Metropolitan 1 at Corfe Castle: passing the token

Metropolitan Railway

The world's first underground railway, opened to the public in 1863. Initially it connected London's city centre to Paddington, Euston and King's Cross stations. This idea, first mooted in the early 1830s, was adopted to alleviate the severe traffic congestion in the City. The network quickly grew, becoming a very substantial one. Its steam locomotives pulled gas-lit wooden carriages.


Metropolitan Railway No 1

This locomotive, today owned by Buckingham Railway Centre, is briefly on loan to Swanage Railway for this weekend's Autumn Steam Gala. It is one of seven locomotives built at Neasden between 1896-1901.

Last year (2013) it played a prominent role in the events for the 150th Anniversary of London Underground.


Token

The driver(?) of this train bound for Norden is about to throw a token across the tracks, presumably to the signalman. This is a device used to avoid head-on collisions on single-track sections of railway. (And yes, Corfe has a functioning signal box manned by a functioning signalman.)

Throughout today two trains are running simultaneously on Swanage Railway, one in each direction. At Corfe Castle station there are two tracks, serving two separate platforms, but beyond the station the railway line is single-track in both directions.

A train will shortly arrive from Norden heading towards Swanage. The token will give it "possession" of the single line track beyond the station.


On a personal note: I am no trainspotter - haven't travelled on Swanage Railway for 30 or more years - but the prospect of seeing the delightful Metropolitan Railway No 1 at close hand was too hard to resist. Industrial archaeology (in which Purbeck abounds) is an interest of mine.

Steam locomotives are picturesque, especially so if they are generating plenty of picturesque steam. If you are disappointed by the paucity of steam in this photo, I must explain that the train was moving (from left to right) but slowing in order to stop several dozen yards more along the track.



Postscript (for railway enthusiasts only) The six steam trains being operated on Swanage Railway this weekend are numbered: 1, 1501, 30053, 31806, 34070 and 6695.