Swanage Branch

The Swanage Branch

Courtesy Wikipedia The Swanage Railway was originally a branch line from near Wareham (Worgret Junction) to Swanage opened in 1885. The independent company which built it was amalgamated with the larger L. S & W.R. in 1886.
The passenger service was withdrawn in 1972, leaving a residual freight service over part of the line handling mineral traffic. After the passenger closure, a heritage railway group revived part of the line; it too used the name Swanage Railway and now operates a 6-mile (9.7 km) line which follows the route of the former line fromNorden , via Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross and Herston Halt, to Swanage. Motala and Worgret Junction[ On 8th September 2002, a brand new Virgin Trains Class 220 'Voyager' diesel multiple unit no. 220018, became the first mainline train to use the new temporary track, when it made a special journey to Swanage, where it was named Dorset Voyager. On 10th May 2007, the permanent connection with Network Rail was used for the first time, allowing four ex-BR diesel locomotives running from Eastleigh Works to participate in the diesel gala and beer festival. They were later accompanied by a preserved four-carriage electric 4VEP British Rail Class 423 unit provided by South West Trains, the first such working since the summer of 1972.
The first public passenger service between Wareham and Swanage since 1972 was "The Purbeck Pioneer", a 12-coach diesel-hauled railtour from London Victoria on 1st April 2009, with a repeat service on 2nd April 2009. The first public passenger-carrying steam service since 1967 was "The Dorset Coast Express" from London Victoria on Saturday 2nd May 2009, which was hauled by a Southern Railway 'Battle of Britain' class Bulleid Pacific locomotive number 34067 Tangmere. The first Swanage-to-Wareham steam service since 1967 was "The Royal Wessex" on Monday 4 May 2009, hauled by 34067 Tangmere.

Please note :- There are pictures of Wareham station and Swanage branch trains in our Dorchester to Bournemouth Section.

Worgret Junction

Approx height above sea level - from Google - 60'

Worgret Junction. Taken from a train leaving the Swanage Branch and joining the main line on the 22nd March 1966. Copyright Geoff Matthews

Worgret Junction From an up Swanage branch train at Worgret Junction the fireman has just put the token on the cows horn. 22nd March 1966 Copyright Geoff Matthews

In contrast with the above pictures taken 51 years ago here is a shot from a Swanage bound train leaving the main line at Worgret Junction. 2nd September 2017. Copyright Kevin Jenkin

Motala Furzebrook (Approx 2.5 miles from Worgret Jct)

Approx height above sea level - from Google - 120'

Norden Level Crossing

Norden Gate Level Crossing box. 2nd September 2017. Copyright Kevin Jenkin

Norden Park and Ride (Five and a half miles from Swanage) (Approx 3.5 Miles from Worgret Jct)

Approx height above sea level - from Google - 60'

Norden Station on the 26th May 2001 Copyright Roger Winnen

Norden Station on the 26th May 2001 (There appears to be something needing attention) Copyright Roger Winnen

Norden 80104 at Norden Station. 26th May 2001 Copyright Roger Winnen (Members will remember the late Jill Green, a keen photographer sadly missed - she is the lady with the white cardigan)

Norden station Running around its train at Norden. 26th May 2001 Copyright Roger Winnen

Between Norton and Corfe Castle

A smashing study by John Cornelius, Copyright.

M7 30059 near Corfe Castle 18th September 1950. Image from Mick Hymans Copyright

That famous view pre closure. Standard 4 tank approaching Corfe Castle from Wareham. 13th July 1966 Copyright Geoff Matthews

The train mentioned above runs into Corfe Castle station. 13th July 1966. Copyright Geoff Matthews

Corfe Castle 6 and a quarter miles from Wareham ( Five miles from Swanage)

Approx height above sea level - from Google - 73'

On the 12th June 1982 the Cornwall Railway Society made a minibus visit to Corfe Castle.

