SISTER OF WORLD SPEED RECORD-BREAKING STEAM LOCOMOTIVE ARRIVES IN PURBECK TO STAR IN THE SWANAGE RAILWAY'S GRAND STEAM GALA - 9th to 11th September 2011

News Item from Andrew P.M. Wright - updated 2nd September 2011
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright as noted
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A4 Pacific No. 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand' arrives at Corfe Castle station with the magnificent ruins of Corfe castle in the background on 1st September 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

The sister engine of the iconic steam locomotive 'Mallard' - which broke a world speed record in the 1930s and still holds the prestigious accolade today - has arrived on the Swanage Railway's relaid Purbeck Line to star in its annual Grand Steam Gala.

The Swanage Railway's official photographer & press officer Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied numerous photos of the A4 arriving at Swanage late yesterday - via Furzebrook, Corfe Castle station, Corfe common and finally Swanage. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to view all the photos.

The London and North Eastern Railway Company (LNER) A4 class pacific steam locomotive carrying the name 'Dominion of New Zealand' has been spending the summer hauling heavy main line charter trains at up to 75 mph between London and Weymouth.

To the delight of visitors, A4 Pacific No. 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand' stands at Corfe Castle station with the new 'Victorian' signal box in the background on 1st September 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

But, while on the award-winning Swanage Railway, the majestic 1930s streamlined steam locomotive known as 'The Streak' - and the same class of steam locomotive behind which Agatha Christie's Belgian amateur sleuth Hercule Poirot travelled in style - will be limited to a more sedate 25 mph.

Painted in a striking LNER garter blue livery, the Sir Nigel Gresley-designed steam locomotive carrying the number No. 4492 will be the star attraction in the Swanage Railway's annual Grand Steam Gala which takes to the rails of the relaid Purbeck Line from Friday, 9 September, to Sunday, 11 September, 2011 (inclusive).

That appearance will make Dorset railway history as it will be the first time ever that a streamlined Gresley A4 steam locomotive has run into Corfe Castle and Swanage - even during the Southern Railway days of the 1930s and 1940s and then the era of British Railways during the 1950s and 1960s.

The Concorde of its day back in the 1930s, 'Dominion of New Zealand' ran down to Corfe Castle and Swanage by rail from Eastleigh in Hampshire late yesterday afternoon, Thursday, 1 September, 2011.

Weighing 167 tons - and carrying eight tons of coal and 5,000 gallons of water - the star visitor to the Swanage Railway's Grand Steam Gala was withdrawn by British Railways in 1966 but escaped the scrapyard cutting torch - taking dedicated enthusiasts more than 40 years to restore to full working order.

A4 Pacific No. 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand' crosses Corfe Common with the magnificent ruins of Corfe castle in the background on 1st September 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

Sister steam locomotive to 'Dominion of New Zealand' is fellow A4 class streamlined pacific No. 4468 'Mallard' which still holds the world record for the fastest recorded speed by a steam locomotive - an amazing 126 mph - recorded near Grantham in Lincolnshire during 1938.

Designed for hauling express trains on the King's Cross to Edinburgh east coast main line, the prestigious visitor to Swanage was built at Doncaster and entered service in June 1937. Scrapped by British Railways in 1966, the mighty steam locomotive finally returned to steam during 2007.

Swanage Railway commercial manager Martin Payne said: "It's really wonderful to see a Nigel Gresley-designed streamlined A4 class pacific steam locomotive at Swanage alongside our Southern Railway Bulleid Pacific express steam locomotives and a real coup. She looks and sounds wonderful.

A4 Pacific No. 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand' arrives at Swanage station, passing Swanage's award-winning signal box on 1st September 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

"The Concorde of its day back in the 1930s, 'Dominion of New Zealand' is straight out of an Agatha Christie mystery - it's just the sort of steam locomotive that Belgian amateur detective Hercule Poirot would have travelled behind in real style during the 1930s," explained Mr Payne.

The three-day Grand Steam Gala features an intensive steam train service between Norden 'park and ride', Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston Halt and Swanage every 40 minutes between 9am and 6pm - including steam trains on the Friday and Saturday evenings until just before 11pm.

A4 Pacific No. 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand' arrives at Swanage station on 1st September 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

Details of the Swanage Railway's steam and diesel train services - as well as special events - are available by following the menu links on the left of this page or by calling 01929 425800.

Advance booking for one, two or three-day Grand Steam Gala Rover tickets - giving unlimited daytime train travel - is available as well as combined tickets covering entrance to the Classic Vehicle Rally next to Harman's Cross station.

A4 Pacific No. 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand' arrives at Swanage station on 1st September 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph to view a full size version, and then click on CLOSE or 'x' on your keyboard to close it and return to this page.

The photos on this page can also be viewed as a slideshow - just click on any image and then click on the enlarged to continue scrolling through the photos - Next and Previous links on the right and left of the photos - or use the CLOSE link or 'x' on your keyboard to exit