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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Passenger steam train runs again | Passenger steam train runs again |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A steam train has taken passengers from London to Swanage in Dorset for the first time in over 40 years. | A steam train has taken passengers from London to Swanage in Dorset for the first time in over 40 years. |
| The last steam-hauled passenger train took enthusiasts on a rail tour of the Swanage Railway in 1967. | The last steam-hauled passenger train took enthusiasts on a rail tour of the Swanage Railway in 1967. |
| British Rail shut the Purbeck branch line, from Wareham to Swanage, in 1972 and lifted seven miles of track. | British Rail shut the Purbeck branch line, from Wareham to Swanage, in 1972 and lifted seven miles of track. |
| The line has since been restored by enthusiasts. The steam-hauled train left London Victoria in the morning and reached Swanage early in the afternoon. | |
| 'Against the odds' | 'Against the odds' |
| 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. |
| Mike Whitwam, Swanage Railway Trust chairman, said: "The first steam trains between London and Swanage is something that several generations of determined Swanage Railway volunteers have been working towards, against all the odds, for almost 40 years." | Mike Whitwam, Swanage Railway Trust chairman, said: "The first steam trains between London and Swanage is something that several generations of determined Swanage Railway volunteers have been working towards, against all the odds, for almost 40 years." |
| Swanage Railway Trust has spent more than 30 years reviving the line | Swanage Railway Trust has spent more than 30 years reviving the line |
| History was also made on 1 April when the first passenger through train since 1972, called the Purbeck Pioneer, went from London to Swanage. | History was also made on 1 April when the first passenger through train since 1972, called the Purbeck Pioneer, went from London to Swanage. |
| Trains have been running on parts of the preserved line for some years but these are the first complete through services. | Trains have been running on parts of the preserved line for some years but these are the first complete through services. |
| After Saturday's service arrived at Swanage, a diesel engine was set to take the train back to London Victoria. | |
| On Bank Holiday Monday, a diesel engine will take the service from London Waterloo to Swanage, where the steam engine will then take the train back to Waterloo. | On Bank Holiday Monday, a diesel engine will take the service from London Waterloo to Swanage, where the steam engine will then take the train back to Waterloo. |
| A 1940s-built Southern Railway Bulleid Pacific steam locomotive, named Tangmere after the West Sussex Battle of Britain airfield, was used to pull the 12-coach Dorset Coast Express train. | A 1940s-built Southern Railway Bulleid Pacific steam locomotive, named Tangmere after the West Sussex Battle of Britain airfield, was used to pull the 12-coach Dorset Coast Express train. |