🗓️ Saturday 22nd – Sunday 23rd February 2025
Swanage Railway’s Community Weekend returns for another year this February.
The open weekend gives members of the public the chance to have a behind-the-scenes look at a working heritage railway, along with discounted travel tickets for Dorset residents, allowing passengers to travel for half price.

You’ll get to see aspects of the railway often not seen or accessible by visitors, along with the chance to take part in activities at each of the line’s stations.
- Timings: 10am – 4pm
Community Weekend Highlights – By Station
All stations on the railway are taking part in the event – below are some of the experiences you can book in advance, as well as some free activities.
All bookings can be made on the Swanage Railway website: www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/community-weekend
Swanage Station
Drive a Diesel Experience
Drive a 1950s heritage diesel shunter at Swanage Station.
You’ll drive a Class 08 diesel shunter from Platform 1 to the siding and back.
- Pre-booking required
- Age 18+ only
- Duration: 10 minutes approx.
- Cost: ÂŁ20
Train Guard & Travelling Ticket Inspector Experiences
- Pre-booking required
- Maximum of two people, one of whom must be 18+
- Cost: ÂŁ7.50 (Plus travel ticket)
Herston Works Tours
Visit the railway’s steam locomotive engineering works, where the team restores and repairs its steam engine fleet.
Explore the workshop and meet railway mechanics on this tour, to which you’ll travel via heritage shuttle bus from Swanage Station (or Norden).
Harmans Cross
Signal Box Tour
Explore a real working Victorian signal box and learn how the equipment works.
- Pre-booking required
- Maximum of four people (One in party must be 18+)
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Cost: ÂŁ7.50
1960s Heritage Telephone Exchange Visit
- Visit between 10.30am – 3.30pm
- Cost: Free (donation appreciated)
- (Subject to volunteer availability)
Corfe Castle Station
Signal Box Tour
Explore a real working Victorian signal box and learn how the equipment works.
- Pre-booking required
- Maximum of four people (One must be 18+)
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Cost: ÂŁ7.50

Have a go at Signalling
At Corfe Castle Signalling Museum.
- Cost: Free (donation appreciated)
- (Subject to volunteer availability)
1960s Heritage Telephone Exchange Visit
- Visit between 10.30am – 3.30pm
- Cost: Free (donation appreciated)
- (Subject to volunteer availability)
Meet Heritage Carriages Restorers
Meet the volunteer restorers of the railway’s heritage carriages.
- Cost: Free (donation appreciated)
Visit a 1940s Crane
View and sit in the 1940s crane that relaid the Swanage Railway tracks from Herston to Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle, Norden and beyond to near Furzebrook between 1985 and 2002.
- Cost: Free (donation appreciated)
Norden
Demonstration Narrow Gauge Diesel trains
Head to the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum, where there will be a narrow gauge diesel train running.
- Timings: 11am – 3pm

Herston Works Tours
Visit the railway’s steam locomotive engineering works, where the team restores and repairs its steam engine fleet.
Explore the workshop and meet railway mechanics on this tour, to which you’ll travel via heritage shuttle bus from Norden Station (or Swanage).
Herston Halt
Come and chat to the team at Herston and learn about the development of the community halt, the Railway’s first station.
- Timings: 10am – 3pm
Tickets
For the latest updates, to book onto individual activities and purchase your half price Dorset residents’ tickets in advance, visit the Swanage Railway website: www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/community-weekend
You can also buy discounted tickets on the day at Norden, Corfe Castle and Swanage Station ticket offices.
Please note that proof of residence is required for the Dorset discount.
Volunteer at the Railway
The team of volunteers here are always looking for new people and are the heart of Swanage Railway.
“I am so excited to again be throwing open the doors of the Swanage Railway and welcoming the public to see behind the scenes of how one of Dorset’s major tourist attractions is operated and maintained by our dedicated team of staff, most of which are devoted volunteers.
“Volunteering on the Swanage Railway is very fulfilling. It’s a great way of meeting new people while assisting with worthwhile community projects.”
Clare Collins – EVENT ORGANISER & VOLUNTEER TRAIN GUARD
If your experience inspires you to join the team of volunteers at the railway, you can visit their dedicated volunteering page to find out how to get involved: www.swanagerailwaytrust.org/volunteering

