English: Lest we forget - The Swanage branch line in 1979 The bridge over the B3351 road, looking towards the cutting through East Hill, just to the north of Corfe. Photographed some 7 years after the closure and lifting of the branch in 1972.

The Swanage branch was not a victim of the infamous Beeching cuts, but of a later review initiated by the Labour minister Barbara Castle. The prevailing government view was that most rail passengers were from the 'better-off' sector of the population so rail subsidies were something of an anathema to a socialist regime. Although financial losses of the branch were only marginal, and despite a public enquiry which judged that the line should remain open, it was closed under the auspices of the then Conservative government in 1972. The closure was carried out in the face of universal concerns over the ability of the Isle of Purbeck to accommodate the extra road traffic that would be generated during the summer months. The stalwarts of the Swanage Railway have worked for 35 years to rebuild the line and the Norden park and ride scheme has made a significant contribution in reducing the traffic levels in Swanage. Nobody can now dispute the importance of the line but, although a permanent connection with the rail network has now been re-established, there are still issues regarding running trains onto the main line so no regular trains yet connect Swanage with Wareham. The closure of the line was a shameful exercise in short-termism and demonstrates that we must always be on guard to counter the excesses of our political "masters".

Swanage Railway web site: http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/