Steam header Eddystone

Swanage Railway

Photographs taken on Saturday 1st April 2006
With bright sunshine heralding better weather and the real onset of spring, Swanage Railway hosted a 'Branch Line' weekend with an attempt to recreate the traffic of a branch line in the late 1950s. Three steam locomotives worked both passenger and demonstration goods services and two diesels worked passenger trains - the shape of things to come.

The weekend was a farewell to 34028 'Eddystone' before it departed for a year's service on the North York Moors Railway.

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80078 Std 4MT 80078 stands after arriving at Swanage with a demonstration goods
80078 80078 reverses along the bay at Swanage
80078 80078 takes on water before joining the train
80078 80078 pauses at Harmans Cross
80078 80078 waits at Harmans Cross as a Class 33 arrives from Corfe Castle
80078 80078 starts away from Corfe Castle to Norden
80078 Piloting 6695, 80078 enters Corfe Castle
80078 and 6695 80078 and 6695 double head a service for Swanage at Corfe Castle
8188 D8188 waits at Harmans Cross for the double headed steam service
GWR 0-6-2 No 6695 and 80078The double headed service heads away from Harmans Cross towards Swange
80078 Journeys end - 80078 arrives at Swanage
8188 Class 20 D8188 arrives at Swanage
Last weekend working at Swanage for 34028 'Eddystone'
34028 34028 'Eddystone' waits at Swanage at the head of a demonstration goods train
34028 34028 'Eddystone' waits at Swanage at the head of a demonstration goods train
34028 34028 'Eddystone' waits at Swanage at the head of a demonstration goods train
34028 34028 'Eddystone' gets the goods train under way
34028 34028 'Eddystone' gets the goods train under way
34028 34028 'Eddystone' accelerates the goods train away from Swanage
34028 34028 'Eddystone' emerges beneath the Northbrook Road bridge as it starts away from Swanage.
34028 34028 'Eddystone' as it leaves Swanage at the head of a demonstration goods train
34028 34028 'Eddystone' leaves Swanage at the head of a demonstration goods train
34028 34028 'Eddystone' passes the Northbrook MPD Swanage.
34028 Heading into the evening sunlight, 34028 'Eddystone' hauls the goods away from Swanage
GWR 0-6-2 No 6695 6695 and 80078 come off shed to join their last train for the day.
GWR 0-6-2 No 6695 6695 pilots 80078 away from Swanage with a late afternoon train.
GWR 0-6-2 No 6695 6695 pilots 80078 away from Swanage with a late afternoon train.
Visit the Swanage Railway web-site at: http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk

All images © Copyright Peter J. Milford - no reproduction without permission

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© Peter Milford 2006