Wareham to Swanage Drivers Eye View

[@neilbolger2679]

Great footage . I've sat many of times overlooking Swanage station at Gala's admiring the old school trundling around and I enjoyed it . This video was great . Totally enjoyable

[@philipkersey4892]

So glad it’s connected to main line again

[@davidpoulton2860]

I saw the line derelict in mid 1970s what a achievement re-built from Wareham to Swanage

[@Rorrytherouter]

I remember going to Swange by train as a youngster. We would get the train from Bailey Gate to Poole and then travel to Swanage. This has brought back some great memories thanks very much.

[@corrinecummings3538]

How wonderful. What a stretch of line!

[@michaelhampton9493]

Great vid . Thanks for sharing. Went on the Swanage railway last Sun 30 Aug . Had a great time.

[@kcphillips1000]

Used to have family holiday in Swanage during the 50s and 60s before the closure of the line .In the late 80s I lived there for a few years and often was invited to the workshop to see the Engines being worked on including one that was being built from scratch . I wonder if they ever finished it ?

[@Cheekylittlemonkey81]

Steam trains run along 6 miles of the line from Swanage to Norden just beyond Corfe Castle. Diesel trains have started running 4 days a week, all the way to Wareham this year, hopefully as part of future developments to a regular service.

[@stuartb3663]

Wow i love swanage great holiday place

[@philclennell]

Lovely video and like others I was wondering what the music was - whiffs of Elgar, Brahms and yes Mendelssohn too. Parry's 3rd symphony is well worth a listen, lay back and think of old England and a requiem to those glorious branch lines of old! And dream of singing the Blest Pair of Sirens again before too long!

[@localdriver]

I remember travelling on this line, being hauled by a steam locomotive, going on our summer holidays, in the1950s.

[@billcobbett9259]

Me too, and I remember sitting with my folks outside Corfe Castle on the hill, watching the M7 go past below.

[@Cheekylittlemonkey81]

It has been sent away to be professionally refitted with original seating and doors etc. Should be a valuable asset for the evening service outside peak season

[@petercurtis7375]

My girlfriend and I walked the line between Corfe Castle and Swanage in the summer of 1975 which was derelict at that time, hats off to the Swanage Railway for rebuilding the line and now with a direct link to Wareham. Do you think that Network Rail will ever consider the possibility of reinstating the Swanage platform at Wareham?

[@Cheekylittlemonkey81]

They refreshed all the signalling to include running trains from Swanage a few years ago. It would have added over £1m extra funding to include a dedicated platform and all the additional trackwork needed. It is unlikely to happen next time the signalling is replaced but would be nice.

[@wentonmastermind]

Bless you, saquabote. It was so English - and so well coordinated with the film.

[@johnhealy8513]

Lovely interesting video but could someone not have cleaned the squashed insect off the window or had it paid to travel!

[@peetey249]

Music done my head in

[@rodbowler2170]

Truly amazing video, thankyou! I just hope the railway get the future funding to progress with thier plans with the connection to Wareham soon. When it happens, (not if) it'll be a fantastic croud puller and make some awesome headlines for the preserved/heritage railway fraternity.

[@Cheekylittlemonkey81]

Hi Bruce, will run a trackID and let you know, I have forgotten the name but I think the composer is Mendelson

[@dodgydruid]

Lovely vid, bit saddened not seeing me dad as I always had at Harman's Cross but I think he had retired for the second time by the time this vid was made.

[@Cheekylittlemonkey81]

Keith? I think he was still about with a roll up and a cuppa :)

[@jbbumpkin]

How much the first part of this journey from Wareham to Norden has changed since this video was taken! Signalling directly off the main line, all the embankments done, track layout changes at Furzebrook, no more double catch point at Motala and the proper level crossing at Norden Gates! And ....... the passenger service is starting from Wareham next month!!!

[@marc21091]

The film shows that the Swanage line was built with double-track-width bridges throughout, presumably because of the Act authorising it. It was never likely to become double track. The Swanage Railway seems to have a number of sidings and works yards along its route. Why so many? The old LSWR-SR-BR(S) did not need them all. They seem to be used to park an excessive number of old railway vehicles of dubious value.

[@Cheekylittlemonkey81]

The railway is self contained as far as storage and daily maintenance goes. In BR days it was supplied steam engines from Bournemouth (Swanage shed was an outstation with facilities for only a short/ overnight stay). In later years the diesel units were based and maintained at Eastleigh so there were never major depot facilities on the branch. The only storage was at Swanage and this was quickly turned into a car park, health centre, fire station and latterly the addition of a supermarket. The railway has subsequently cleared out a lot of stock that was never going to be restored or could find a better use elsewhere.

