THE festive spirit steamed in to Dorset when an iconic railway station went back in time.

An annual Victorian carol concert was staged at Corfe Castle station’s restored goods shed museum.

The Christmas event, held on Friday December 9, featured the Swanage Town Band as well as the popular Hammy Rocks ladies’ choir which is based in the Isle of Purbeck.

Dating from 1884 and built of Purbeck stone, the restored goods shed had been closed by British Railways since 1965.

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 Swanage Town Band playing from the museum’s extensive balcony while the Harmony Rocks Choir sang in front of the splendid Victorian-built narrow gauge steam locomotive ‘Secundus’ that hauled ball clay trains in Purbeck up to 1955."

Swanage town crier Andrew Fleming was at Swanage Station to greet guests on their arrival.

Passengers attended the concert in Victorian costume and arrived in a train hauled by Southern Railway’s late 1920s U-class steam locomotive No.31806, which visited Corfe Castle in the 50s.