Luscious shades of green and yellow are returning to the Isle of Purbeck, as Spring arrives, and the Swanage Railway settles in to its main operating season.
Duties would be shared between Swanage stalwart 34028 "Eddystone", and U Class - 31806, as the pair powered the railway's Blue timetable. In addition, on Saturday the 20th, there would be a late evening run over the line with 31806 as it took charge of 'The Purbeck Piddler'; a real ale train, and a recent addition to SR operations. This evening run would feature a spectacular performance from 31806, as the crew worked the U hard up the bank away from Herston Halt.
Locomotives:
Ex-SR Rebuilt 'West Country' Class - 34028 "Eddystone"
Ex-SR U Class - 31806
00:00 - 34028 on shed at Swanage
00:51 - 34028 Corfe Castle
03:28 - 34028 East Hill
04:58 - 31806 Quarr
06:00 - 31806 Wurzel Crossing
07:46 - 31806 Swanage
09:34 - 31806 Townsend Bridge
10:52 - 34028 Wilderness foot crossing
11:46 - 34028 Corfe Common
13:19 - 31806 Dickers Crossing
14:25 - 31806 Townsend Bridge
15:39 - 34028 New Barn
16:52 - 34028 Norden Common
17:57 - 34028 Harmans Cross
18:52 - 31806 on shed at Swanage
19:23 - 31806 New Barn
21:11 - 31806 Harmans Cross
All footage filmed on Wednesday the 17th, Thursday the 18th, and Saturday the 20th of April 2024.