Swanage marks 50 years since last steam train to Wareham

by

By Andrew PM Wright

SWANAGE Railway volunteers have marked the 50th anniversary of the last regular British Rail steam trains over the former LSWR branch to Wareham.

Left: BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76010 departs Swanage on Sunday, September 4, 1966. TONY TROOD, COURTESY ANDREW PM WRIGHT COLLECTION
BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76010 departs Swanage on Sunday, September 4, 1966. TONY TROOD, COURTESY ANDREW PM WRIGHT COLLECTION

On Sunday, September 4, 1966 the final timetabled steam-hauled passenger trains operated on the branch, giving way to a three-car ‘Hampshire’ DEMU the following day.

Article continues below…
Advert

Enjoy more Heritage Railway reading in the four-weekly magazine.
Click here to subscribe & save.

The driver of the last timetabled British Rail steam train from Swanage was Bournemouth-based ‘Johnny’ Walker – who, in a strange twist, later had the honour of driving the last train from Swanage in January, 1972.

His locomotive for that last trip was BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76010, while his train in 1972 was composed of two grimy ‘Hampshire’ DEMUs.

Read more in Issue 220 of Heritage Railway

Article continues below…
Advert

Advert
Subscribe to Heritage Railway Magazine Enjoy more Heritage Railway reading in the four-weekly magazine. Click here to subscribe.

Article Tags:

About the Author