IT'S STEAM-FILLED FUN ALL THE WAY - WITH SWANAGE RAILWAY VOLUNTEERS STAGING THEIR AUTUMN HALF-TERM FUN WEEK - Saturday 22 October to Sunday 30 October, 2011.

News Item from Andrew P.M. Wright - updated 2nd October 2011
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright as noted
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Scenes from a previous Family Fun Week at the Swanage Railway. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

It's steam filled fun all the way - with dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers staging their Autumn half-term Family Fun Week for children and adults between Saturday 22 October and Sunday 30 October, 2011.

There will be regular steam and diesel train services, exciting brake van rides at Swanage, colourful face painting at Corfe Castle station and entertainment on most of the steam trains.

Scenes from a previous Family Fun Week at the Swanage Railway. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

The daily two-train service during the Family Fun Week will also see trains hauled by a heritage ex-British Railways diesel rail bus dating from the early 1960s - with all-round windows for spectacular views of the Purbeck countryside.

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 during 1970 and 1971.

Scenes from a previous Family Fun Week at the Swanage Railway. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

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.

Scenes from a previous Family Fun Week at the Swanage Railway. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

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.

"With safe 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.

Scenes from a previous Family Fun Week at the Swanage Railway. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

"At Swanage station, there is the railway shop - for buying the perfect early 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.

More Family Fun Week service details are available from the Swanage Railway on 01929 425800 - or by visiting our dedicated page here.

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