The charming village of Corfe Castle. A view from Corfe Castle. 12th June 1982 Copyright Roger Winnen

Corfe Castle Station. 12th June 1982 Copyright Roger Winnen

Corfe Castle Station awaiting restoration. 12th June 1982 Copyright Roger Winnen

Corfe Castle Station awaiting restoration. Members of the CRS minibus party explore the abandoned station. 12th June 1982 Copyright Roger Winnen Copyright Roger Winnen

Corfe Castle Station already looking tidier.. 13th May 1989 Copyright Roger Winnen

At the Wareham end of the up platform a symbolic piece of track has been laid - complete with third rail!!! The CRS party explore the trackbed walking past a signalpost the scrap men forgot!!. 13th May 1989 Copyright Roger Winnen

890513q Corfe Castle Station buildings, and, in the distance, the symbolic piece of track.. 13th May 1989 Copyright Roger Winnen

This wonderful shot includes Corfe Castle station and yards and of course Corfe Castle itself. 22nd March 1966. Copyright Geoff Matthews

Looking towards Corfe Castle with the abandoned trackbed. 12th June 1982 Copyright Roger Winnen

On the LCGB’s The Dorset Coast Express run on 7/5/67, Bulleid original West Country pacific no. 34023 Blackmore Vale minus nameplates made two trips from Wareham to Swanage and is seen here having just left Corfe Castle behind. Each trip had a different engine topping and tailing but I don't know which loco is at the back of this one. [Mike Morant collection]

Steam departing from Corfe Castle heading for Norden. vVewed from Corfe Castle. 26th June 2001 Copyright Roger Winnen

Steam arriving from Norden heading for Swanage. 26th June 2001 Copyright Roger Winnen

On The Swanage Railway, Drummond M7 class 0-4-4T no. 30053 arrives at Corfe Castle from Norden on 16/8/2008. [Mike Morant]

On The Swanage Railway, BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T no. 80078 approaches Corfe Castle from Norden on 16/8/2008. [Mike Morant]

30053 at Corfe Castle 16th October 2015 Copyright John Ball

On the occasion of a Wareham - Swanage shuttle. Copyright John Cornelius

Harman's Cross Three miles from Swanage

Approx height above sea level - from Google - 160'

Harmans Cross Station. 26th May 2001 Copyright Roger Winnen

Harmans Cross - the signalbox.. 26th June 2001 Copyright Roger Winnen

80078 passing 80104 at Harmans Cross. 26th May 2001 Copyright Roger Winnen

Inside the box at Harmans Cross. 26th May 2001. Copyright Roger Winnen

80104 at Harmans Cross. 26th June 2001 Copyright Roger Winnen

Herston Halt Half a mile from Swanage

Approx height above sea level - from Google - 40'

Courtesy Wilkipedia :- The original line did not have a station at Herston Halt, and the current station was opened at Easter 1984 by the Swanage Railway as a temporary terminus for the line. The station opened as a simple wooden platform construction which took two coaches, which has now been dismantled and replaced with a concrete platform recovered from Woodside ** railway station. The station reopened on Good Friday 2009 – 25 years after the original opening.N.B. ** The station at Woodside near Croydon closed in 1997 in preparation for the construction of Tramlink. The dismantled platform was donated to the Swanage Railway and reassembled in 2009 as Herston Halt.

Herston Halt on the 13th May 1989. The wooden platform was to be replaced by concrete thirty years later. Copyright Roger Winnen

Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 46443 running into Herston Halt from the Harmons Cross direction. 13th May 1989 Copyright Roger Winnen

Herston Halt on the 13th May 1989 46443 arrives at Herston. Copyright Roger Winnen

Midland Railway 1377 Class 41708 runs around at Herston in the early 1990's. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Swanage 11 and a quarter miles from Wareham

Approx height above sea level - from Google - 20'

Former LSWR Drummond M7 0-4-4T no. 30111 in the bay platform at Swanage on 21/5/56. No. 30111 was a Bournemouth allocated engine from nationalisation until withdrawal in January 1964. [Mike Morant collection]

Drummond M7 class 0-4-4T no. 30058 piloting an unidentified Maunsell Mogul at Swanage. [Mike Morant collection]

Mickey Mouse 41238 running around Prior to May 65. Copyright Martin Scane

Ivatt 'Mickey Mouse' 2MT 2-6-2T no. 41301 is about to become the pilot engine whilst classmate no. 41284 is the train engine for the return leg from Swanage, as seen here, to Wareham whilst in charge of the LCGB’s Dorset Belle Rail Tour on 27/2/66. [Mike Morant collection]

