RARE CHANCE TO SEE BEHIND THE SCENES OF A BUSY WORKING RAILWAY - AND SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP IT RUNNING!
Saturday and Sunday, 13 and 14 March 2010.

News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 8th March 2010
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright.
To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph and subsequently use the Back button on your browser to return to this page.

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, 13 and 14 March 2010.

At Swanage station, young and old alike will have the chance to visit a main line steam locomotive on shed, visit the award-winning signal box, and see carriage restoration work taking place while Swanage Railway members can enjoy brake van rides.

The Swanage Railway's Herston engineering works - off Victoria Avenue on the outskirts of Swanage - will also be open to the public 10am to 3pm where the restoration of the mighty express Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific 'Sir Keith Park' can be seen in progress.

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.

At Norden station - next to the award-winning park and ride car park - the public will be able to enjoy a display 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 in December 2008 - Photo John Rowley, and inside the Museum - Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

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 10.30am and 5.10pm.

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

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.

Travel on the steam trains is free to Swanage Railway members throughout the special weekend event.

To book on-line for the Railway at Work Weekend - or find out about many other special events and train services on the relaid Purbeck Line - please follow the links on the left of this page or call 01929 425800.