[@marc21091]

@@Cheekylittlemonkey81 Many thanks for explaining - yes, of course, the steam locomotives and then the demus were maintained away from the Swanage branch. It is good to hear that some of the surplus stock has been cleared out - independent railways tend to have a lot of vehicles standing in sidings looking tatty and never get used. (Like the typical house where stuff is stored, takes up space, is never used, decays and is finally thrown out.) Removing one of the sidings or 'yards' that the film reveals would surely simplify the line too.... At Corfe Castle, a world heritage location where the railway is part of the attraction to tourists, and one looks down on it from the hills, keeping unused stuff and material to a minimum would be desirable.

[@scopex2749]

How wonderful i dreamt of this day in my younger years. I only saw desolation and a few miles of track opened when i was going there every year for holidays. Thanks to flippin Beeching killing our rail industry. Luckily by closing this line he allowed a superb Heritage railway to be built up!!

[@pooletrainboy]

it was not Beeching that closed this line

[@michaelhearn3052]

@@pooletrainboy Correct. Beeching left office in May 1965. This line closed in Jan 1972 IIRC. It certainly was not mentioned at all in his 1963 report.

[@phillwainewright4221]

It might have been nice to include the names of the stations you passed through.

[@brucechanter6194]

Like 674168 I have been waiting for a year to learn what the music is. My Wife thinks it sounds like Elgar. It is so frustrating. Please someone HELP.

[@oggy1953]

Fantastic Vid

[@raysmith114]

Nice, but I would have preferred in real time not accelerated and with the sound of the train rather than the music. The music was very good though.

[@Humaneering]

love all these trane vids all the best RobotRuss

[@georgobrowno5857]

Awesome vid

[@Inkyminkyzizwoz]

I take it that this is speeded up?

[@gothbabe0491]

Do you think the connection from Norden to Wareham will be re-opened to active duty? It'd be ideal for passengers to get to Swanage from Wareham, the park and ride could be moved there, and the main line trains could also use the line as well for special services.

[@tacoboyshd9485]

Abbie Turner I rally do want it to reopen as on my holidays I get a train to warhem then we have to drive into to swanage better and quicker way to get to swanage

[@Stubrit]

The Swanage branch was always single track although the LSWR built the bridges between Corfe and Swanage to take two. And the closure had nothing to do with Beeching who did not list the line.

[@philipclark1016]

Stubrit a

[@michaelhearn3052]

Correct. Beeching left office in May 1965. Line closed in Jan 1972 IIRC. The reason why it was closed by BR, was because it lost its grant from the government as it was an unremunerative line but of a social need.

[@johnlunnun9769]

Lovely! What was the music used for this video? Is it something by Elgar?

[@Cheekylittlemonkey81]

I can't remember the track sorry.

[@oldandgrey495]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmbHqquglNWGiLs Hubert Parry - Symphony No.3 in C-major "The English" (1889)

[@alistairkewish651]

I took a brief look at some of the costs of getting reconnected to NR at Worgret Jun. and nearly had a fit.Does a level- crossing really cost half a million?Or is this project pricing itself out of normal existence? Railway preservation enters the lists.Made that much more serious by running diesel units up to Wareham and back. I wonder if the financial returns can justify this financial commitment, even over a ten year 'recovery period'?It makes me wonder how much it costs to travel by bus from Swanage to Wareham ( and beyond)?The mind boggles!Alistair

[@billcobbett9259]

Its all made possible by donations from various bodies. Anything that reduces road congestion is worth doing.

[@456013matt]

no mate! it was always single track to swanage!

[@philhomes233]

Bloody hell, the music is Parry 3 !!!, worth watching just for that.

[@michaelgamble296]

Thank you! I skipped to the comments just to find out! Beautiful Railway and wonderful scenery - especially in the sunshine! Well Done!!

[@674168]

Can you identify the music please.

[@saquabote]

The music is Parry's Third Symphony "The English"

[@MiLLwallpaul231258]

did the fly on windscreen have a ticket

[@phillwainewright4221]

Nice vid ... shame you didn't give the names of the stations it stopped at/passed through.

[@jbbumpkin]

On the SR - Norden P & R, Corfe Castle, Harman`s Cross, Herston Halt and Swanage

[@gothbabe0491]

Hi, PHil. When will the Swanage Railway be estimated to see regular services to and from Wareham? I've ridden the line several times as a child and I was always thinking to myself "Will the connection to the mainline be re-opened again?" It's one thing I have been hoping for since I was very young. Is it likely to be connected within the next few years? Also, does South West Trains still operate that Class 121 Bubblecar unit? Thank you! Abigail :) x

[@justRayEvansopinion]

You can keep the Japanese Bullet Train, I prefer our English version...

[@utopiah7]

your late!!!!!!!!!! i'm freezing!!!!!!!