The railway first ran to Swanage in 1885 and was operated by the London &
South Western Railway Company. In January 1972 British Railways closed the line
and lifted all the track. However, this was not the end, as a group of
enthusiasts got together to rebuild the line. In the summer of 1975 a licence
was granted to the Swanage Railway Society to occupy the disused Swanage station
site, since when the dedicated volunteers have lovingly restored the railway to
what you see today. Initially the track was re-laid as far as Herston, near
Swanage, and then onward three miles to the village of Harman's Cross.
1995 saw the opening of the extensions to Corfe Castle and then Norden.
