MAINLINE STAR TO OPERATE SWANAGE RAILWAY SERVICES - 'Black 5' 5MT 4-6-0 No 44871 1st to 4th June 2010!
PLUS: West Country Class Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone (Weds/Thurs/Fri 2nd, 3rd, 4th June)

Announcement from the Swanage Railway - dated 27th May 2010
Photographs are copyright as noted
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Ian Riley's ex-L.M.S. 'Black 5' 5MT 4-6-0 No 44871 is finished and waits to head out for her mainline trials, Monday 21st December 2009. Photo copyright Matt Durkan.

The Swanage Railway is pleased to announce that we will use LMS Black Five No.44871 on our scheduled service trains from Tuesday 1st to Friday 4th of June 2010* PLUS We will be running No. 34028 Eddystone on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday this week instead of the DMU, presenting an all-steam line-up reminiscent of the days of the old Somerset and Dorset workings.

Black Five No. 44871 arrived on the Swanage Railway on 31st May hauling the Swanage Belle railtour.

This locomotive secured its place in history when it took part in the famous Fifteen Guinea Special on the 11th August 1968. This train was the last steam hauled, main line passenger train that ran on British Railways. Now owned by Riley and Son (e) Ltd, the locomotive has recently undergone an extensive overhaul to mainline standards.

A view which could have been taken in the Fifties showing Black Five no. 44871 with the Swanage Belle service passing Brockenhurst in the New Forest. en route from London to Swanage on Bank Holiday Monday 31st May 2010. Photo copyright Peter Milford

No. 44871 is the First Black Five to visit the Swanage Branch, although members of the class were a regular sight in the surrounding areas of Bouremouth, Poole and all of the Somerset and Dorset Railway.

In tribute to this historical visit, in addition to the visiting Black Five No. 44871, we will be running West Country Class Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone this week instead of the scheduled DMU service.

West Country Class 34028 Eddystone's First Photo Charter at Swanage on 1st March 2004. Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

We would like to thank Riley and Son (e) Ltd for their kind assistance in securing this short visit, and thank photographer Matt Durkan for the use of his photograph at the head of this page. (The original full size photograph can be found on Matt's page at http://matt-durkan-railways.deviantart.com/art/44871-V-147511031 here)

*subject to operational constraints