Ivatt Mickey Mouse 2MT 2-6-2T seemingly masquerading as a horticulturist at Swanage's delightful terminus probably in July 1966. 41224 got around a bit during its relatively short working life and had been allocated to Bangor, Rhyl, Warrington, Monument Lane, Walsall, Watford, Bedford, Wellingborough, Eastleigh , Barnstaple Junction, Exmouth Junction, Nine Elms and finally Bournemouth in November 1964 where she remained until withdrawal at the end of SR steam operations in July 1967. That's 13 sheds in 19 years [Mike Morant collection]

80085 running round with extra coach. 22nd March 1966 Copyright Geoff Matthews

This engine appears to be 41270 running round at Swanage.on 22nd March 1966 This being a loco of Bournemouth Shed. Many thanks to Chris Harvey for indentification of this loco. Copyright Geoff Matthews

A locoshed view from a departing train leaving Swanage. on the 24th March 1965 Copyright Geoff Matthews

The Swanage Railway took over Swanage Station in 1975, and set about relaying tracks around the station and engine shed area. The line to Herston was laid later, and at Easter 1984 Herston Halt station opened. By 1985, there was a regular service of steam trains between Swanage and Herston Halt. Herston Halt is now a request stop following the opening of the line through to Corfe Castle and Norden.

Early days of the Swanage Railway. 29th July 1980 Copyright Roger Winnen N.B. No run round loop!

Swanage Station. 12th June 1986 Copyright Roger Winnen

Swanage in the early years 1991/2

Swanage 41708 runs in. Copyright Sid Sponheimer 1991.2

Plenty of stock, not a lot of room. Swanage 1991/2. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Swanage Stock - little and large! Copyright Sid Sponheimer 1991.2

Swanage 30075 resting Copyright Sid Sponheimer 1991.2

30053 being spruced up after coaling and water provision. Copyright Sid Sponheimer 1991.2

30053 at Swanage 1991/92. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

The caption is 'Sad Sam'. One hopes our Sid was happy? Swanage 1991/92. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Swanage into 2000

CRS member Andrew Allway finds time for refreshment at Swanage. 26th May 2001. Copyright Roger Winnen

80078 Departs Swanage. 26th May 2001 Copyright Roger Winnen

Departure from Swanage. 26th Nay 2001 Copyright Roger Winnen N.B. An interesting collection also in the yard

31806 emerges. 25th October 2015 Copyright David Tozer

31806 25th October 2015 Copyright David Tozer

Devon Belle Observation Car 25th October 2015 Copyright David Tozer 25th October 2015

On the occasion of a Wareham - Swanage shuttle. Copyright John Cornelius

Swanage Diesel Gala 2018
(1) 20007 & 20142 arriving at Corfe Castle with the 11.16 from Swanage to Norden.
(2) D7017 arrives at Corfe Castle with the 11.30 Norden to Swanage.
(3) 73133 & 73136 arrive at Swanage with the 14.50 from Norden. 45041 awaits its next turn while Biffa liveried and newly named 66783 'The Flying Dustman' rests in the sidings after its turn.
(4) 33111 leaves Swanage with the 15.15 to Norden. U-class 2-6-0 Mogul is to the right.
(5) 45041 Royal Tank Regiment awaits departure from Swanage with the 15.46 to Norden. D7017 follows to the sidings.
(6) 50049 Defiance leaves Norden with the 18.25 Corfe Castle to Wareham. Unseen D6515 powers from the rear.

Picture 1 Copyright Clive Smith

Picture 2 Copyright Clive Smith

Picture 3 Copyright Clive Smith

Picture 4 Copyright Clive Smith

Picture 5 Copyright Clive Smith

Picture 6 Copyright Clive Smith

Visit to the Swanage Branch
25th October 2022
James Bown

I was at the Swanage Railway today,25/10/22 and pictured the famous Flying Scotsman which celebrates its centenary in February next year, also working today was the U class loco of 1928, 31806, originally built as a 2-6-4 tank engine named River Torridge but rebuilt following an accident which resulted in the class being redesigned. Please use these pics if you would like to. Best wishes James Bown

60103 Flying Scotsman at Swanage. 25th October 2022. Copyright James Bown.