A SPECIAL three-day heritage diesel service will run on the Swanage Railway to mark the 50th anniversary of the last British Rail train from Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage.

The line closure was not free of controversy when it made its final journey in January, 1972.

Now, facing a three-day rebirth, at the front of the trains will be a commemorative wooden headboard made by dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer signalman Malcolm Munro who travelled on the last train as a 16-year old when he was living with his family in Bere Regis.

Passengers will travel in style on a heritage British Railways 1960-built three-carriage Class 117 diesel multiple unit railbus.

Five trains will operate daily between Norden, Corfe Castle, Harman’s Cross and Swanage from 10.30am to 4pm daily on Saturday, January 1, Sunday, January 2, and Monday, January 3, 2022.

To mark the last British Rail train and closure 50th anniversary, the first 50 people purchasing tickets online for each of the three days – from the Swanage Railway’s website at swanagerailway.co.uk – will only pay the January, 1972, last British Rail train fare of 50 pence per person.

Tickets are available now with a special commemorative heritage Edmondson card ticket being produced for all ticket holders.

Opened in May, 1885, the ten-mile branch line from Wareham to Swanage was controversially closed by British Rail – after five years of trying against the opposition of local people and councils – on the morning of Monday, January 3, 1972.

Because there was no winter Sunday train service, the last British Rail trains ran between Wareham and Swanage on Saturday, 1 January, 1972 – New Year’s Day.

With 500 passengers on board, who had each purchased a specially printed British Rail Edmondson card ticket costing 50 pence for an adult and 25 pence for a child, the last train departed a gas lit Swanage station platform at 10.15pm before passing through Corfe Castle at 10.24pm and pulling into Wareham at 10.40pm.

A Swanage Railway member for more than 40 years, Malcolm Munro said: “It’s important that the 50th anniversary of the last British Rail train from Wareham to Swanage is marked because the branch line’s controversial closure led to a remarkable rebirth against all the odds – showing the power of the human spirit and what it can achieve.”

Tickets cost £10 for adults, £5 for children aged five to 15 years with children aged under five travelling free and can be bought on the day or online.