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Swanage Railway: Access for All

Swanage Railway has always been about people. It’s about families making memories, volunteers giving their time, and a community coming together to keep something special alive.

But the truth is, right now, not everyone can experience the railway in the way they should be able to, and that needs to change.

We have taken a major step forward by applying to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for £249,000 funding to overhaul and convert two of our carriages (Mk1 TSOs 4842 & 4961) into fully accessible vehicles.

These will not be token adaptations. They will be developed to the same high standard seen on leading heritage railways, allowing wheelchair users and those with additional needs to travel comfortably, safely, and alongside their families. This is about dignity. It is about inclusion. And it is about doing the right thing.

For too long, some of our visitors have had to travel in the guard’s van, separated from their families and with a much more limited experience. That is not the Swanage Railway we want to be.

Alongside this, we will also be carrying out a full accessibility audit across the entire railway. This project is just the beginning. We want to properly understand where we need to improve and make sure accessibility is built into everything we do going forward.

Each coach will feature:

  • Accessible toilets designed for wheelchair users

  • Extra wide doors for wheelchairs and scooters

  • Spacious interiors to comfortably accommodate wheelchair users and their companions

  • Accessibile for family and friends to travel together

This funding application is a huge opportunity, but we need to raise at least £25,000 towards the project to make it happen. That is where you come in.

Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to a railway that is truly open to everyone. A railway where no one feels like a second-class visitor. A railway that reflects the values we talk about: respect, inclusion and community.

We have spent the last few years making sure the railway survives. Now it is time to make sure it thrives - for everyone.

If you believe Swanage Railway should be accessible to all, please consider supporting this project. Together, we can make this happen.

How can I help?

Anything you can donate will make a real difference. Every pound gets us closer to creating a more inclusive railway for everyone to enjoy.

And if you are able to add Gift Aid, even better. Gift Aid costs you nothing extra. If you are a UK taxpayer, it allows us to claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated, making your support go even further.

Thank you for helping us build a Swanage Railway that is open, welcoming and accessible to all.

Donate Here

British Railways Mk1 Tourist Second Open carriages nos. 4842 & 4961.

Both carriages were built for British Railways with carriage 4842 put in service around the end of 1958/early 1959 and carriage 4961 put in service in the early 1960s.

Carriage 4842 was believed to have been withdrawn due to more modern stock being introduced in the early 1990s after 30 years service. Carriage 4961 was also replaced by modern stock after 33 years service. Carriage 4842 was purchased from British Railways and moved to the Swanage Railway where it was stored until it was sent to Rampart Engineering in Derby for external repairs and refurbishment during September 2002. It returned to Swanage in March 2003 for interior refurbishment to be completed. Carriage 4961 was purchased by Peter Waterman’s Waterman Railways during 1994. It was stored on sidings at Crewe. From there it was purchased and moved to the Swanage Railway by 1999 where it was restored to operational condition.

Both carriages have been in the operational sets at Swanage Railway ever since, apart from periodic repaints and maintenance. The carriages are now due for their periodical heavy overhauls and have been deemed suitable for accessibility conversion. 

Carriage 4842 was withdrawn from service for repairs in early 2024 due to corrosion becoming apparent at the toilet end of the coach. However, when work began to repair this corrosion, it was found that the repairs required were significantly more complex than expected. Work was stopped to avoid creating a backlog of repairs and maintenance on the other carriages, and 4842 has been in storage awaiting a full overhaul since.

Carriage 4961 was last overhauled in 2005 and is now due general overhaul again as the bodywork is deteriorating and its wheels require new tyres. Due to its condition, it is no longer in regular service and is only used occasionally as an additional coach for special events when passenger numbers require. Outside of special events, it is stored in the carriage shed.

As well as the conversions, whilst the carriages are at Rampart Enginerring the following work will also be undertaken:

  • Welding repairs or replacement of steel body sheeting and supporting structure.
  • Overhaul of gangways.
  • Overhaul of doors.
  • Remove and reseal all window and frames.
  • Repair and painting of roofs.
  • Removal of existing toilets and toilet areas.
  • Overhaul of interiors including replacing formica panelling with wood veneer.
  • Removal of seating, repair and re-upholstering.
  • Inspection and repair of underframes and brakes.
  • Check and overhaul/repair of bogies.
  • New tyres on the wheels of 4961.
  • Complete external repainting of both carriages.

4842 current condition

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4842
4842
4842 3
4842
4842
4842

4842 current condition

4961 current condition

4961
4961
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4961

4961 current condition