SPECIAL TREATS AND INTENSIVE TRAIN SERVICES THROUGH THE ISLE OF PURBECK MAKE FOR A CRACKING EASTER WEEKEND
- Good Friday 22nd April to Easter Monday 25th April 2011

News Item and Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 1st April 2011
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.

A Swanage Railway service hauled by hauled by ex-Southern Railway 4-6-2 "Battle of Britain" Class No. 34070 Manston leaves Corfe Castle station for Norden, passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

Dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers have a cracking four-day Easter Bank Holiday weekend in store - with free tasty treats for travelling passengers and an intensive heritage steam train service through the Isle of Purbeck.

Between Good Friday, 22 April 2011, and Bank Holiday Monday, 25 April 2011, the Swanage Railway will be operating its most intensive steam and diesel train service between Norden 'park and ride', Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston Halt and Swanage.

The Good Friday and Easter Saturday trains will see a free hot cross bun given to every travelling passenger while the Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday trains will see every travelling child given a free hand-made Swanage Railway Easter Egg, while stocks last.

A Swanage Railway service from Norden hauled by ex-Southern Railway 4-6-2 "Battle of Britain" Class No. 34070 Manston passes the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle en route for Swanage via Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross and Herston. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

Over the four-day Bank Holiday weekend, there will a two steam train service with the first trains leaving Swanage and Norden at 10am and then running every 40 minutes until the final steam-hauled trains at 6pm.

A special evening train service composed of a heritage diesel rail bus unit will be running between Swanage and Corfe Castle on the Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday with the last trains leaving Swanage at 10pm and Corfe Castle at 10.40pm.

A Swanage Railway service from Norden and Corfe Castle, hauled by ex-Southern Railway 4-6-2 "Battle of Britain" Class No. 34070 Manston, crosses Corfe Common en route for Swanage via Harman's Cross and Herston. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

Swanage Railway commercial manager Martin Payne said: "Springtime is a great time to travel by steam train through the beautiful Purbeck countryside with daffodils, primroses and other flowers lining the side of the track.

"Trees are also bursting into leaf and there is always the chance of seeing new-born lambs in the fields.

"Travelling on our a heritage diesel rail bus unit - which has all-round windows so passengers can enjoy stunning views of the Purbeck Hills - is a great way to start and finish an evening out and you don't need to worry about where to park your car."

At Swanage station, the railway shop will be open as will be the Bird's Nest Buffet where young and old alike can enjoy tasty food and refreshments as they watch the trains arrive and depart.

A Swanage Railway service hauled by ex-LSWR 0-4-4T Class M7 No.53 (30053) in service on the Swanage Railway.
Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

At Corfe Castle station, the good shed museum will be open to the public - explaining the history of the line and the battle across more than 30 years to rebuild it.

And at Norden station - next to the attended 'park and ride' car park - the Norden Nest buffet next to the railway platform will be open to offer snacks and refreshments as steam locomotives pass by.

A Swanage Railway service hauled by ex-Southern Railway 4-6-2 "West Country" Class no. 34028 Eddystone.
Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

Rebuilt from nothing since 1976, the volunteer-run Swanage Railway carries more than 200,000 passengers a year on the six miles of relaid railway line between Norden 'park and ride', Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston Halt and Swanage.

The award-winning heritage railway contributes around £10 million to the Purbeck economy and profits from the running of train services and special events are ploughed back into the development and extension of the Swanage Railway and its facilities.

A Swanage Railway service from Norden hauled by ex-Southern Railway 4-6-2 "Battle of Britain" Class No. 34070 Manston approaches Corfe Castle station en route for Swanage via Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross and Herston. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

The Swanage Railway's relaid Purbeck Line is run by some 500 regular volunteers - assisted by a team of more than 30 full-time staff - and the value of the Swanage Railway volunteers' work is around £2 million a year if they were paid.

Swanage Railway's Easter weekend service details - including running dates and timetables - are available by following the menu links on the left of this page or by calling 01929 425800.

STOP PRESS: More Trains for Easter!

Easter 2011 services Good Friday 22nd to Monday 25th April 2011 downloadable revised timetable here

For a full Press Announcement on the additional services please see here

It is due to be good weather over the four-day Easter break. Swanage Railway is increasing its train service over the four days of the holiday to three trains running. There will be a regular diesel service in addition to the current two-steam train service. The first trains leave Swanage and Norden at 10.00 with the final steam trains at 18.00. In addition, there is an evening service on Friday to Sunday (but not Monday) with the last train departing Swanage at 22.00 and Corfe Castle at 22.40. These evening trains are ideal for an evening out in Swanage or Norden or you can take the opportunity to stay at your destination longer. Our revised Easter timetable is available on our Timetable page or on the link above, and is also available on stations from our Ticket Offices. Please note that all the steam trains run according to the times in our standard Yellow timetable.

A Swanage Railway service from Norden hauled by ex-BR 2-6-4T Class 4MT No. 80104 (now undergoing overhaul) enters Corfe Castle station en route for Swanage via Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross and Herston. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

The Swanage Railway's official photographer & press officer Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied almost 80 photos taken on and around the Swanage Railway giving a flavour of what our visitors can experience during their visit to the railway over the Easter Weekend. To see the full set of Andrew's photos, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

All photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright unless otherwise noted.
Photos on these pages are low resolution versions.
Full resolution photos are available for media use