IT'S STEAM FILLED FUN ALL THE WAY - WITH SWANAGE RAILWAY VOLUNTEERS STAGING THEIR AUTUMN HALF TERM FUN WEEK
Saturday 23 October and Sunday 31 October 2010

News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 20th October 2010
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright.
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Fun activities at Swanage Railway between Saturday 23 October and Sunday 31 October 2010

It's steam filled fun, fun, fun all the way - with dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers staging their Autumn half term Family Fun Week for children and adults between Saturday 23 October and Sunday 31 October 2010.

Brake van rides this year will be hauled by our Victorian-designed steam locomotive M7 No. 30053, seen here on a previous event's services.

There will be regular steam and diesel train services, exciting brake van rides at Swanage, colourful face painting at Corfe Castle, 'Twistina' providing balloon magic on most steam trains, magician entertainment and a photographic exhibition at Swanage station as well as prize draws.

The brake van rides will be hauled by Victorian-designed M7 class steam locomotive No. 53 - the only working M7 in the world - which was built at Nine Elms in London during 1905 for the London and South Western Railway.

Fun activities including balloon sculpting at Swanage Railway between Saturday 23 October and Sunday 31 October 2010

The rare locomotive spent its last months with British Railways during 1964 hauling branch trains between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage before being sold to an American millionaire and being shipped out to the USA. M7 No. 53 was rescued and brought back to Swanage during 1987.

During this year's Autumn half term Family Fun Week, the steam train service between Norden 'park and ride', Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston and Swanage will be hauled by Southern Railway 1940s Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific No. 34070 'Manston'.

The daily two-train service during the Family Fun Week will also see trains hauled by a heritage ex-British Railways diesel rail bus - with all-round windows for spectacular views of the Purbeck countryside - dating from the early 1960s. Rail bus units of the same type were used on summer excursion trains from London and the Thames Valley down to Corfe Castle and Swanage during the final years of the British Rail line in 1970 and 1971.

As well as colourful face painting for children, Corfe Castle station also has the goods shed museum with a narrow gauge Victorian steam locomotive as well as the museum coach featuring displays about the history and rebuilding of the Swanage Railway from 1885 to the present.

Colourful face painting for children at Corfe Castle station during the Swanage Railway Fun Week between Saturday 23 October and Sunday 31 October 2010

Proceeds from the Family Fun Week are going towards the extension and on-going development of the award-winning Swanage Railway which has been rebuilt from nothing since 1976 and last year carried more than 200,000 passengers.

Swanage Railway commercial manager Martin Payne said: "With a range of activities and attractions for children, the Autumn half term Family Fun Week will be an exciting event with adults sure to enjoy it as much as the youngsters - a cracking good steam-filled day out in the Isle of Purbeck.

Brake van rides hauled by Victorian-designed steam locomotive M7 No. 30053 during a previous Swanage Railway's Fun Week.

"With attended car parking next to Norden station, the whole family can enjoy the steam and diesel train rides through spectacular scenery - including views of the impressive ruins of Corfe Castle.

"At Swanage station, there is the railway shop - for buying the perfect Christmas presents - and the Bird's Nest buffet from where you can watch the steam and diesel trains arriving and departing," explained Mr Payne.

Normal train fares apply for the Family Fun Week with booking facilities available on-line at www.swanagerailway.co.uk here.

More details about Swanage Railway services are available from www.swanagerailway.co.uk or by calling 01929 425800, and see our dedicated page on our Half Term Family Fun Week 23rd-31st October 2010. Please click here to visit the dedicated page with a downloadable poster and further details.