STEAM enthusiasts from across the UK descended on Purbeck at the weekend, for an historic gathering of working locomotives.

The Swanage Railway hosted the largest gathering of 1940s Bulleid Pacific locomotives since 1967, to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of mainline steam services.

Five of the large steam locomotives, capable of reaching speeds of 100mph in their heyday, took turns running along the restored track between Swanage and Norden.

For one of the visiting Bulleid Pacifics - Battle of Britain class No.34053 'Sir Keith Park' - was back in Swanage for the first time since 1964, when it hauled a long train from the Victorian seaside town to London's Waterloo Station.

Hundreds of people travelled on the Swanage Railway during the three-day Strictly Bulleid event.

Swanage Railway general manager Matt Green said: "It was very evocative and reminiscent of the Bournemouth and Weymouth locomotive depots from the mid-1940s through to the end in July, 1967.

"The last British Rail Bulleid Pacific steam locomotive ran down to Corfe Castle and Swanage on Sunday, 18 June, 1967, at the head of a long excursion train for railway enthusiasts marking the impending end of steam trains in southern England after more than a century."

The huge frame of the, yet to be fully restored West Country class Bulleid Pacific No.34010 Sidmouth was also displayed at Corfe Castle throughout the event.

Meanwhile, the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum was open for the three days, as well as the goods shed museum, exhibition coach and cinema coach at Corfe Castle railway station.

Visitors also enjoyed a number of enthusiast and trade stands at Corfe Castle and Swanage railway stations.

A Swanage Railway spokesman said: "The special trains ran along the whole nine-and-a-half mile length of the Swanage Railway, including the newly completed four-mile extension between Norden and the River Frome, within sight of Wareham."