Wareham
| However the Swanage branch was never entirely closed and track was retained as far as Furzebrook sidings to serve mineral (clay) workings and, following discovery of oil in the area from 1978, also the Wych Farm oilfield. Although crude oil is conveyed by pipeline to Fawley refinery, after output from the oilfield was increased significantly in the late 1980s Liquefied Petroleum Gas was conveyed by rail to spare the local roads. The clay traffic ceased in 1982 but resumed between July 1986 and March 1992. At the southern end of the branch in 1975 a group of ambitious volunteers started the Swanage Railway project. Initially they could only operate as a preserved railway within Swanage station limits but over the intervening years the branch line has now been restored as far north as Furzebrook where the line connects with Network Rail. Although there has been some minimal movement over this connection there is no regular service though there are long term plans to resume rail services from Wareham to Swanage. |
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The former goods shed nestled in a patch of land between the
station footbridge and the much newer road bridge.
photograph by Colin Duff |
| The following two photos are a very good "before and after" illustration of changes at Wareham over the years. |
| In steam days the footbridge at the up end of the platforms
frames Q Class Nº30548, the
crossing keepers's buildings beyond the platform, the level crossing and
the signal box.
photograph: Mike Morant collection |
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More or less the same spot on 25th September 2008 and the
differences are plain to see. The footbridge's smoke deflectors and the
buildings beyond the platform have gone, a foot crossing has replaced the
level crossing and in the distance can be seen the road bridge which now takes
the traffic that was formerly routed across the level crossing. Plus of course
the third rail is very evident!
photograph by Mike Morant |
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This page was last updated 5 October 2008
