First Visit to the Swanage Railway - Saturday 11th April, 2026

On this special occassion, we made our first visit to the Swanage Railway in Dorset, England, where Christopher Awdry, son of the Reverand Wilbert Awdry, author of 'The Railway Series' books, was down in Swanage doing book signings and meeting Thomas & Friends fans alike. I had the great honour to meet Christopher Awdry after waiting weeks for the event, signing one of his own books and even my Thomas & Friends Series One DVD cover.

The Swanage Railway were running trains during their first ever 'Model Railway Event', which ran for two days, and featured both steam and diesel services in working operation.

1893-built LSWR Adams T3 No. 563 was running on the steam train services, while top and tailed Class 33s, 33012 'Jenny Lewis RN' & 33053, were operating on the diesel services. Meanwhile, a diesel driver experience was also in operation at Swanage with Class 08, 08436, running backwards and forwards in the bay platform giving driver experience shuttles to eager passengers.

This seven-mile heritage railway was very enjoyable for us, and with the sunny spring weather shining down on thw whole day, we will most certainly return to this lovely little south-western railway sometime again in the next year.

Filmed on
Saturday 11th April, 2026

Filmed at Stations
Swanage
Corfe Castle

Filmed and Produced by
Scott Coombes
Thomas Coombes

(C) 2026 S.T.C Rail Productions