Historic sounds echoed around the Swanage Railway in Dorset as the heritage line celebrated its 140th anniversary with a special day harking back to the Victorian era.
Just as it happened in May 1885 when the Swanage Railway first opened to the public, the Swanage Town Band played on the platform in glorious sunshine to welcome special guests, with some tunes included that would have been familiar to the Victorian public.
Long time volunteer Peter Sills sounded a Victorian horn for the departure of the anniversary service
Victorian horn sounded once again
A brass horn believed to have been blown to sound the departure of the very first locomotive from Swanage to Wareham was sounded once more, by long time volunteer Peter Sills who travelled on the last British Rail passenger train from Swanage to Wareham on New Year’s Day 1972.
And at Corfe Castle station, the original whistle used by James Chapman, station master during the war and into the 1940s, was pressed into service again to send the commemorative train on its way to Norden.
Special dignitaries for the commemoration at Swanage Railway on Saturday 17th May 2025 included Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Michael Dooley, Swanage town mayor Tina Foster, Wareham town mayor Zoe Gover, Major Rob Luke of the Royal Signals, and Swanage Railway Trust patron Sir Philip Williams.
Swanage Town Band played as guests entered the station, just as it had 140 years ago
Many tributes paid to Bill Trite
With many of the guests in Victorian costume, VIPs took their seats in a 1940s Devon Belle Pullman carriage, as the anniversary train was hauled on its way by the 1940s Southern Railway Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific express steam locomotive number 34072 ‘257 Squadron’.
A vital part of the history of Swanage Railway, Bulleid Pacific steam locomotives hauled trains from Waterloo to Corfe Castle and Swanage from the late 1940s until the last steam train from London in 1966, after which diesel trains operated the Swanage branch service until the line closed in 1972.
Many tributes were paid during the day to Bill Trite, a fervent supporter of Swanage Railway who sadly and unexpectedly died at the age of 77 just a week before the line’s 140th anniversary.
Frank Roberts paid tribute to Bill Trite as he welcomed guests to the 140th anniversary
“One of the pioneers of the railway”
Swanage Railway Trust chair Frank Roberts said:
“Bill, although he started volunteering after myself and some others here, was one of the pioneers of the railway and his passing is greatly mourned.
“We also have to remember a lot of other people who have gone before, but the railway is about the people who are here, now, working.
“The railway was opened in 1885 and was closed to mainline trains in 1972. After being rescued our trains have run to Herston Halt since 1984, so you could argue that Swanage Railway in its current guise has been around for about a third of its total history.”
The crew of locomotive number 34072, 257 Squadron, just before the commemorative journey
“Five decades of devoted efforts”
Frank Roberts added:
“We shouldn’t think we are imposters who came after the main people – we are the main people, who drive this railway forward and my heart goes out to everybody who makes this railway tick over, about 400 volunteers.
“This is a celebration of almost five decades of devoted volunteer efforts by those who have battled and campaigned to rebuild the Swanage Railway from nothing in 1976 and develop it into the much loved heritage railway that so many people enjoy today.”
Swanage Railway Trust patron Sir Philip Williams addressed the crowd
“A great boon to the area”
Swanage Railway Trust patron Sir Philip Williams said:
“I would like to pick up on two quotes from speeches made when this railway opened 140 years ago. It was described as a great boon to the area – and how true that is. When the Victorians built, they built to last and I expect they all thought there would still be a railway here in 140 years.
“The chairman of the London and South Western Railway described railways in general as the civilisers of the world, quite a boast to live up to, but I think that is true as well, they are wonderful things.
“The last word I would like to mention is volunteers – we wouldn’t be here today without all those who help out in so many ways to keep the Swanage Railway alive and well, so you may politely clap me when I finish, but you are really clapping every single volunteer and member of staff.”
Special guests included Swanage Railway volunteers Mel Cox, Peter Frost and Nigel Clark
Dedicated volunteers
Swanage Railway volunteers attending the special event were presented with a special commemorative badge designed by Swanage Railway Trust trustee and volunteer Clive Hardy who organised the special 140th anniversary commemoration.
