A weekend dedicated to the local community is being organised by Swanage Railway in Dorset to encourage people to come along and find out what goes on behind the scenes.
The two day special event is taking place at the end of the school half term holiday between 10 am and 4 pm on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February 2025, with lots of opportunities for young people to explore the heritage railway and its stations including Swanage, Herston, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden.
Come and explore the opportunities
Dorset discount
For those living in Dorset, half price standard travel train tickets may be purchased over the Community Weekend.
- Community adult return: £11
- Community child return: £5.50
- Community family return: £30
The tickets can be bought in advance online or on the day at a ticket office for those with proof of Dorset residence.
Drive a diesel for £20
Drive a 1950s diesel shunter
There will also be the opportunity of a number of additional experiences, some that need to be booked and will cost extra, while there’s others on offer that are free and available to those who just turn up.
One of the most exciting is the chance to drive a 1950s heritage diesel shunter at Swanage station for £20. It’s bound to be very popular and will require advance booking.
Other bookable experiences include watching a train guard or an on-train travelling ticket inspector perform their duties, and a behind the scenes tour of the signal boxes at Harman’s Cross or Corfe Castle stations.
The nuts and bolts of the railway’s operation at its engineering works
Tour the engineering works
While many local people are aware of the railway branch line and its stations, there’s less who know about Swanage Railway’s engineering works where countless hours are spent repairing, restoring and polishing the impressive locomotives.
A heritage bus service will operate from Swanage and Norden stations for those who wish to book the tour of the engineering works on the outskirts of Swanage.
Volunteer Celia Harding at Swanage Railway’s museum at Corfe Castle
Experiences
- Drive a diesel shunter: £20 booking recommended
- Join a train guard or an on-train travelling ticket inspector as they perform their job: £7.50 booking recommended (additional train travel ticket purchase required)
- Behind the scenes tour of the signal boxes: £7.50 booking recommended
- Tour the engineering works: £7.50 adult, £5 child (additional train travel ticket purchase required) booking recommended
- Visit 1960s telephone exchanges at Harman’s Cross and Corfe Castle stations: free
- Have a go at signalling at the Corfe Castle museum: free
- Visit Herston Halt station: free
- Sit in a 1940s crane at Corfe Castle station: free
- Meet the restorers of historic carriages at Corfe Castle station: free
- Visit Purbeck Mining Museum and see the narrow gauge diesel trains at Norden: free
Clare Collins, event organiser and volunteer train guard
“Our first Community Weekend last year was incredible”
Event organiser and volunteer train guard Clare Collins said:
“I am so excited to again be throwing open the doors of the Swanage Railway and welcoming the public to see behind the scenes of how one of Dorset’s major tourist attractions is operated and maintained by our dedicated team of staff, most of which are devoted volunteers.
“The atmosphere at our first Community Weekend last year was incredible and it was wonderful that the event was so well supported and prompted so many compliments from the public who attended.
“Volunteering on the Swanage Railway is very fulfilling, it’s a great way of meeting new people while assisting with worthwhile community projects at what has become one of Dorset’s major tourist attractions.”
See a narrow gauge diesel train at Norden’s Purbeck Mining Museum
“Very fulfilling and enjoyable”
Chair of Swanage Railway Trust Frank Roberts added:
“It takes more people to operate, maintain and develop the Swanage Railway than many people realise. I find volunteering on the Swanage Railway very fulfilling and enjoyable while working with a splendid group of talented and committed people of all ages.
“We are delighted to give people across the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset and beyond, the chance to enjoy a behind the scenes view of a very special heritage railway that has been rebuilt since 1976.”
Further information
- Book train tickets and experiences via the Swanage Railway website. Proof of residence must be shown at the ticket office when picking up the tickets
