Prototype Corfe Castle, Swanage Railway

AJC

Western Thunderer
So, last weekend, we went camping in Purbeck with friends and among the many attractions of this part of the world - and extremely handily for our campsite at Harman's Cross - was the Swanage Railway. I've always felt that it's Corfe Castle, rather than Swanage that is the principle attraction of the line once it got that far but I am a medieval historian by profession so I would say that, wouldn't I? Anyway, the railway does afford some magnificent views only possible from the train.

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Equally, the castle affords some attractive views around and about, including the station:

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I remember visiting the station before the line reopened and it was something of a time warp, a character, I am pleased to say, has been retained, more or less by the preservation operator. Footbridge and signal box have been added without overpowering the scene and, while there is a certain amount of stock about the place, it doesn't detract from the appearance of the place (in my view).

One of the factors is quite unusual. The coal yard at Corfe Castle survived the closure of the railway and - amazingly - is still there and still operational so I make no apologies for including some pictures here.

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Note the hopper for filling sacks, the pens with different grades of coal, the relatively limited amount of weeds and, just in shot, the coalman's lorry - a small, cheapish motor rather than something big and posh that a 'proper' haulier might use. From the footbridge (ex-Wimbledon-Croydon line), we can see how the yard fits into the preservation operation with spare coaches, including a Bulleid vehicle - these pictures are actually taken from the railways' other in service Bulleid coach - stabled (actually in use, with the 350, for what looked like operational training for young volunteers). The wagons about the place are nicely presented, if not exactly in the same condition they might have been in BR service.

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Well, except this BR-built pipe, which is clearly fulfilling exactly the kind of engineer's use that ensured its survival.

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Note that the - now overgrown - sheds behind the coal loader have been present since at least the late '50s. Not sure what they were for. I found the whole thing rather enchanting.

Adam
 
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AJC

Western Thunderer
The other thing I should have mentioned - and that I had never managed to see for myself when I've been there - was this remarkable piece of industrial archaeology that resides in Corfe Castle goods' shed. The sole surviving loco constructed by the Birmingham firm of Bellis and Seekings and the sole surviving loco from the Furzebrook Railway, a veteran of 1874.

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In service, the most interesting and unusual feature, the external Stephenson's valvegear was fully concealed in skirts - as were the outside frames. I've always rather fancied making a model of this - Ivo Peters took some hugely evocative pictures of the tramway back in the '50s - but to do it justice, I think it would have to be in a larger scale (it's the kind of thing that Peter Kazer would do brilliantly - see his Tal-y-llyn tanks in the current MRJ). That motion in full. Next time I go, I'm taking a tape measure...

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Adam
 
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Heather Kay

Western Thunderer
I do like the Swanage line. It's nicely presented, with plenty to see at each end of the line. Best Beloved and I spent a lovely day trundling back and forth last year, and when we are next in the area we will do it again.
 
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