The anniversary commemorations also saw a special cake cut by dedicated volunteers who had each completed more than 50 years of service on the award winning heritage line.
They included Mel Cox, a volunteer driver who served 60 years with British Rail, and Peter Frost and Nigel Clark, volunteers at Swanage Railway since the first day of restoration work in February 1976 and who were both on the footplate for the centenary specials in 1985.
Many guests dressed up in Victorian costume to give the day a special feeling
“A great camaraderie”
Peter Frost said:
“Restoring the line was arduous and physical work, and would take 12 or 14 of you to pick up a length of rail but there was a great social element to it as well – it built teamwork, there was a great camaraderie and of course the Red Lion helped, and then the Royal Oak, and later the Greyhound.
“It was a long haul, and political battles were rife in those days to get lease agreements, fighting the Corfe bypass issue, we overcame all of those extremely adversary early days and never thought that we would fail.
“We had a belief that we would keep on going and eventually connect with the main line, and in the end we did. We were full of enthusiasm and determination to get the job done.”
Peter Frost with a photo of himself on the footplate in 1980
“Extended the tourist season”
Peter added:
“We are hopeful that we have handed over a valuable legacy to the youth of today to enjoy and to boost the economy of Purbeck – it’s been the catalyst of the regeneration of Swanage, which in the 1970s had a tourist industry which was down and out.
“Swanage used to shut down between October and perhaps the week before Easter, but Swanage Railway provided a reason for people to come to the town during autumn and winter to ride the trains.
“The local economy benefitted as the heritage line extended the tourist season, creating extra tourist bucks for the hoteliers and the shops, while the railway also employed apprentices and other staff, giving work opportunities to the town and paying rent to the councils.”
Volunteers at Swanage Railway each with 50 years of service
“Most people thought they were mad”
Mel Cox, who started as a cleaner at Bournemouth in 1964 at the age of 15 in the last days of steam, and drove diesel trains to Swanage in the late 1970s said:
“When the volunteers started to rebuild the line from Swanage in 1976, which was at that time abandoned and without even a track, most people thought they were mad and would never do it – including me.
“Now I’m a volunteer driver on the Swanage Railway which I consider a privilege. I would never have been able to do it without the hard work and determination of generations of volunteers going back almost 50 years.”
A special welcome for the locomotive when she reached Norden station
“Working towards a shared goal”
Nigel Clark said:
“When we started to rebuild the Swanage Railway at a disused Swanage station almost 50 years ago, were were young and determined with a strong sense of camaraderie, friendship and working towards a shared goal.
“It’s sad to think of the good friends we have lost over the years who have not lived to enjoy today’s Swanage Railway.”
Gillian Humphries with her husband Nigel (second from right) and volunteers at Corfe Castle station, with the whistle her grandfather used while station master there
Corfe Castle station master and Gillian Humphries’ grandfather James Chapman with his two granddaughters Gillian (left) and Valerie (right), Gillian’s cousin, outside Station House at Corfe Castle
“I was born at Station House”
Gillian Humphries, whose grandfather James Chapman was station master at Corfe Castle during World War Two, said:
“I was born at Station House here at Corfe Castle station and have wonderful memories of the railway which has now been resurrected in such an amazing way.
“We were able to save my grandfather’s original whistle that was used to okay the train to move off when he passed on. My grandmother looked after it and then it was passed down to us for safekeeping – I am so proud that it is being used again on this historic occasion.”
Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Michael Dooley and fireman Andrew Hannaford
Fare in 1885 was 11 pence
When the Swanage branch line opened in May, 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 new Victorian railway was an historic 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 day trip destination.
Swanage Railway’s 140th anniversary comes in the year of Rail 200 – a national celebration, by heritage railways and the national railway system, marking the 200th anniversary of the railways.
Mayors of Wareham, Zoe Gover, and Swanage, Tina Foster, were among honoured guests on the day
A bumper crowd attended the anniversary event in perfect weather conditions
Swanage Railway volunteers at Swanage station for the 140th anniversary
Further information
Follow Swanage Railway in its 140th year on its website
