REFURBISHED £50,000 'OPEN ACCESS' CARRIAGE UNVEILED FOR DISABLED TO ENJOY THE DELIGHTS OF THE SWANAGE RAILWAY

News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 30th April 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.

Swanage Railway Chairman Steve Doughty addresses visitors at Swanage station. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

A specially converted and refurbished 'open access' railway carriage allowing disabled people to easily enjoy the delights of travelling on the Swanage Railway has been officially welcomed into traffic today on the award-winning relaid Purbeck Line.

Swanage Railway's official photographer & press officer Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied 70 photos of the first operations of the newly refurbished carriage. Please scroll down the page to see them..

The refurbishment and heavy overhaul of the SK(O) carriage - which features a fully equipped toilet for the disabled - has cost some £50,000 and the project has taken three years to bring to fruition.

The refurbished 'open access' carriage. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

A large proportion of the money has been raised by dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers selling bric-a-brac and other items with donations - including from charities representing the disabled - as well as funds from the Swanage Railway also making up the final amount needed.

The official welcoming ceremony with ribbon cutting and short speeches in front of the special carriage - which can accommodate at least ten wheelchairs - took place at Swanage station.

Swanage Railway Chairman Steve Doughty at Swanage station. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

After a speech of welcome and thanks by Swanage Railway Trust chairman Steve Doughty, seven year old Bethany Hamilton and Steve Darrington - both from Swanage - cut the official ribbon to mark the special carriage's entry into working service on the award-winning relaid Purbeck Line.

Steve Darrington and seven year old Bethany Hamilton cut the ceremonial ribbon and board the refurbished 'open access' carriage. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

Guests using the new 'open access' coach for the first time included members of the Swanage Stroke Club, the Swanage Disabled Club, the Dorset Association for the Disabled and pupils from the Purbeck View School in Swanage.

On board the 'open access' carriage. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

Then, at 1.50pm, specially invited guests rode in the new carriage from Swanage to Harman's Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden 'park and ride' for first time.

Previously, disabled passengers have had to travel in the guard's compartment of trains.

Originally containing conventional compartments, half the carriage is now entirely open to accommodate wheelchairs while the other half of the carriage still comprises compartments. Between the two sections is the disabled toilet.

Visitors enjoy the passenger compartments on board the refurbished 'open access' carriage. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

Swanage Railway Trust chairman Steve Doughty said: "We are absolutely delighted and I am very keen to thank all the many people who provided financial support in order to make all this possible as well as to those who worked on its restoration.

"This 'open access' carriage is very important to us because it means disabled passengers are now able to travel in the same comfort as other passengers - and enjoy terrific views of Corfe Castle and the Purbeck countryside.

Penny Cameron-Jones serves refreshments to guests on board the spacious 'open access' carriage. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

"Previously, disabled passengers had to ride in the guard's compartment of the train which had few windows and didn't provide disabled passengers with the same standard, or level of comfort, as other passengers.

"Everyone deserves to be treated the same and the return to service of this 'open access' carriage means that we are now able to provide for everyone - equally.

Pauline Dorland and Joan Sparks admire views of Corfe Castle from on board the 'open access' carriage. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

"The response to the return of the 'open access' coach has been excellent. It has been enthusiastically received by many disabled and elderly visitors alike," explained Mr Doughty.

For the technically minded, the Mark One type of carriage was built by British Railways at Derby during 1951 - the year of the Festival of Britain - and mounted on B1 class bogies which it still carries.

When originally built for British Railways, the carriage had 64 seats. After Swanage Railway volunteers converted it to a disabled coach, the carriage now has 32 seats.

The restoration of the carriage took place at Ramparts of Derby with Swanage Railway volunteers carrying out overhaul work on the bogies and wheels.

The refurbished fully equipped toilet for the disabled on board the 'open access' carriage. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

The 'open access' coach for the disabled first came into traffic on the Swanage in 1988 when trains were only running the one and a half miles from Swanage to New Barn via Herston Halt.

Taking several years of dedicated and painstaking work, the carriage was restored and converted at the Rye House power station by Swanage Railway volunteers based in the London area after it was purchased from British Rail after being withdrawn from traffic.

Swanage Railway Chairman Steve Doughty with young visitorson board the 'open access' carriage. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

Swanage Railway Trust chairman Steve Doughty was one of those determined volunteers and the restoration of the disabled persons coach almost 25 years ago was his first encounter with the Swanage Railway.

After running for a few years, the carriage needed a heavy overhaul but the funds were not available and it was put into long-term storage for some ten years until the money required for the specialist overhaul and refurbishment work was available.

ALTHOUGH THIS CARRIAGE IS NOW BACK IN SERVICE YOUR SUPPORT IS STILL WELCOME TO HELP WITH RUNNING COSTS

Donations to this 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.