All aboard for Swanage Railway weekend (From Thisisdorset)

All aboard for Swanage Railway weekend

8:00pm Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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PEOPLE have a rare chance to look behind the scenes of a busy working railway this weekend.

The Swanage Railway is opening the doors of its engine shed, signal box and engineering works and is inviting people to go and meet the volunteers who keep things running.

The Railway at Work weekend is part of a push to recruit more volunteers to help run and develop the railway, which now carries more than 200,000 passengers a year.

Swanage Railway marketing and commercial manager Martin Payne said: “The weekend is a rare chance to see behind the scenes of a real-life steam railway that has been built from nothing since 1976.

“It’s a chance to meet our volunteers and staff and discover the huge and varied amount of work that is needed not just to run the railway but also maintain and develop the line.”

Mr Payne added: “Instant membership to the Swanage Railway Trust will be available throughout the weekend and members are entitled to free train travel throughout the special weekend on production of a valid membership card.

“It will be a lot of fun and also very educational too.

“I would encourage people to let the train take the strain from Norden park and ride station and avoid parking problems in Swanage.”

Classic steam trains will run every 40 minutes over the weekend between Norden and Swanage.

At Swanage people will be able to view a main line steam locomotive in the engine shed, visit the award-winning signal box and see carriage restoration work taking place.

Herston engineering works will also be open to the public.

For more information about the weekend call 01929 425800 or visit www.swanagerailway.co.uk