Community Weekend
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Join us on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th February 2026 for our much loved Community Weekend - a rare chance to peek behind the scenes of a working heritage railway. Over both days, we’ll be opening doors that are normally closed to visitors, with plenty to explore across the whole line.
You’ll be able to book onto a range of hands-on experiences, including Guard, Diesel Driver, Signal Box and TTI sessions, plus new activities at the Purbeck Mining Museum. This year also marks 50 years since we began restoring Swanage Station, with a special exhibition and plans to have Beryl, our first locomotive, gleaming for the occasion.
Even without an experience booked, there’s lots to enjoy. Visit our demonstration Signal Box and Museum at Corfe Castle, tour the Mining Museum, learn how our telecoms work, and travel on our steam and diesel-hauled trains.
Dorset residents receive 50% off tickets. Please click here to book.
More information and booking details will be available soon. We look forward to seeing you.
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Additional Experiences
Drive our Class 08 Diesel shunter.
Based at Swanage Station, you will drive our Class 08 diesel shunter from platform 1 to the siding and back.
Your whole experience, including briefing, will last approximately 10 minutes.
£25 per person
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Ticket Inspector Experience
Tickets Please! The Travelling Ticket Inspector role is important to ensure that our passengers are welcomed on-board our trains, and to ensure the fares are collected so the railway has the funds to keep the wheels turning.
This 20 min tour takes place on-board one of our trains, the Travelling Ticket Inspector will show you their equipment, some of this is very modern to take credit cards on the move, right through to the old fashioned ticket clippers.
You will then get chance to wear the hat and be accompanied through the train checking passengers tickets, clipping these and answering their questions. No prior experience is necessary as we will show you what's involved and you will be accompanied.
The tour officially ends at Corfe or Swanage where you can alight the train and view the many displays at the stations by the volunteer groups.
Please note: This is a accompanied shadowing experience.
Under 18s must be accompanied.
£7.50 per person plus valid travel ticket.
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Guard experience
Have you ever wondered what its like to be the Guard of a steam train?
The Guard is in charge of the train, ensuring its safety as well as blowing the whistle and waving the green flag. This 20 min tour takes place on-board one of our trains, you will observe the Guard doing their checks before departure, then waving the flag and blowing the whistle to start the steam train on its journey.
There is lots to do during the journey and our experienced tour guide will run you through the duties of the Guard, the equipment (much of which dates back to the days of steam) and how we ensure the safety of our passengers and trains.
The tour officially ends at Corfe, but passengers are welcome to stay on the train to watch the steam engine change ends at Norden. A valid passenger ticket is required in addition to booking the tour.
Please note: This is a accompanied shadowing experience.
Under 18s must be accompanied.
£7.50 per person plus travel ticket.
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Signal Box Tours – Corfe Castle & Harmans Cross
Have you ever wondered what all those levers do?
Swanage Railway is offering a rare opportunity to step behind the scenes inside a real, working Victorian signal box at Corfe Castle or Harmans Cross.
Both signal boxes are packed with heritage equipment and remain fully operational today, still signalling trains and keeping the railway safe decades after being made redundant from British Railways. They are living museums, offering a fascinating insight into how the railway is run.
Your experienced guide will explain how the equipment works – from moving and securing points, operating signals, and managing train movements on a single-track branch line. At Corfe Castle, you’ll also hear about communication with the mainline at Basingstoke for the Wareham connection.
There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions and take photos, all while watching trains pass between Swanage and Norden.
Duration: 20 minutes
Under 18s must be accompanied
Price: £7.50 per person
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Narrow Gauge Engine Shed Experience
At Purbeck Mining Museum.
New for 2026 this 20-minute guided tour of the Purbeck Mining Museum, Engine Shed behind the scenes access, will show you all the equipment necessary to maintain and repair these narrow-gauge engines. You will also be shown how to prepare one of the Engines for service and how it has had its gear box replaced to allow it to come back into use in demonstrating how this old tram way was used to take clay to the boats and trains for transportation. Have your questions ready to gain this insight of a forgotten history.
Duration: 20 minutes
Price: £5 per person
