The Swanage Railway are once again running their special Steam and Lights trains for Christmas departing from Swanage station. This year the services will be top and tailed by steam locomotives which, along with the carriages, will be covered in brightly coloured lights for the one hour round trip past Corfe Castle and return.

On Sunday evening, Yoshi and I popped into Swanage to see SR 2-6-0 U Class No. 31806, ably assisted at the rear by SR 4-6-2 ‘West Country’ Class No. 34028 Eddystone, depart from Swanage on the 1715 run.

Steam and Lights trains must be booked in advance and can only be joined at Swanage station where the brightly lit festive trains start and end their journeys. For more information and booking check out The Swanage Railway web page.

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on the Steam and Lights trains, so Yoshi was unable to join in the fun when we took a trip in December 2020.