Museums
due TO THE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS AND FRIDAYS AND access to the library, archive room and signal box is not available at present
The Swanage Railway Museum is based at Corfe Castle Station. It collects and cares for objects, pictures and documents relating to the railway and assists in the fulfilment of the aims of the Swanage Railway Trust:
- To preserve and restore, for the public benefit, items of historical, architectural, engineering or scientific value in connection with railways, and:
- To advance the education of the public in the history and development of railway transportation.
Our collections focus on railways in the south of England with a particular interest in the Swanage branch line.
SIGNAL BOX
Visit the 1950s signal box sited on the station platform adjoining Station House, which was used until the line closed in 1972. You can learn how the line is operated safely and try your hand at being a signalman and pull the signal levers.
All parts of the museum are free to visit but we are always happy to receive your donations which go towards supporting and developing the museum, its collections and displays.
BEHIND THE SCENES
The museum has a work space in Corfe Castle Station House where volunteers work on organising, caring for and documenting the collections. We also have an archive room where items, not on display, are kept in controlled conditions. This room enables us to carry out the many behind the scenes jobs needed to run the museum.
Next to the museum rooms, the Station House is also home to the Montague-Jones library which contains a wide range of railway books available for research. The Library catalogue is now accessible online at www.srlibrary.co.uk. You need to make an appointment but please get in touch if you would like to consult our collection.
If you are interested in researching our collections, or donating objects to the collection, please email us at: [email protected]