Swanage Railway's record-breaking Thomas The Tank Engine event

Press release dated 3rd March 2000 Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

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ELATED Swanage Railway volunteers are celebrating a record-breaking performance of the Purbeck Line's A Day Out With Thomas event, featuring the real Thomas The Tank Engine.

Between February 19th and 26th, 2000, 9,375 passengers were carried between Swanage, Harman's Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden park and ride.

It was the first time the Swanage Railway had tried to stage a non-stop nine day event rather than an event across two successive weekends.

The event starred an official Thomas The Tank Engine steam locomotive from the Quainton Road railway centre.

Thanks to the influx of passengers - averaging more than 1,000 a day - ticket receipts broke all records for Thomas The Tank Engine-related events, as did takings in the shop at Swanage station.

Such has been the success of the event that plans are already underway to stage another nine day A Day Out With Thomas event, featuring the real Thomas The Tank Engine, on the relaid Purbeck Line from October 21st to 29th, 2000, inclusive.

Last Autumn's Friends of Thomas The Tank Engine event attracted 4,000 passengers across two successive weekends.

"This event was without doubt our best ever Thomas and Thomas The Tank Engine-related event which we have been organising since the mid to late 1980s," said Swanage Railway's passenger services manager David Green.

"The scale of the success of our latest event has taken us all by surprise. The weather was kind and we have proved the pull of Thomas the little blue engine by running its event for a full nine days.

"The event has captured the imaginations of children and their parents - and they have turned up to the Swanage Railway in droves. Our staff rose to the challenge," he added.

Mr Green said the Thomas event was given a boost before the second and final weekend thanks to a BBC TV South local news programme featuring the event as the location for a What's On slot.

Such was the popularity of the Bertha the classic single decker bus rides from Harman's Cross that two double decker buses had to be drafted in.

"These Thomas events are important because they bring to life a favourite children's character," explained Mr Green.

"In doing so, children will become more interested in steam railways and perhaps become the heritage railway volunteers of the future to keep places like the Swanage Railway alive," he added.