Passenger trains are running between Swanage and Wareham for the first time in 44 years today.

History will be made when the first scheduled passenger trains since 1972 run over four miles of new tracks towards Wareham as part of Swanage Railway's Spring Steam Gala this weekend.

And we're off! Have boarded the FIRST passenger train to run from Swanage up towards Wareham since 1972! pic.twitter.com/7rOIhxi5MO

— Swanage Voice (@SwanageVoice) April 8, 2016


From today to Sunday there will be four special passenger trains each day from Swanage, running beyond Norden station, over the newly installed Norden Gates level crossing and on past Motala, Furzebrook, Creech Bottom and East Holme before stopping at the River Frome – within sight of Wareham.

Just arriving in to Corfe Castle station. We're on board a steam loco from the late 1920s #swanagerailway pic.twitter.com/cq457ur19F

— Swanage Voice (@SwanageVoice) April 8, 2016


Passengers will be taken along the new four mile stretch of track and back, but will not be able to get on or off at any of the stations.

Trains are scheduled to run to Wareham - reconnecting Swanage with the main line to London for the first time in decades - from early 2017. The line was due to be fully opened this June but has been delayed because of the need to replace, rather than restore, non-standard specialist equipment on two ex-BR diesel trains being upgraded to exacting main line standards.

Swanage Railway general manager Matt Green said: "This is real history – we're very excited at the prospect of the first timetabled passenger trains running between Norden, Motala, Furzebrook and the River Frome for the first time in 44 years. Timetabled passenger trains last ran on the line in 1972.

"Our dedicated teams have worked very hard over the past 18 months restoring and upgrading the former Network Rail line. Half a mile of new track has been laid, almost 2,000 wooden track sleepers replaced and six miles of embankments cut back, fences repaired and drains cleared," he added.

The guest locomotive for this year's spring steam gala will be a 100-year-old veteran of the Great Western Railway built in Wiltshire during the First World War to haul heavy coal trains in South Wales.

A few years before its withdrawal by British Railways in 1964 – and with a powerful tractive effort of more than 31,000lbs – the steam locomotive No 4247 was transferred south to Cornwall where it hauled trains of China Clay from the pits to the port of Fowey.

After spending 20 years languishing in a South Wales scrapyard, the 82-tonne locomotive was rescued and restored to full working order by a dedicated band of railway enthusiasts from the 4247 Preservation Society.

Also appearing during the Spring Steam Gala will be, subject to availability, the Swanage Railway's stable of four steam ex-main line locomotives dating from 1905 to 1955.

Swanage Railway train times – and event details – are available online at swanagerailway.co.uk or by call 01929 425800.