PASSENGERS and staff donned period costume for Swanage Railway's festive Victorian Carol Concert this year.

The annual event, staged at Corfe Castle station's restored good shed museum, attracted bumper crowds and included music from the Harmony Rocks ladies' choir and Swanage Town Band.

There was an hour of carol singing at the museum, and later at Swanage railway station when the carol steam train made its return journey.

Commenting on the event, held earlier this December, Swanage Railway general manager Matt Green said: "This year's Victorian Christmas carol event was an exciting one because it was the first time that we used the restored Victorian goods shed at Corfe Castle station which houses the Swanage Railway's fascinating museum.

"The interior of the goods shed was specially lit for the occasion with the band playing from the museum's extensive balcony while the choir sang in front of the splendid Victorian-built narrow gauge steam locomotive 'Secundus' that hauled ball clay trains in Purbeck up to 1955.

"It was a memorable, evocative and enjoyable evening because Corfe Castle's restored Victorian station and goods shed have a very special atmosphere – especially at night."