HISTORIC STEAM-HAULED PASSENGER TRAINS RUN BETWEEN LONDON AND SWANAGE - FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JUNE 1967!

Interim News Item - dated 2nd May 2009
Photographs are copyright Keith Morgan unless otherwise acknowledged
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To view our second item on the historic Bank Holiday Weekend London trains on 2nd & 4th May 2009, please follow this link. A full photo report will follow.

Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34067 Tangmere at London's Victoria station on 2nd May 2009 ready for its historic journey to Swanage.

History was made on Saturday 2 May 2009 when a special train hauled by a huge 1940s express steam locomotive named after a Battle of Britain airfield ran between London and Swanage for the first time since the summer of 1967.

Swanage Railway Trust chairman Mike Whitwam said: "The first steam trains between London and Swanage is something that several generations of determined Swanage Railway volunteers have been working towards, against all the odds, for almost 40 years.

Organised by Past Time Rail and operated by West Coast Railways, the weekend's historic steam train on 2nd May was named the 'Dorset Coast Express' with Tangmere carrying a special Royal Wessex nameboard on its smokebox door.

Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34067 Tangmere at London's Victoria station on 2nd May 2009

The 10 coach train hauled by Battle of Britain class No. 34067 Tangmere left London's Victoria station on time at 08:05 on Saturday 2nd May 2009, travelling to Swanage via Woking, Winchfield for a watering stop, Basingstoke, Winchester, Eastleigh, Southampton, Brockenhurst, Bournemouth, Branksome, Poole, Hamworthy before arriving at Wareham for the Swanage branch.

No. 34067 Tangmere takes on water at Winchfield station from the waiting fire tender while the crew rearranges the coal in Tangmere's tender.

Successfully rewatered, the train continued its journey to Wareham and entered the Swanage branch via Worgret Junction.

Gathered crowds cheer and wave as the special excursion arrives via Norden and passes the ruins of Corfe Castle. Photos John Rowley & Keith Morgan

The special excursion from London hauled by No. 34067 Tangmere passes through Corfe Castle on its way to Swanage. Photos Dave Cook.

At the rear of the train was class 37 diesel number 37 706 which was to provide the power for the return journey.

With a party atmosphere on board the train and with crowds of spectators and Swanage Railway supporters waving and cheering and lining the route into Swanage, the train pulled into the platform at Swanage station and was met by local dignitaries and Swanage Railway Chairman Mike Whitwam.

The Mayor of Swanage, Councillor Mike Pratt, (left) and Mayor of Wareham, Councillor Malcolm Russell, (right) are interviewed at Swanage.

Railway enthusiast Pete Waterman was at Swanage to greet the arrival of the special excursion and helped to raise funds with a book signing session for his new book A Train is for Life which is available from the Swanage Railway shop.

Also at Swanage was railway enthusiast Pete Waterman who helped to raise funds with a book signing session for his new book A Train is for Life.

The Mayor of Wareham, Councillor Malcolm Russell, (extreme right) addressed the crowds at Swanage. Next to him is Pete Waterman. Also in the group are the Mayor of Swanage, Councillor Mike Pratt, (extreme left) with next to him Swanage Railway Trust Chairman Mike Whitwam. Pete Waterman is also shown chatting with the footplate crew of the newly arrived Tangmere.

Pete made himself at home exploring the Swanage Railway and has published a selection of his photos on his blog page at http://pete.railnuts.com/

Waiting in the headshunt at Swanage station, and seen here next to No. 34067 Tangmere, was West Country class rebuilt Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone which is undergoing testing after recent repairs to wheel bearings at the West Somerset Railway at Williton.

One of the goals of the Swanage Railway is to restore a daily service between Swanage and Wareham to connect with the main line, and is hoped to start around 2013. However, funds are needed to improve the link to the main line which currently is only able to be used for occasional excursions such as these. Full details can be found here with information on how to make a donation to the project.

The special excursion leaves in the late afternoon, hauled by class 37 diesel number 37 706 which had travelled to Swanage at the rear of the Tangmere-hauled train (also seen here at London Victoria on the morning of Saturday 2nd May 2009). Photos John Rowley and Keith Morgan

As the special excursion left to return to London at 16:10 on the Saturday, this time hauled by 37 706, Tangmere remained in Swanage to provide the power for the next excursion scheduled to run on 4th May 2009.

34067 Tangmere paired with 34070 Manston, hauling the 16:35 service train to Norden via Harman's Cross and Corfe Castle. Photo John Rowley

At 16:35 on 2nd April 2009, history was made again when 34067 Tangmere was paired with 34070 Manston to haul the scheduled service train to Norden via Harman's Cross and Corfe Castle.

As Tangmere and its tender is too long for the Swanage turntable without being uncoupled, Tangmere will be serviced and turned at Eastleigh, and will travel 'light engine' there and back before Monday 4th May to allow it to haul the first passenger carrying steam-hauled train from Swanage onto the main line at Wareham since 1967.