The Swanage Railway has launched an appeal to raise £20,000 to complete the restoration of a historic TC carriage so that a 1960s British Rail ‘push-pull’ diesel train can once again run on the line from Swanage.

TC ‘push-pull’ diesel trains were a familiar sight between Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester and Weymouth from the end of mainline steam until electric trains started operating on the route in May 1988, when they were coupled to the electric trains until electrification was extended to Weymouth.

In 2017 a 4TC Group was formed by the Swanage Railway Trust formed in 2017, The group is currently restoring Driving Trailer Second Open No. 76322 and Trailer Brake Second Corridor No. 70824, and the £20,000 appeal has been launched to enable the restoration of a third TC carriage, Driving Trailer Second Open No. 76275.

That used to run in British Rail 4TC carriage set No. 404, and the aim is to recreate a 3TC ‘push-pull’ train to run on the Swanage Railway by early 2026.

Although it will cost £70,000 to restore the coach, a gift from a generous benefactor means that just a further £20,000 needs to be raised from the public, as donations will be matched by the Swanage Railway Trust.

TC carriages were converted from 1950s British Railways Mk.1 carriages at British Rail’s York carriage works in 1966.

The interiors were refurbished with grey and blue laminate panelling replacing wood, improved lighting, electric heating and new seating fabric in a blue and green check pattern that became known as ‘Bournemouth Blue’.

They operated in sets of three (3TC set) or four (4TC set) carriages, pulled or pushed by Class 33 diesel-electric locomotives.

The sets had a driving cab at each end and ran from London Waterloo via Corfe Castle to Swanage between 1967 and 1969.

There was also a 4TC carriage set run to Swanage in September 1971, three months before the controversial closure of the branch line from Wareham.

Donations to the Group’s restoration appeal can be made via its website at www.4tcgroup.co.uk.

In 2018, a ‘4TC’ set of carriages that had been restored by the London Transport Museum visited the line as part of its Diesel Gala and Beer Festival.

The restoration of a TC set along with a unique Victorian T3 steam locomotive will allow the Swanage Railway to tell the fascinating story of the Swanage branch line from its earliest beginnings to the advent of preservation.

“The tireless work of our 4TC Group’s dedicated volunteers in restoring a unique TC ‘push-pull’ train that operated on the main line through south Dorset, from the 1960s to the 1980s, is an important part of the Trust’s work to educate the public through living history. With the Swanage Railway Trust having restored a unique Victorian T3 steam locomotive from the 1890s, the restoration of a 1960s TC ‘push-pull’ train will enable the Swanage Railway to tell the fascinating story of the optimistic start and the sad end of the branch line from Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage.”

Frank Roberts, Swanage Railway Trust chair