The Swanage Railway’s hugely successful Winter Warm Up event took place on the 3rd and 4th January.

The event featured four steam locomotives and one diesel locomotive and helped to double the railway’s visitor numbers.

Featured steam locomotives included T3 No. 563, Southern Railway U class No. 31806, No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ and Battle of Britain class No. 34070 ‘Manston’.

Class 33, No. 33053, was the featured diesel of the event.

“What an incredible ‘Winter Warm Up’ weekend and what a fitting way to launch the Swanage Railway’s special 50th anniversary year.

“Despite the bitterly cold weather, we were delighted to welcome double the number of visitors as last year which is a real testament to the strength of the event and the hard work of everyone involved.

“A huge thank you to everyone who braved the conditions to support us and especially to those who captured and shared such amazing photos and videos – they really helped tell the story of the weekend and showcase the atmosphere across the railway.

“Above all, thank you to our staff and volunteers who went above and beyond in challenging conditions to deliver such a successful event. Your commitment, enthusiasm and resilience are what make special events like this possible.

“Watch out for more exciting announcements about what’s coming to the Swanage Railway in 2026,” 

Swanage Railway Chief Executive Officer Abbie King