SWANAGE RAILWAY MOBILITY IMPAIRED VISITOR FACILITIES APPEAL - £20,000 URGENTLY NEEDED - 23rd October 2008

Appeal from Steve Doughty - 23rd October 2008
Project Leader and Deputy Chairman, Swanage Railway Trust.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright unless otherwise noted.
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The dilapidated state of the adapted mobility impaired visitor coach whilst in the sidings on the Swanage Railway.

Both the Swanage Railway Trust and the Swanage Railway Company are determined that the Swanage Railway should offer the best possible facilities for the mobility impaired.

The Swanage Railway Company (the wholly owned trading subsidiary of the Swanage Railway Trust) already owns a railway coach that was adapted some 20 years ago for the carriage of mobility impaired passengers.

The adapted coach provides a mix of regular passenger seating in compartments and an open area for the carriage of wheelchairs, and has the benefit of a centrally positioned toilet allowing wheelchair access.

The spacious interior of the Swanage Railway's adapted coach prior to renovation.

A visitor's account from 1991 of a journey in this coach including pictures of the facilities can be seen on the Swanage Railway news pages here.

Unfortunately, this adapted coach has been out of service for some years as insufficient funds have been available for its overhaul.

During this time the coach has been badly vandalised and has further deteriorated.

The specially adapted toilet facilities prior to renovation.

The Trust and the Company are now determined that the facilities for mobility impaired visitors should be improved without delay and the Trust is currently raising money for the general improvement of facilities for the mobility impaired.

The overhaul of the adapted coach represents the single biggest project at the present time, and the total cost of the overhaul is likely to reach around £45,000, this being made up of the mechanical overhaul, plus refurbishment of the interior and transport.

Inside the mobility impaired coach which provides ample room for wheelchair access, during the Oxford PHAB Club visit to Swanage in 1991. Photo by Simon Purbrick

The total fund for such projects stands at approximately £25,000, which leaves a sigificant shortfall, and the balance of £20,000 is therefore urgently required. The Trust is thus seeking additional funds for the overhaul, and I am writing to ask for your support in returning our already adapted coach to service on the Swanage Railway.

The photos on this page show the dilapidated state of the coach whilst in the sidings on the Swanage Railway. They clearly show the extent of the criminal damage that the coach has suffered, in addition to the ravages of time. (Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the full set of photos).

The Swanage Railway's adapted coach prior to renovation.

However, since these photographs were taken, the coach has left the railway for overhaul at Ramparts Carriage & Wagon Ltd of Derby.

Ramparts recently carried out a superb overhaul of our Pullman Observation Car 14, and we wish to benefit from their expertise in returning our adapted coach to service without delay. The balance of £20,000 is therefore urgently required.

Further details of the project, including how to donate to the next phase, can be found below and at and donations can be made via the Trust's website via this link or by contacting the Trust's Deputy Chairman Steve Doughty at stephen.doughty1@btopenworld.com.

I am grateful to those who have already contributed to previous appeals. However, we do still need to raise much more to return this coach to service. Even if you have already contributed please consider sending a cheque to the Swanage Railway Trust (Mobility Impaired Visitor Facilities Appeal), Station House, Swanage, DORSET BH19 1HB or via our website at this link.

Steve Doughty
Deputy Chairman Swanage Railway Trust
23rd October 2008

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT

Donations to the Project can be made to the Swanage Railway Trust (Mobility Impaired Visitor Facilities Appeal), Station House, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1HB or on-line by debit or credit card via the Trust’s website at ‘www.swanagerailwaytrust.org.uk’ by following this link.

Please click here to visit the Swanage Railway Trust Appeals section at http://www.swanagerailwaytrust.org.uk/appeals/index.htm#Mobility

Contact details:
Steve Doughty
Deputy Chairman
Swanage Railway Trust
Station House
Swanage
DORSET
BH19 1HB
Tel: 07860-108754
Email: stephen.doughty1@btopenworld.com