SWANAGE RAILWAY FEATURES ON BBC TWO DOCUMENTARY SERIES COAST - SWANAGE TO LANDS END - ON WEDNESDAY 28TH JULY 2010

News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - updated 29th July 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.

Coast presenter Neil Oliver at Corfe Castle during the filming of the episode Swanage to Lands End. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

With stunning camerawork - both on the ground and in the air - the Swanage Railway featured in the fifth series of the acclaimed BBC Two documentary series 'Coast' on 28th July 2010.

For a preview, with footage showing the Swanage Railway, and links to see the full programme on the BBC iplayer page, please see the links to the BBC's Coast page further down this page.

The hour-long episode including the Isle of Purbeck was broadcast at 9pm on Wednesday 28 July 2010 and is entitled Swanage to Land's End.

The production team from BBC Birmingham with 'Coast' presenter Neil Oliver spent the best part of a day filming on the Swanage Railway on Friday, 28 August 2009.

Neil even spared the time between takes during the busy filming schedule to sign the plastercast of a young female fan who was watching the filming from the footbridge at Corfe Castle with her family. (see photos below)

And a few weeks later, a specially equipped helicopter from Castle Air in Cornwall was despatched to Purbeck with a gyro-steadied video camera to capture the Swanage Railway as well as the Purbeck coastline from the air.

Castle Air supplied the helicopters for the hit 1980s Channel Four series 'Treasure Hunt' featuring skyrunner Anneka Rice.

King Arthur Class No. 30777 Sir Lamiel at the head of "The Cathedrals Express" crosses Corfe Common on the Swanage Railway with the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle in the background. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

'Treasure Hunt' visited the Isle of Purbeck during 1985 and featured Brownsea Island, Corfe Castle before the Swanage Railway reached the picture postcard village, Poole Harbour, Bovington Tank Museum and Athelhampton House.

After visiting the Swanage Railway, Coast's journey continues along England's south-west coast from Dorset, through Devon and onwards to the tip of Cornwall.

Neil Oliver performs on the stage of a remarkable coastal amphitheatre near Land's End while Nick Crane ventures out into the infamous Portland Tidal Race to see how this fearsome tidal surge creates some of the roughest waters in Britain.

Meanwhile, Miranda Krestovnikoff goes in search of a family of white-beaked Dolphins.

'Coast' is subtitled, broadcast in widescreen and high definition while also being audio-described.

For a preview, with footage showing the Swanage Railway, see the videolink to the BBC's Coast preview (below).

To see the full programme on the BBC iplayer Coast page (available until September 2010) please click here

If you are fascinated by the idea of the Swanage Railway filmed from the air, make sure you buy a copy of Kingfisher's hour-long broadcast quality documentary 'Main Line Return to Swanage' which features footage from a helicopter of the first steam train from London to Swanage and return since June 1967 during May 2009.

Copies of 'Main Line Return to Swanage' are £16.95 from the Swanage Railway shop at Swanage station or from the on-line shop here.

A Bell Jet Ranger helicopter with veteran news and aerial cameraman Bob Stanyard at the rear doorway, and Swanage Railway volunteer Barry Light in the front seat on 2nd May 2009. Photo David Pearson.

Programme details for Coast - Swanage to Lands End are shown below.

Title: Coast - Swanage to Lands End
Channel: BBC2
Date: Wednesday 28th July 2010
Time: 21:00 to 22:00 (1 hour)
Programme summary: The journey continues along England's south-west coast from Dorset, through Devon and onwards to the tip of Cornwall. Neil Oliver performs on the stage of a remarkable coastal amphitheatre near Land's End. Nick Crane ventures out into the infamous Portland Tidal Race to see how this fearsome tidal surge creates some of the roughest waters in Britain. Miranda Krestovnikoff goes in search of a family of White-Beaked Dolphins.

The following photos from Andrew P.M. Wright were all taken during the filming of the episode. Please scroll down the page to see them.