Historic locomotive to star at steam gala weekend

No. 926 Repton was used in Dorset throughout World War Two and is now based in Yorkshire

A locomotive that served Dorset from the 1930s will star in a three-day steam gala.

The volunteer run Swanage Railway, will host No. 926 Repton which hauled trains across the county during World War Two.

As part of its autumn gala passenger trains will run from Swanage, Harman's Cross, Corfe Castle, Norden and four miles beyond to the River Frome. Night trains will also run between Swanage, Corfe Castle and Norden.

The railway's volunteer commercial director Alexander Atkins said the gala, which will be held from Friday to Sunday, "will be an exciting spectacular not to be missed".

Built in Eastleigh, Hampshire, in 1934, Repton was based in Bournemouth during the war.

It was run by the Southern Railway, which gave it its name because it was part of its Schools class, 40 of which were named after public schools.

It was later used on inter-regional express passenger trains before it was withdrawn from service in Basingstoke in 1962.

The locomotive is being loaned to the Swanage Railway by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

S15 class freight locomotive No. 30506 is owned by the Watercress Line in Hampshire

Another locomotive, S15 class freight locomotive No. 30506, will be making its first visit to the Isle of Purbeck for more than 20 years. It is owned by the Urie Locomotive Society.

It hauled freight trains between London and Southampton, as well as from the capital to Exeter, from the 1920s. It was withdrawn in 1964.

Swanage Railway's home fleet of four preserved steam locomotives will also be used over the weekend, subject to availability.

"We are delighted to be able to offer... such a wide variety of steam locomotives at work through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck countryside, past the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle and beyond Norden to Furzebrook and the River Frome within sight of Wareham," Swanage Railway Company chair Gavin Johns said.

"No. 926 Repton and No. 30506 are wonderful and fascinating examples of Southern Railway steam locomotive design through the 1920s and the 1930s."