Swanage Railway, Corfe Castle Station Before Restoration 1988-1989

From the Archives....
Includes a stroll up the old track bed to the site of what is now Norden park & ride.
Everything very overgrown back then and hard to imagine how it used to look.

[@stuartward2212]

This brings back so many memories- thank you for uploading it. I was the one who lead the small team who restored the signalbox and all the signalling here. 1989 was the year I joined the project. I spent many hours in that little signalbox getting it all back in order, putting arms on the signals and digging in a quarter of a mile of point rodding. I went on to become signalman at Corfe Castle, actually using the equipment I restored to signal trains once more. I was there for the arrival of the first passenger train and I was moved to tears. All those that had worked so hard usually unpaid for so many years to bring it all back. The time we nearly lost it all. Those that were there to witness the moment, and those who sadly never saw it. They said our funfair railway would never reach Corfe Castle- not this century, nor the next. Just look at it now!

[@RailFlicks]

Those that enjoy the station today certainly have a huge debt of gratitude to all of you involved in the project. Thank you all so much for all you have done. I've long wished to publish this film, but it's had to wait until retirement to find enough time to digitise my collection of VHS tapes. Quite a process in itself to locate, copy, trim off the over-scan regions, HIFI sound or not, tracking adjustments, head cleaning etc. and then to edit something together. Your comment makes it all worth while, and I'm pleased it's brought back happy memories for you. There's still more to come from that collection, when I can get round to doing it.

[@westhavengwr4613]

As Commercial Manager at the time it was so pleasing to see what was achieved.

[@richardchadwick4028]

Nice one 👍

[@juleshathaway3894]

In August 1972 my dad and me walked down from the road bridge to Scotland Heath to Corfe station at the time the contractors were removing the track. The narrow gauge clay line had finished up by that pint and there were a couple of wagons sitting on Skew Arch Bridge. I went up and pushed them about a bit and dad took a photo of me doing so. I took home a rail key as a souvenir. In 1979 I started volunteering there for the next five years. Still have many friends there from the early years.

[@roysimmons3549]

Restoration great job. Visited late seventies. Beeching vandalism of perfectly good railway as at many other places.

[@juleshathaway3894]

Beeching didn’t close this branch, it was not included in his report of 1963, it was later that the Govt announced in 1967 it would close and the last train ran in January 1972. Can’t blame Beeching for this one.

[@Beatlefan67]

We were there last week (June 2024) for the Bullied event. Every member of the Swanage Railway can be proud of what has been achieved and what they continue to achieve. Love it.

[@mauricecoffey3162]

It is astonishing what has been achieved here. Everything has been restored.

[@RailFlicks]

It was in a pretty bad state wasn't it! The station building survived well because of the letting out which meant maintenance had to be maintained. If my memory serves correctly, it wasn't long before trains were able to re-enter the station, even without the full signalling re-instated. It took much longer to get that working again with a brand new signal box, and sourcing a suitable footbridge. Also all the little details of running in boards, signage, platform seats, grounds and flowers takes a lot of dedication from many people over a much longer period of time. But what a triumph this has been!! Let's hope SR thrives well, so that this dereliction never happens again.

[@lesliehayward7160]

@@RailFlicks I was a director of Eastpoint Ltd. who leased the station prior to full restoration. Great film, but a pity you could not include the state before we moved in, with smashed & boarded windows and the black paint on the woodwork! (I'm also a life member of SR).

[@RailFlicks]

Don't suppose you've got any pictures of it in that state at all? Could be useful for a re-edit! I was grateful to the staff member who showed me round the place, even the tiny signal frame. Thanks for your comment. 👍

[@lesliehayward7160]

@@RailFlicks Yes, I do have a few. Hit me with an email address and I will copy & send.

[@Sam_Green____4114]

I remember it like this in the 80s ,with an empty trackbed ! I moved to Bournemouth about 88 !! One of my first outings in the local area was to the Purbecks and Corfe Castle ! I never believed the railway would return when I saw the empty trackbed and the derelict station ! I though the task was too colossal !The Swanage railway were so lucky ! I understand there were plans to build a Corfe Castle by-pass along the old track bed !

[@Phil-oj5nr]

When we were kids in Bournemouth, Swanage and Corfe Castle were our go-to place for days at the seaside or countryside. Bournemouth pier to Swanage on Cousins paddle steamer, or by rail from either Central or West stations. Visited the resurrected line in 2005, 2010 and 2014, and took in all the sites around remembering days gone by. A magnificent effort by all involved over the many decades! Now semi-retired in Picton, South Island, New Zealand.

[@ianhosier4042]

I didnt realise that line had been reduced to such utter desolation. Beeching certainly did a lot of damage but its great everytime a line is restored to life again.

[@RailFlicks]

It certainly is. I've just heard news that Shillingstone station has had their planning permission granted for an extension of their short line. We'll be making a short film about this soon. 👍

[@juleshathaway3894]

Beeching didn’t close this branch, wasn’t mentioned in his 1963 report. The Government announced in 1967 it was unprofitable and would close and did so in January 1972.

[@peterjones3557]

What a tremendous and wonderful effort to restore this beautiful railway!

[@Han-wh5ie]

Gefeliciteerd met de prachtige resultaat !

[@grizbeeknowles5510]

I visited in 1974 also have a lot of photos taken of the Swanage station and sheds back then before the preservation started.

[@RailFlicks]

SR might be interested in those photos if you're willing to share them? Thanks for your comment! 👍

[@angelsone-five7912]

Fascinating, love old stations.

[@martyn6792]

Fascinating video and well done to get it where it is today

[@likklej8]

Great LSWR buildings and even coach bodies glad they’re restored bow.

[@nigelwilliams7403]

Glorious olde England

[@ejbbur4673]

wow. l remember when Swanage had a dream to restore the station and coefe castle station

[@westhavengwr4613]

This is a wonderful film. Big Country's In a Big Country video showed lots of Corfe Castle pre-restoration too.

[@RailFlicks]

Many Thanks. When I shot it I knew it was going to be a long wait until it became of historical interest!

[@LordTantrums007]

This branch line to Swanage should be part of the national railway network with a frequent train service between Bournemouth and Swanage from early in the morning to late in the evening. BR should never have closed the line.