The Swanage Railway is to hold an open weekend that will give the public a chance to have a look at what goes on behind the scenes on the railway and at its stations.
The Community Weekend will take place on Saturday and Sunday, 17 and 18 February between 10 am and 4 pm each day when there will be staff at Swanage, Herston, Harman's Cross, Corfe Castle, and Norden stations on hand to show visitors behind the scenes.
Half-price standard travel train tickets for the Community Weekend are available in advance from the Swanage Railway website at Visitors to the Community Weekend who live in the BH and DT postcodes can travel for half price if they book in advance on the railway's website at swanagerailway.co.uk for people living in the BH and DT postcodes.
However, they will need to show proof of their residence in the BH and DT postcode areas when they pick up their tickets from the ticket offices on the day.
At Swanage, there will be the chance to drive a 1950s heritage diesel shunter for £20, and at Harman's Cross and Corfe Castle stations visitors can have tours of the signal boxes for just £5. There will also be the chance to watch a train guard or on-train travelling ticket inspector perform their duties for £5, although guests must also purchase a separate travel ticket.
Free attractions during the weekend included guided access to a steam locomotive footplate at Swanage, visits to 1960s heritage telephone exchanges at Harman's Cross and Corfe Castle stations, and the chance to try signalling at the Corfe Castle signalling museum.
Visitors to Corfe Castle station can chat with restorers of heritage coaches and wagons, or watch demonstration lifts by vintage railway cranes at Norden station. At Herston Halt, which is only accessible on foot or by train, visitors can chat with volunteers about the development of the station since 1984.
Next to Norden station, narrow-gauge diesel trains will be giving demonstrations at the Swanage Purbeck Mining Museum.
Full details about the weekend's events can be found at swanagerailway.co.uk, whilst anyone interested in volunteering can find out more at swanagerailwaytrust.org/volunteering.
Event organiser and volunteer guard Clare Collins said: “Our Community Weekend is a different and interesting day out for all the family – a rare opportunity to see behind the scenes of a working heritage railway, explore some of the many different roles required to operate the Swanage Railway and find out about varied volunteering opportunities.
“Volunteering on the Swanage Railway is very fulfilling, it's a great way of meeting new people while assisting with worthwhile community projects at what has become one of Dorset's major tourist attractions,” added Clare who is also a volunteer director of the Swanage Railway Trust which manages the heritage line and is a registered charity.
Swanage Railway Trust chairman Frank Roberts said: “It takes more people to operate, maintain and develop the Swanage Railway than many people realise. Our Community Weekend is the first of several special events across 2024 that we hope will be attractive to a wide variety of people of all ages.
“I have been lucky enough to have been a Swanage Railway volunteer for more than 40 years and I find volunteering very fulfilling and enjoyable while working with a splendid group of people of all ages.
“With the Swanage Railway contributing more than £15 million a year to the local economy, we are delighted to give people across the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset and beyond the chance to enjoy a behind-the-scenes view of a very special heritage railway,” added Frank who helped to install the Swanage Railway's lineside telephone system in the 1980s and 1990s while now being the lead volunteer maintaining and developing Herston Halt on the outskirts of Swanage.”
