Swanage Railway prepared for its Christmas Steam and Lights service with a special trip for railway volunteers and invited guests from the local community.
The colourful and undoubtedly steamy one hour experience through the Dorset countryside, starts for paying visitors on Saturday 3rd December and runs on selected dates until Friday 23rd December 2022.
Volunteers and guests gather at Swanage station to board the 5.15 pm Steam and Lights service
Special trip to thank railway volunteers
The dress rehearsal on Thursday 1st December 2022 to ensure everything was working as expected, saw two trips departing Swanage station at 5.15 pm and 7.15 pm.
On board were those who’ve worked as volunteers on the railway over the last year along with people from the local community invited to enjoy the experience.
The stations on the line are as fesively decorated as the train
Festively decorated steam-heated carriages
This year there’s refreshed lighting displays at stations, as well as at other locations along the five and a half mile heritage line from Swanage via Corfe Castle to Norden.
The interiors of the steam-heated carriages are festively decorated for the journey with the on-board music synchronised with the lineside lighting displays, which can be viewed from the carriage windows.
The 1920s Southern Railway U class No. 31806 locomotive which once hauled tourist trains from Basingstoke down to Corfe Castle and Swanage in the 1950s
“It takes a lot of detailed planning and commitment to organise”
Chair of Swanage Railway Company Robert Patterson said:
“We’re very excited to be running the third year of our popular festive Steam and Lights trains in the run-up to Christmas.
“It takes a lot of detailed planning and commitment to organise and run. I would like to thank the many dedicated volunteers whose work enables those trains to happen – bringing festive cheer to both children and adults alike at this special time of year.”
Seats on the Steam and Lights trains must be booked in advance and can only be joined at Swanage station, where the trains start and end their journeys.
There’s even more Christmas lights in Station Road just beyond the platform
Further information
- To book on Swanage Railway’s steam and lights trains – as well as the heritage line’s festive Christmas lunch and Christmas Belle Pullman observation carriage services, go to its website
- Swanage Railway welcomes new volunteers and anyone interested in finding out more should contact the Swanage Railway volunteer recruitment and retention office on 01929 408466 or email iwanttovolunteer@swanagerailway.co.uk
