Last Tuesday, 22 August, the Minister of State for Rail and HS2, Huw Merriman MP, made an informal visit to the Swanage Railway travelling on the trial diesel service from the main line station at Wareham.

Accompanied by South Dorset MP Richard Drax and Dorset Council transport portfolio holder Councillor Ray Bryan, their visit was hosted by Purbeck Community Rail Partnership chairman Mike Whitwam and Dorset Council Councillor Beryl Ezzard of the Friends of Wareham Station.

Before boarding the train, Beryl Ezzard gave the Minister a tour of Wareham station, which was built in the 1880s. Now joined by Swanage Railway Trust chairman Gavin Johns, the Minister boarded the 11.19 am train from Wareham on the Swanage Railway’s trial heritage diesel train service to Corfe Castle and Swanage –for its 40-minute journey to Swanage.

At Swanage, the Minister met some Swanage Railway volunteers before riding on the footplate of 1940s Southern Railway Bulleid Pacific West Country Class steam locomotive No. 34028 Eddystone from Swanage to Corfe Castle.

During his time at Corfe Castle, the Minister toured the Swanage Railway Trust’s Museum, which is housed in the station’s Victorian goods shed, then visited the station signal box which communicates with the Network Rail signalling centre at Basingstoke, in Hampshire, whenever Swanage Railway trains run onto the main line into Wareham station.

The Minister’s return from Corfe Castle to Wareham was on the Swanage Railway’s heritage diesel service, which was operated by former 1950s British Railways Class 117 and Class 121 diesel multiple units which had been overhauled and upgraded for mainline operation.

Swanage Railway Trust chairman Gavin Johns, who is also a volunteer signalman on the line. said: “We were delighted to welcome Huw Merriman MP, the Minister for Rail and HS2, on an informal visit to the Swanage Railway in the company of South Dorset MP Richard Drax and Dorset Council transport portfolio holder Councillor Ray Bryan.

“We were able to show the Minister our trial heritage diesel train service from the main line at Wareham down to Corfe Castle and Swanage which has been achieved thanks to partnership working with the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership and a £1.8 million grant from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund.

“The Minister was impressed by the number of long-serving volunteers as well as the professionalism, commitment and hard work shown by everyone that he met. The Minister was also introduced to guards and signalmen who explained their work in helping to operate the Swanage Railway safely and efficiently.

“The Minister asked that his grateful thanks be passed on to everyone involved in making his visit to the Swanage Railway so informative and enjoyable.

“The Minister was genuinely interested in everything that he saw while also being keen to meet our dedicated volunteers and staff who help to operate and maintain the Swanage Railway in an enthusiastic and friendly manner.” a