Super spring spruce- up at Swanage

THESwanageRailway ( SR) has used the enforcedspringandearlysummer closedseason to carry out essential maintenanceandalso give thePurbeck lineaspruceupinpreparation for theday whenpassengers return.

Theworkwas part of the SR’s plans to restart services on July 11, after the Government’s Covid- 19 rules were eased.

During the lockdown, 26 of the railway’s 32 full- time staff were furloughed, with the remaining six‘ holding the fort’ready for the Government’s June 23 announcement thatmany of the restrictions, which prevented services running, were to be lifted.

June also sawvolunteers slowly allowedback to help, while the railway’s £ 360,000 appeal atwww. saveourservice. co. uk which is designed to compensate for the loss of vital income from fares and retail outlets during lockdown, in the face of the uncertainty of the high summer holiday season, is aiming to help balance the books.

Above: Signalling technicianFraserWhite, whojoined the Swanage Railwayasavolunteer in the late- 1970s, carries outmaintenancework on the1898- built Tyer’s single line tabletmachine inSwanage signalboxonJune 4. The machine controls the five- mile single linetoCorfe Castle when the ’ boxatHarman’s Cross station, threemiles to the west, is lockedout. The Tyer’s tabletmachinewas inthe originalSwanage ’ box from 1898 until itwas closed by BR in June, 1967. ANDREWPMWRIGHT

Oneof theSwanage Railway’s tworoad- rail vehicles cuts embankment grass south of CorfeCastlestation on June 9. Thiswas the spotwhere BritishRail’s demolitioncontractors Eagre& Companyof Scunthorpestarted track lifting on the Swanage branch onMonday, July 10, 1972. ANDREWPMWRIGHT