More about Dorset with pictures (part 2 of 2)
Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2015 5:56 pm
Wednesdays excursions and Thursdays departure.
Horus chose the best week to visit and our Wednesday morning was rather grey and overcast. Todays plan was to take the train from Norden to Swanage, and afterwards to drive the few miles to Lulworth. Having seen Horus's pictures of the climbs involved in visiting Lulworth it was unlikely that we would attempt them but that decision was reserved for later in the day.
The six mile Swanage Railway is one of the many former branch lines around the country lovingly restored by restoration societies passionate about the age of steam travel and maintaining some lines for future heritage. The Swanage to Norden Purbeck line passes through Herston; this is a request stop so you hold out your hand, Harmans Cross; a small station that is totally authentic and could be set in the 1930's, and Corfe Castle where you can alight to visit the castle and then take a later train the few hundred yards to Norden. The Swanage Railway is absolutely delightful and a real step back in time.
Our locomotive on the coastbound journey was 31806 Southern Railway U class 2-6-0 built in Brighton in 1928 and now fully restored. The train was original 1930's carriages also restored to original condition. We sat in First Class.......of course.
Our Vintage Loco 31806
Passing Corfe Castle, any similarity to Horus's picture is entirely coincidental.
Authentic luggage on the platforms
Arriving at Swanage
It was a grey day so Swanage was not that impressive or inviting. It is, as Horus said, a typical old fashioned English seaside town with the train station right in the town centre just a couple of hundred yards from the seafront.
Swanage seafront and a typical seaside shop with buckets and spades, flip flops, floats and beach boards.
We didn't stay long, just time for tea and a cake then back to the station for the next train which happened to be a fairly modern two coach deisel.
Your train awaits Sir.
Harman Cross station, and a classic scene of a man waiting for his train at Harmans Cross
It is a fairly short journey to West Lulworth car park. We paid our £3 fee but just one look at the sloping path up to the viewing point convinced us that we would give it a miss and could have saved our £3. We returned to the hotel a little earlier than expected. But if the day had had some disappointments, just by chance at dinner time there was an event of typical country folk activity to entertain us.
The Wyld Morris had chosen to hold their regular Wednesday evening gathering at The Ilchester Inn so we had a bit of a 'cabaret' during dinner.
The Morris performing outside our room, and the musicians
Another group and I couldn't resist a close crop.
Beyond the hotel garden there is a high mound with a chapel at the top. This is the 14th century St Catherines Chapel, grade 1 listed and managed by English Heritage. We didn't climb to the top of that either.
Next day we departed shortly before 10am. SatNav Sally predicted our ETA to be 1.52pm. We didn't stop and beat her by 4 minutes pulling on to our drive at 1.48pm. A much better journey than Horus endured on his return home. So that is my little account of our short visit to Dorset in about 1000 words and perhaps a few too many photos
Horus chose the best week to visit and our Wednesday morning was rather grey and overcast. Todays plan was to take the train from Norden to Swanage, and afterwards to drive the few miles to Lulworth. Having seen Horus's pictures of the climbs involved in visiting Lulworth it was unlikely that we would attempt them but that decision was reserved for later in the day.
The six mile Swanage Railway is one of the many former branch lines around the country lovingly restored by restoration societies passionate about the age of steam travel and maintaining some lines for future heritage. The Swanage to Norden Purbeck line passes through Herston; this is a request stop so you hold out your hand, Harmans Cross; a small station that is totally authentic and could be set in the 1930's, and Corfe Castle where you can alight to visit the castle and then take a later train the few hundred yards to Norden. The Swanage Railway is absolutely delightful and a real step back in time.
Our locomotive on the coastbound journey was 31806 Southern Railway U class 2-6-0 built in Brighton in 1928 and now fully restored. The train was original 1930's carriages also restored to original condition. We sat in First Class.......of course.
Our Vintage Loco 31806
Passing Corfe Castle, any similarity to Horus's picture is entirely coincidental.
Authentic luggage on the platforms
Arriving at Swanage
It was a grey day so Swanage was not that impressive or inviting. It is, as Horus said, a typical old fashioned English seaside town with the train station right in the town centre just a couple of hundred yards from the seafront.
Swanage seafront and a typical seaside shop with buckets and spades, flip flops, floats and beach boards.
We didn't stay long, just time for tea and a cake then back to the station for the next train which happened to be a fairly modern two coach deisel.
Your train awaits Sir.
Harman Cross station, and a classic scene of a man waiting for his train at Harmans Cross
It is a fairly short journey to West Lulworth car park. We paid our £3 fee but just one look at the sloping path up to the viewing point convinced us that we would give it a miss and could have saved our £3. We returned to the hotel a little earlier than expected. But if the day had had some disappointments, just by chance at dinner time there was an event of typical country folk activity to entertain us.
The Wyld Morris had chosen to hold their regular Wednesday evening gathering at The Ilchester Inn so we had a bit of a 'cabaret' during dinner.
The Morris performing outside our room, and the musicians
Another group and I couldn't resist a close crop.
Beyond the hotel garden there is a high mound with a chapel at the top. This is the 14th century St Catherines Chapel, grade 1 listed and managed by English Heritage. We didn't climb to the top of that either.
Next day we departed shortly before 10am. SatNav Sally predicted our ETA to be 1.52pm. We didn't stop and beat her by 4 minutes pulling on to our drive at 1.48pm. A much better journey than Horus endured on his return home. So that is my little account of our short visit to Dorset in about 1000 words and perhaps a few too many photos
Lovely part of the country but not a place to live for a 'townie' like me. 
Those red luggage carts must be standard at all the stations. Liked your photo of Corfe Castle, just as wonky as Horus - -