The commemorative train formed of Class 117 DMU Nos. 51346+59486+51388 at Corfe Castle on January 1.
ANDREW PM WRIGHT
THE Swanage Railway ran a special train on January 1 to mark 50 years since the branch from Wareham was closed by British Rail.
Retired railwayman Bob Richards, who signalled the last BR train from Wareham to Swanage on New Year’s Day 1972, was on the platform at Corfe Castle as the anniversary train arrived driven by volunteer Peter Frost, who was a teenage passenger on the last BR train 50 years before.
The final BR train ran on January 1, 1972 formed of DEMUs Nos. 1110 and 1124, but the 10-mile branch was officially closed from January 3.