MIGHTY BULLEID PACIFIC IN EARLY MORNING SHUNTING AT HARMAN'S CROSS - 14th September 2008

Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 18th September 2008
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
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Southern Locomotive Ltd's rebuilt Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone tackles the 1 in 76 gradient between New Barn and Harman's Cross in the early morning of 14th September 2008

With the Purbeck Hills in the background, it was a delightful and nostalgic sight on the morning of Sunday, 14th September, 2008, as a mighty Bulleid Pacific effortlessly climbed up the 1 in 76 gradient from Swanage and ran into the 'down' platform at Harman's Cross station.

Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied nearly 90 photos of this event. To see the full set of photos, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Driver Les Frampton (right) with fireman Oscar Martin on the footplate of Southern Locomotive Ltd's rebuilt Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone at Harman's Cross in the early morning of 14th September 2008

With driver Les Frampton at the controls and fireman Oscar Martin on the shovel, the rebuilt West Country class Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone had arrived light engine at the country station to pick up its rake of five coaches for the busy working day ahead.

Rebuilt Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone arrives at Harman's Cross in the early morning of 14th September 2008

It was a lovely warm and sunny morning with a slight hint of haze softening the view of the Purbeck Hills - more like summer than mid-September - on the third and final day of the Swanage Railway's annual autumn grand steam gala and classic vehicle weekend

Opened in March, 1989, Harman's Cross station was the first wholly new station to be built in Dorset in more than half a century.

Rebuilt Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone stands at Harman's Cross in the early morning of 14th September 2008

There was never a station at Harman's Cross during British Rail days - just the single line running through the cutting and under the lofty Purbeck stone bridge carrying Haycraft's Lane, originally known as the Dunshay Lane bridge.

Rebuilt Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone running forward into the sidings to pick up its rake of five coaches.

With the opening up of the signal box for the day at Harman's Cross - which became the passing point for trains between Swanage and Corfe Castle from the summer of 1997 - after arriving at the Corfe Castle end of the 'down' platform, Eddystone shunted back to the 'up' platform before running forward into the sidings to pick up its rake of five coaches.

Rebuilt Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone runs round and couples to the rake of coaches Harman's Cross in the early morning of 14th September 2008

The mighty Bulleid Pacific then pulled the stock out of the sidings, deposited it in the 'up' platform before running round the rake of carriages and making a dramatic departure for Corfe Castle and Norden park and ride.

Rebuilt Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone makes a spirited departure from Harman's Cross on 14th September 2008

The train then formed the first 'down' service train of the day on the Swanage Railway - the 9.50am from Norden park and ride to Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston Halt and Swanage.

To see the full set of photos, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.