Community Weekend

On Saturday 22nd February and Sunday 23rd February 2025, there will be a rare opportunity to peek behind the scenes of a working heritage railway.  

The Swanage Railway team will be opening the doors on a wide range of areas often not seen or accessible by visitors, making a different and interesting day out for all the family. 

Volunteering at the award-wining heritage railway is a great way of meeting new people and constructively assisting in community projects. 

The railways team would love to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer on the Swanage Railway or find out more.

At each station there will be a welcome desk and a variety of activities to participate in (some are subject to advance booking). There will also be a blue timetable running with discounted standard travel tickets for travellers who live in 1the County of Dorset.

Activities include:

Swanage station -

Guard and Travelling ticket Inspector experience ( pre-booking required maximum 2 people 1 person must be 18). Drive a diesel experience (pre-booking required 18+). Preview the shortlisted entries from our photograph competition for Swanage Railway volunteers and vote on your favourite. 

Herson Works visit - TBC

Bus - TBC

Herston Halt -

Team Herston will be at the halt 10am to 3pm to update visitors on work undertaken over the past few years. It is also home to a heritage 1930s Southern Railway Scenery Van, which has been looked after at the halt since 1997.

Harmans Cross -

Signal box experience (pre-booking required maximum 4 people,  1 person must be 18+). Subject to availability, a 1960s telephone exchange is hoped to be open 11am to 3pm.

Corfe Castle -

Signal box experience (pre-booking required maximum 4 people, 1 person must be 18+). Subject to availability, a 1960s telephone exchange is hoped to be open 10am to 4pm. The down platform will have a Heritage coach and a selection of wagons and engineers vehicles on display, with volunteers happy to discuss the restoration of heritage vehicles and how they are used on the railway. The have a go 'hands on' signal box museum is hoped to be open for the public to try their hand at being a signaller.

Norden -

The Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum will have a narrow gauge diesel train running 11am to 3pm and will have volunteers ready to give you a mini tour of the site starting at Norden station.

Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering should contact the Swanage Railway volunteer recruitment and retention officer Lisa Gravett on 01929 475212 or email iwanttovolunteer@swanagerailway.co.uk. Details about volunteering can also be found at swanagerailwaytrust.org/volunteering.

There will also be a blue timetable running with discounted standard travel train tickets for passengers who live in County of Dorset. Proof of residency will be required on day of travel.