HORN BLOWN WHEN FIRST TRAIN LEFT SWANAGE IN 1885TO BE SOUNDED ON 140th ANNIVERSARY

Story and photographs by Andrew P.M. Wright,

Swanage Railway official photographer and press officer.

An historic Victorian brass horn reputed to have been blown to mark the departure of the first passenger train from Swanage to Corfe Castle and Wareham in May, 1885, is to be sounded again in a 140 th anniversary ceremony at Swanage station.

The public is being invited to attend the special event – dressing in Victorian costume if they wish – on Saturday, 17 May, 2025, from 1pm. 

The Swanage Railway's special anniversary comes in the year of Rail 200 - a national celebration, by both heritage railways and the national railway system, marking the 200th anniversary of the railways; celebrating the railways past, present and future in England, Scotland, Wales as well as on the Isle of Man.

The Swanage Town Band will be playing on the platform to welcome dignitaries and other guests – just as their predecessors did in May, 1885 – including the Lord- Lieutenant of Dorset Michael Dooley, who is His Majesty the King’s representative in the county, the Mayor of Swanage Tina Foster as well as Swanage Railway Trust patron Sir Philip Williams.

After speeches from Swanage Railway Trust chair Frank Roberts and dignitaries, the London and South Western Railway brass horn will be blown at Swanage station to mark the departure at 2pm of a special 140 th anniversary steam train bound for Herston Halt, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden.

With the dignitaries and other guests riding in a 1940s ‘Devon Belle’ Pullman observation carriage, it is anticipated that the special train will be hauled by the Swanage Railway Trust’s unique Victorian T3 class steam locomotive No. 563 which was built at Nine Elms, in London, during 1893. The T3s hauled trains from London to Corfe Castle and Swanage from the 1890s to the 1930s.

Public admission to the 140 th anniversary ceremony at Swanage station is free but members of the public wishing to travel on the special steam train departing Swanage at 2pm will need to purchase travel tickets.

Swanage Railway volunteers attending the special 140 th anniversary ceremony – as well as those volunteers on duty on the heritage line on Saturday, 17 May, 2025 – will be presented with a special commemorative badge designed by Swanage Railway Trust director and volunteer Clive Hardy who is organising the special event.

Clive said: “The event marking the 140 th anniversary of the Swanage Railway’s opening will reflect the celebrations that accompanied the arrival in Swanage of a special train that brought the Swanage Railway Company’s directors from London to the seaside town on Saturday, 16 May, 1885, as well as the departure of the first public passenger train from Swanage to Corfe Castle and the main line at Wareham on Wednesday, 20 May, 1885.

“In 1885, the new 25-minute train journey from Swanage to Wareham cost eleven pence compared with a traditional horse and carriage journey taking one and a half hours at a ticket price of two shillings and sixpence.

“The opening of the Swanage branch line was historic and a seismic change for the Isle of Purbeck – turning Swanage from a fishing and quarrying town into a popular seaside resort and the picturesque village of Corfe Castle into a desirable day-trip destination,” added Clive who lives in Poole and has been a dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer for eleven years.

Swanage Railway Trust chair Frank Roberts said: "It's apt the 140th anniversary of the Swanage branch line's opening in May, 1885, falls in the year of the national Rail 200 celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the UK's railways - celebrating the UK's railways past, present and future.

“We are delighted that His Majesty the King’s representative in Dorset – the Lord- Lieutenant Michael Dooley – as well as the Mayor of Swanage Tina Foster, Swanage Railway Trust patron Sir Philip Williams and other guests from the Isle of Purbeck community are able to join us for what will be a very special celebration marking the 140 th anniversary of the first train leaving Swanage for Corfe Castle and the main line at Wareham in May, 1885.

“The blowing of the London and South Western Railway brass horn 140 years after it was sounded at Swanage station to mark the departure of that first passenger train in 1885 will have great historical resonance and be a stirring link with the past,” added Frank who has been a dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer for more than 40 years.

Swanage Railway Company chair Gavin Johns explained: “It is important to mark the 140 th anniversary of the Swanage Railway’s opening because the branch line nearly disappeared forever after British Rail ran the last train from Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage in 1972 and lifted most of the tracks.

“Since 1976, several generations of dedicated volunteers have worked tirelessly and selflessly to relay the tracks and rebuild the infrastructure required to operate, develop and link to the national railway network the vibrant community heritage railway that we enjoy today,” added Gavin who is a volunteer signalman on the Isle of Purbeck line.

It was in 2010 that the Victorian London and South Western Railway brass horn was donated to the Swanage Railway Trust’s museum housed in the restored goods shed at Corfe Castle 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 [email protected]. Details about volunteering can also be found at swanagerailwaytrust.org/volunteering.