Cheap Day Return to Wareham

In Steam Days, I had travelled on the Southern lines in Dorset and in Hampshire quite extensively. But one line that I never travelled on was the Swanage branch from Wareham. British Rail closed the line in January 1972, and that was that. Or so I thought. By the late 1980,s the preservationists had rebuilt the line, firstly to Herston, and then to Harmans Cross.

A visit to the line, and a ride between Swanage and Harmans Cross was therefore on the agenda for 1989. So on 16th September, I presented myself at the Birmingham International ticket counter and asked for "A cheap day return to Wareham". I joined the morning Manchester to Poole service, intending to pick up a service to Wareham at Poole, then bus to Swanage. At the time 7752, a 0-6-0 Pannier tank, and 46443, a class 2MT Ivatt 2-6-0, were on loan to the railway, and my intention was to travel behind each of them.

Within minutes of leaving Birmingham International, it was "All tickets please!". I got a rather strange look from the Ticket Inspector, who announced "You are on the wrong train. You need to change at Coventry, and catch a service to London", and proceed from there.

No I don't I said. I am travelling through to Poole, and shall then catch a Weymouth service as far as Wareham. "I suggest you look more closely at your ticket, Sir!.

At International, I had been given a Cheap Dar Return to Ware, in Hertfordshire.

Anyhow, my ticket was duly exchanged on the train for a correct one, so I was avoided the necessity of alighting at Coventry, getting my ticket corrected there, and catching a later train.

So I continued my journey behind 47512, though I decided to change at Eastleigh, proceeding to Poole on a Waterloo to Poole Electric service, before changing on to a 5 car class 442 DMU to Wareham. I arrived at Wareham at 11.34am, in good time to catch the 12 noon bus on to Swanage.

During the afternoon, I made 5 return trips to Harmans Cross, travelling behind 0-6-0 Pannier tank no 7752 and Ivatt 2-6-0 no 46443, changing over to the second loco on the third trip.

Then it was back on the bus to Wareham, in god time to pick up a class 442 5 car DMU to Southampton, then a 8 car EMU to Basingstoke, a DMU to Reading, where there was a bonus waiting. 50033 was working a 7.43pm additional service to Birmingham.

Subsequent visits to the line have been in 1990, with 0-6-2T no 69621 doing the honours, 1994 with Bulleid Pacific no 34072, 1998 with Midland 0-6-0T no 41708, and 2000 with BR Standard 2-6-4T no 80078.

I sincerely hope that my next visit will start and end in the bay platform at Wareham.