STEAM locomotives have been replaced by diesel trains on the Swanage Railway, after two locomotives collided.

Since Monday, diesel services have run on the heritage line, as staff work to resume a steam-hauled passenger service as soon as possible.

No-one was injured in the incident, which took place in an area not open to the public between the signal box and the engine shed at Swanage station during shunting operations shortly after 9am on Monday July 24.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) regulator have been informed of the incident.

Swanage Railway general manager Matt Green said: "No-one on the footplates of the two steam locomotives involved in the collision was injured.

"The Swanage Railway would like to apologise to passengers for any disappointment caused by the need to run diesel-hauled trains instead of steam.

"We are working to resume a steam-hauled train service at the earliest opportunity.

"The two steam locomotives involved in the incident have been withdrawn from service by the Swanage Railway, while the damage sustained by the two locomotives is examined and assessed.

"The Swanage Railway is investigating the cause of the incident."

The two-train passenger service between Norden, Corfe Castle, Harman’s Cross and Swanage is currently being composed of a two-carriage Class 108 diesel multiple and a 1960s British Railways Southern Region Class 33 diesel-electric locomotive hauling five carriages.

The steam locomotives involved in the incident were 1940s-built Southern Railway Bulleid Pacific No. 34070 'Manston' and 1950s-built British Railways Standard Class 4 Tank No. 80104 which has been renumbered 80146 for 2017 to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of British Rail Southern Region steam.