Swanage Railway gets permission to increase its line speed and axle loading.

Press release dated 8th February 2000 from Andrew P.M. Wright. Photographs are copyright Keith Morgan

The Swanage Railway has obtained permission from the Government's Health & Safety Executive Railways' Inspectorate (HMRI) to permanently increase the Purbeck Line's maximum train speed to 25 mph.

At the same time, the Railways' Inspectorate has also given permission for the maximum axle loading for locomotives to be permanently increased to 22.5 tons.

"This follows a detailed civil and structural engineering survey of the line by a consultants in 1998, and permission from HMRI to conduct a trial period of 25 mph running throughout last year (1999)," explained Swanage Railway's Operations and Engineering Director Geoff Carter.

The increased axle loading now allows the Swanage Railway to operate steam locomotives heavier then resident Bulleid Light Pacific No: 34072 '257 Squadron' without the necessity to seek an exemption from HMRI each time.

Southern Railway Class S15 4-6-0 No: 828 'Harry A. Frith' - with an axle loading of 20 tons - has operated on the Purbeck Line under three consecutive exemption agreements since July, 1998.

This paves the way for the future use on the Purbeck Line of Merchant Navy 35026 'Port Line' which is due to be transferred to Swanage from the Bluebell Railway at the end of February to enable boiler repairs to be progressed by owners Southern Locomotives Ltd. This photograph shows class mate 35028 'Clan Line' at Winchfield in 1998.

"By 2001 we hope to have our rail connection to the main line established" said Geoff Carter.

"Interest is already being shown by railtour operators in running through trains to Swanage, and this increase in permitted axle loading means that, with the exception of outside-cylindered Great Western classes which are out-of-gauge for the Purbeck line, there will be no restriction on visiting locomotive choice.

"It would be nice one day to see ex-Southern Railway express passenger locomotives 'Sir Lamiel' and 'Lord Nelson' heading trains past Corfe Castle," added Mr Carter.

Until now, the speed of trains on the Purbeck Line has been limited to 20 mph and the axle loading limited to 18.75 tons by HMRI.

This dates back to the mid-1980s when the Swanage Railway was granted its Light Railway Order for the Swanage to Harman's Cross section of line.

The limits were imposed because of the newly re-laid track and a lack of information regarding the stability of the New Barn embankment between Herston and Harman's Cross.

"New Barn embankment suffered a major slip in BR days and as no engineering data was available regarding the repairs undertaken, the maximum axle loading was set at 18.75 tons - the axle loading of the Bulleid Light Pacifics which regularly operated on the branch until the demise of steam in the summer of 1967," explained Geoff Carter.

"A speed limit of 15 mph will still be applied to New Barn embankment, with regular engineering examinations being conducted, until the remedial works undertaken to eliminate water retention within the embankment are proven to be consistently effective.

"We will also be applying a 10 mph speed limit to New Barn bridge itself until we complete a maintenance program on the bridge later this year" he added.