 47 635 returns to Swanage with the digger safely secured on the flat wagon.

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.

Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied over 60 photos of Class 47 No 47 635 at work at Corfe Castle on the Swanage Railway during the 2008 closedown period. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the full set of photos.