Could Swanage run steam into Wareham this year?

The Swanage Railway is exploring the possibility of running steam into Wareham this year, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the end of Southern steam. Swanage Railway Trust Secretary Mark Woolley says: “With this being the 50th anniversary of the end of Southern steam, we are looking into the possibility of operating steam at some point to Wareham, but I’m afraid I can’t confirm anything at present.” June 18 marks 50 years since the last steam-hauled train over the branch in BR days, when ‘Battle of Britain’ No. 34089 602 Squadron and BR Standard ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 80146 hauled the RCTS ‘Farewell to Southern Steam’ railtour. Resident ‘Standard Four’ tank No. 80104 is currently running as No. 80146 to mark the occasion. The line currently has no main line certified locomotives of its own, but under-overhaul ‘N’ class No. 31874 is being completed to main line standard, thanks to a £75,000 Department of Transport grant to fit the required TPWS, AWS, GSM-R and OTMR equipment. Regardless of whether steam happens this year or not, locomotives will haul the Swanage Railway’s first timetabled services into Wareham this summer, albeit diesels. It had been hoped to commence a six-day trial service into the main line station with the railway’s own Class 121 ‘Bubble Car’ and three-coach Class 117 Diesel Multiple Unit (see SR455), but delays in upgrading the vehicles’ wheelsets to main line standard at Eastleigh have forced the ‘Purbeck Line’ to consider using a third party licensed operator to run the trains. Although final details have yet to be confirmed, it is expected that the railway’s first timetabled services over the whole Swanage branch into Wareham will be top-and-tailed by either Class 33s, 37s or 47s. Mr Woolley says: “The delays in completing the wheelset overhaul have resulted in the DMUs being unavailable to use this summer on the new Wareham service. “While this is undeniably disappointing and frustrating, we are optimistic that our ‘Plan B’ of working with a third party licensed main line operator will result in the trial service taking place during the summer. “However, at present we are still finalising the associated contract and a request for the necessary train paths has been submitted to Network Rail under their short-term planning (STP) procedures.”