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

Interim News Item - dated 6th May 2009
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Photos from Swanage Railway supporters, Peter Milford, Dave Cook, Mike Brown and Tom Bayford as acknowledged on the individual photographs.

To view our first item on the historic Bank Holiday Weekend London trains on 2nd May 2009, please follow this link. A full photo report will follow.

Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34067 Tangmere crosses the Studland Road viaduct on its historic journey to London from Swanage near Corfe Castle on 4th May 2009. Photo courtesy Peter Milford.

History was made on Monday 4 May 2009 when a special train hauled by a huge 1940s express steam locomotive named after a Battle of Britain airfield ran between Swanage and London for the first time since the summer of 1967.

Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34067 Tangmere arrived onto the Swanage railway on Saturday 2nd May when it hauled the first steam train since 1967 from the main line at Wareham to Swanage. See report here

Tangmere remained in Swanage as the train returned to London on Saturday 2nd May, to be available to haul a special service on Bank Holiday Monday, 4th May. This service would be the first steam hauled passenger carrying service from Swanage onto the main line at Wareham since 1967.

Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34067 Tangmere light engine at Sway on 3rd May 2009. Photo courtesy Peter Milford.

As Tangmere and its tender is too long for the Swanage turntable without being uncoupled, Tangmere was serviced and turned at Eastleigh, and travelled 'light engine' there and back.

This was the first steam light engine move on the Bournemouth line since 1967.

Class 47 diesel, number 47 425 arrives from the main line with the London to Swanage special service on 4th May 2009. Photo courtesy Peter Milford.

This manouvre allowed the locomotive to face in the right direction to haul the historic first passenger carrying steam-hauled train from Swanage onto the main line. The train had arrived earlier in the day hauled by a mighty class 47 diesel, number 47 425.

Class 47 diesel, number 47 425 arrives from the main line on 4th May 2009, and passes Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34070 Manston with a service train at Corfe Castle station. Photos courtesy Dave Cook.

Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34067 Tangmere passes under the Afflington bridge on 3rd May 2009 on its return to Swanage as the 'tail' to the service train headed by 80078. Also seen alongside classmate number 34070 Manston at Swanage as Manston departs with the service train to Norden whilst the support crew prepare 34067 Tangmere for the later London working. Photos courtesy Peter Milford.

Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34067 Tangmere approaches Castle View crossing near Corfe Castle on 4th May 2009 on its historic journey to London from Swanage. Photo courtesy Peter Milford.

Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34067 Tangmere passing Parkstone Station on 4th May 2009. Photos courtesy Dave Cook.

Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34067 Tangmere arriving into Poole on 4th May 2009 on its historic journey to London from Swanage. Photo courtesy Mike Brown.

Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34067 Tangmere on the Swanage Railway over the Bank Holiday weekend. Photos courtesy Tom Bayford.

Tom Bayford, who was on crossing duty at Quarr Farm and also further up the line at Norden and Wareham over the historic weekend, has sent us this selection of photos showing Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34067 Tangmere on the Swanage Railway over the Bank Holiday weekend and returning to London via Wareham on the main line.

On the footplate of Battle of Britain class Bullied Pacific number 34067 Tangmere. Photo courtesy Peter Milford.