A Swanage Railway volunteer has crafted special headboards for steam locomotives on the Swanage Railway to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Dedicated volunteer Malcolm Munro crafted two special headboards, which will grace the front of steam locomotives hauling trains between Norden, Corfe Castle, Harman’s Cross, and Swanage on Platinum Jubilee Weekend between Thursday, 2nd June, and Sunday, 5th June.

During this weekend, trains will run to an appropriately coloured plum Platinum Jubilee timetable. Between 10.30 am and 5 pm steam trains will leave Norden and Swanage every 45 minutes, except for a 75-minute gap at lunchtime.

Stations along the line have been decorated with plum-coloured bunting, banners, and logos to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

It took Malcolm a week to make the splendid silver and red wooden headboards. Ten years ago, he produced two wooden headboards to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and which were also carried on the front of the railway’s steam trains.

During this weekend trains will run to an appropriately-coloured plum Platinum Jubilee timetable. Between 10.30 am and 5 pm steam trains will leave Norden and Swanage every 45 minutes, except for a 75-minute gap at lunchtime.

Stations along the line have been decorated with plum-coloured bunting, banners. and logos to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

It took Malcolm a week to make the splendid silver and red wooden headboards. Ten years ago, he produced two wooden headboards to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and which were also carried on the front of the railway’s steam trains.

Malcolm has been a Swanage Railway member for over 40 years and a volunteer for over 30 years. On 1st January, 1972, he rode on the last British Rail train between Wareham, Corfe Castle, and Swanage.

Malcolm said:

“The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is an event of national importance and I wanted to do something to help the Swanage Railway mark the rare occasion in an appropriate, memorable and special way.

“The Platinum Jubilee is a major milestone in the history of this country and the Royal Family in particular because Her Majesty the Queen is the longest reigning monarch that we have ever had.

“The Queen stands for one element of stability that this country needs at the moment. After the challenges and trials of the Covid pandemic, it’s important that we all celebrate and enjoy what we are lucky to have in this country – freedom that the people of the Ukraine are fighting for.

“Headboards denoting that trains were a special working, or a special service, were common in the days of steam – the Bournemouth Belle and Royal Wessex being two Dorset trains that carried such headboards on the front of the steam locomotives.

“I am delighted at how well the headboards have turned out – they stand out and look magnificent on the front of our steam locomotives which makes all the hard work worthwhile.

“Headboards on the front of steam locomotives make their trains look extra special and important, giving an evocative sense of excitement and occasion which is the perfect way to mark and celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.”