DEFINITIVE DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE FIRST LONDON TRAINS TO SWANAGE NOW PUBLISHED ON DVD IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS! 15th December 2009

News Item and Press Release from the Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright.
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Unrebuilt 'Battle of Britain' class Bulleid Pacifics meet at Corfe Castle as 'Tangmere' sweeps into the restored station with its London train. Normally dominating this scene, for once, the castle ruins have to play second fiddle to the two massive Bulleid Pacifics.

It has finally arrived - the definitive documentary on DVD about the first diesel and steam trains to run from London to Swanage since 1972 and 1967 respectively.

Written, edited and directed by our very own Andrew P.M. Wright - the Swanage Railway's official photographer and press officer - 'Main Line Return to Swanage' has been filmed and produced to broadcast TV standards and has been released by Kingfisher.

Running for just over two hours, the programme is just £16.95 - excellent value for a quality production that made use of more than ten camera teams; on the lineside, on the train and even from a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter.

The DVD features the first diesel train to run from London to Swanage since the last day of the British Rail branch line 1972 - the 'Purbeck Pioneer' on Wednesday 1 April 2009.

Included are interviews at London's Victoria station before the historic departure, lineside footage between Wareham and Swanage as well as the speeches at Swanage and other interviews. The historic return is also covered - including the train's triumphant arrival at London's Waterloo station.

But that's not all. The DVD also includes the first steam train to run from London to Swanage - and then back to the capital - since Sunday 18th June 1967.

The first London to Swanage steam train since 1967 hauled by Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific No 34067 Tangmere departs the Capital's Victoria Station on 2nd May 2009.

The 'Royal Wessex' headed by unrebuilt Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific No. 34067 'Tangmere' ran departed Victoria station on Saturday 2nd May 2009 for its historic run down to Corfe Castle and Swanage. The programme includes dramatic helicopter footage of the train coming on to the branch at Worgret Junction and crossing the River Frome.

The train returned to the Capital's Waterloo station on Bank Holiday Monday, 4th May 2009 and as well as lineside and on-train footage, there is more dramatic helicopter footage of 'Tangmere' running between Swanage, Corfe Castle and Wareham.

The documentary includes 'Tangmere' and resident Swanage Railway unrebuilt Battle of Britain Bulleid Pacific No. 34070 'Manston' double-heading a train from Swanage to Norden park and ride and return at teatime on Saturday 2 May 2009.

Several of the camera teams deployed on the documentary were professional TV news cameramen and the programe was shot on 16:9 picture aspect ratio Sony DV-CAM for maximum picture quality.

The documentary is professionally narrated by Martin Dowse who is a news reporter for ITV Meridian and has covered the expansion and development of the Swanage Railway since the mid-1990s as Meridian's Dorset reporter.

The special 12 -coach passenger service hauled by freshly-painted DB Schenker Class 66 locomotive No 66152 passes through Corfe Castle station on its way to Swanage station on 1st April 2009.

Roger Hardingham of Kingfisher said: "The documentary is a real cracker and Andrew has done his usual very professional job - it looks and sounds stunning. It's a very moving programme and one that everyone involved on those special days - not to mention every Swanage Railway member and supporter - will want to keep.

"Main Line Return to Swanage records what was probably the most historic three days in the history of the Swanage Railway which has been rebuilt from nothing since 1976. I am delighted and very proud to be releasing the programme to the public.

"It is the definitive documentary about the first trains from London to Swanage since 1972 and 1967 and is set to become a real collectors' item. I am very proud of the documentary and I am delighted to be releasing it to the market.

The Mayor of Swanage, Councillor Mike Pratt, (left) and Mayor of Wareham, Councillor Malcolm Russell, (right) meet at Swanage on 2nd May 2009, with Swanage Railway Chairman Mike Whitwam in the background.

Andrew P.M. Wright explained: "The programme was a delight to work on but very hard work. The camera teams did a splendid job in recording history and the first trains from London which I had been waiting to enjoy since 1980 when I discovered the embryonic Swanage Railway as a 15-year old.

"I would like to thank all the camera teams for their commitment and professionalism to the project - the results look and sound stunning. I would also like to thank everyone involved with running the special trains who helped me. I hope they will be equally delighted with the documentary."

Copies of Main Line Return to Swanage are just £16.95, and copies of the DVD are available from the Swanage Railway shop at Swanage Station, the Swanage Railway's online shop here or - in case of any difficulty direct from Kingfisher Productions at www.railwayvideo.com.

To view a trailer of this DVD check out http://www.youtube.com/user/SwanRailway here.