Will the Swanage Railway go main line with trains into Wareham in 2022?

FOLLOWING the DMU specials run on January 1-3 to mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Swanage branch (as reported in News, pages 20-21), the Swanage Railway has been exploring the possibility of running services into Wareham this year.

“We are waiting for South West Trains to finalise its new timetable before a connecting service can be established,” said the heritage line’s locomotive carriage and wagon superintendent, James Cox.

Signs were that the DMU will play a major role by being tabled to complete the link later this year, possibly from Easter.

The Railway Touring Company will be using Swanage-based SR U class 2-6-0 No. 31806 to head this summer’s ‘Dorset Coast Express’ back from Weymouth as far as Southampton. The rebuilt River tank working through Dorset will serve as a reminder of Southern steam days.

The Eastleigh Group’s main line Class 33 No. 6515, which is presently undergoing body repairs with Arlington inside the former Southern Railway works, is expected to return to Swanage imminently.