RARE CHANCE TO SEE BEHIND THE SCENES OF A BUSY WORKING RAILWAY - AND SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP IT RUNNING! - 21st & 22nd March 2009

News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 16th March 2009
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright.
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By Andrew P.M. Wright.

The public is being given the rare chance to see behind the scenes of the award-winning Swanage Railway - and speak to the volunteers that keep it running - thanks to a special two-day 'behind the scenes' event.

The 'Railway at Work' weekend takes to the relaid Purbeck Line between Norden park and ride, Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston and Swanage on Saturday and Sunday, 21 and 22 March 2009.

The special event is part of a push to recruit more volunteers to help run and develop the award-winning Swanage Railway, which has been rebuilt from scratch since 1976 and now carries more than 200,000 passengers a year.

With instant membership to the Swanage Railway Trust will be available, volunteers and members of staff will be acting as guides for the public at Swanage, Corfe Castle and Norden park and ride stations.

Swanage Railway marketing and commercial manager, Martin Payne, said: "The weekend is a rare chance to see behind the scenes of a real-life steam railway that has been built from nothing since 1976 - it's an incredible story but there is still so much more to achieve.

"It's a chance to meet our volunteers and staff and discover the huge and varied amount of work that is needed not just to run the award-winning Swanage Railway but also maintain and develop the relaid Purbeck Line.

"Instant membership to the Swanage Railway Trust will be available throughout the weekend and members are entitled to free train travel throughout the special weekend on production of a valid membership card. It will be a lot of fun and also very educational too.

"I would encourage people to let the train take the strain from Norden park and ride station off the main A351 Wareham to Corfe Castle road and avoid parking hassles and problems in Swanage," explained Mr Payne.

The public will be able to see behind the scenes at Swanage station - visiting the signal box, the telephone exchange, the goods shed where carriages and wagons are restored as well as the engine shed viewing area.

The public will also be able to see behind the scenes at the Swanage Railway's two other signal boxes at Harman's Cross and Corfe Castle stations which, like Swanage, have won national awards for their quality.

Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum in December 2008 - Photo John Rowley, and inside the Museum - Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

At Norden station - next to the award-winning park and ride car park - the public will be able to join special tours around the Museum under construction by the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum Group and see the progress the Group is making in re-creating a ball clay mine next to the station.

Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum - Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

Come and see the ex Norden / ex Seaton Tramway skip waggon re-gauged, refurbished by Purbeck School.

Trains - classic steam and the early 1960s heritage railcar offering all-round views of the Purbeck countryside - will be running every 40 minutes between Norden park and ride and Swanage between 9.50am and 5.45pm.

Swanage Railway Trust members will also be able to take part in guided walks along the one mile of line that is not yet open to passenger-carrying trains between Norden and the boundary with Network Rail at Motala near Furzebrook.

The guided walks are not open to the public and members should meet at the Norden park and ride car park visitors' centre.

Buffet refreshment facilities are available at Norden and Swanage stations while at Corfe Castle, visitors can enjoy the museum in the station's converted Victorian goods shed. The station shop at Swanage will also be open.

Train tickets are £9 for adults, £7 for children and £26 for families - two adults and two children. Further details are available from the Swanage Railway on 01929 425800 or www.swanagerailway.co.uk here where tickets can be booked online.