This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/dorset/7975915.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Historic passenger train returns | Historic passenger train returns |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A passenger train has completed a journey from London to Swanage in Dorset for the first time in 37 years. | |
| The Purbeck Pioneer departed from Victoria station at 0845 BST and arrived just after 1400 BST. | |
| It ran on the Swanage Railway, from Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage. The line was shut in 1972 and has since been restored by enthusiasts. | |
| It is the first passenger service to run on the London to Swanage route since 1 January 1972. | |
| After shutting the Purbeck branch line, British Rail lifted seven miles of track south of Furzebrook that summer. | After shutting the Purbeck branch line, British Rail lifted seven miles of track south of Furzebrook that summer. |
| Second train | Second train |
| Campaigners from the Swanage Railway Trust fought for the line to be rebuilt and watched it grow mile by mile over the years. | Campaigners from the Swanage Railway Trust fought for the line to be rebuilt and watched it grow mile by mile over the years. |
| They said the demand for tickets for the first train had been so big they are running a second train on Thursday. | They said the demand for tickets for the first train had been so big they are running a second train on Thursday. |
| Moyra Cross, 87, was one of the original campaigners and has spent the last 40 years volunteering for Swanage Railway and working in the station shop at Swanage to help raise funds. | Moyra Cross, 87, was one of the original campaigners and has spent the last 40 years volunteering for Swanage Railway and working in the station shop at Swanage to help raise funds. |
| She said: "I am so glad that I have lived long enough to see and enjoy it." | She said: "I am so glad that I have lived long enough to see and enjoy it." |
| Swanage Railway Trust have spent more than 30 years reviving the line | Swanage Railway Trust have spent more than 30 years reviving the line |
| Peter Sills, 51, and his 86-year-old father Frederick, a retired engineer, were among the last 500 passengers to travel from Wareham to Swanage on New Year's Day in 1972. | Peter Sills, 51, and his 86-year-old father Frederick, a retired engineer, were among the last 500 passengers to travel from Wareham to Swanage on New Year's Day in 1972. |
| The pair, from Wareham, were travelling on Wednesday's service from Wareham to Swanage and back. | The pair, from Wareham, were travelling on Wednesday's service from Wareham to Swanage and back. |
| Peter said they would be carrying their last tickets from 1972, which cost 25p for a child and 50p for an adult. | Peter said they would be carrying their last tickets from 1972, which cost 25p for a child and 50p for an adult. |
| He added: "Riding on that last train from Wareham to Swanage as a 15-year-old was a very sad occasion because everyone thought the railway was gone for good. | He added: "Riding on that last train from Wareham to Swanage as a 15-year-old was a very sad occasion because everyone thought the railway was gone for good. |
| "What a contrast from the sadness of 37 years ago because I'm sure this first train from London to Swanage will be the first of many." | "What a contrast from the sadness of 37 years ago because I'm sure this first train from London to Swanage will be the first of many." |
| The 12 carriages are made up of Mark One stock dating from the British Railways steam days of the 1950s and they are powered by a DB Schenker Class 66 diesel locomotive. | |
| The train travelled from London Victoria station via Guildford, Petersfield, Fareham, Southampton, Brockenhurst, Bournemouth and Poole to Wareham. | |
| It then left the London to Weymouth main line at Worgret Junction and ran down the three-mile (5km) previously freight train only line to Furzebrook before running on to the Swanage Railway at Norden. | |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| A look ahead to a historic journey | A look ahead to a historic journey |