PURBECK RAILWAY CIRCLE

Show No.6:

“The Birth, Life and Death of “MOTALA”

byMike Walshaw

Swanage Railway Signal & Telegraph Dept.

After the closure of the Swanage Branch in January 1972, the track was

lifted from Swanage up the line towards the Goods Sidings at

Furzebrook.

Money was raised to halt the work and leave the track in place down to a point 1 ½ miles north of Corfe Castle. This point was called ‘Motala’ after a

kennels nearby.

British Rail installed these buffer stops at the end of the line.

Photo Gerry Andrews, courtesy Andrew P.M. Wright

In January 2002 the Swanage Railway extended its track from Corfe Castle and Norden to meet

British Rail’s track at Motala. Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

The buffer stops were removed and new track was installed to join The Big Railway.

3rd January 2002.Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

A de-railer separating the two Railways was lifted away to let the Virgin Voyager reach Swanage. 6th September 2002.

Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

In November 2005, the buffer stop was removed and Gates and Trap Points were installed at

Motala.Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

On 2nd July 2006, the first steam loco to travel over the line from Worgret Junction

passes Motala.Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

On 10th May 2007, a train of 4 Diesel Locos and a 4-VEP for the Diesel Gala pass Motala.

Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

The “Royal Wessex” headed by 34067 at Motala on 2nd May 2009.

The first steam train to Swanage since 1967.Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

On Monday 8th September 2014 the Line between Motala and a

new Boundary near Worgret Junction was passed over by

Network Rail to Dorset County Council and leased to the

Swanage Railway .

This spelt the end of the interface between the two

Railways at Motala.

Work started on Tuesday 9th September 2014 with the removal of the STOP Boards

by our ever-useful Road-Railer Machine.Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

The two ‘Trap Points’ were set for through running by Barry Light, P/Way Manager, and

Tony North, S&T Manager.Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

Tony North displays the ‘Norden to Motala’ Train Staff that was used to unlock the Trap Points leading onto the Swanage Railway.

Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

The next operation was to remove the Trap Points and replace them with a 60ft length of plain track.

This operation is called “Plain-Lining”.

It took place on Wednesday 15th October 2014 in front of an invited audience

from the Press.

The redundant Cabin and the Lever Frame await their fate. The Swanage Railway’s Trap

Point is in the foreground.

This is the Swanage Railway’s 15-ton Diesel-Electric Crane, a most useful piece of kit

for heavy lifting operations.

The rodding that connected the levers to the Trap Points is disconnected and removed.

The Cabin is opened so that it can be un-bolted from its foundations,

ready for craning off.

The Crane positions itself for hoisting out the Cabin.

The Cabin is hoisted high, to be placed on the flat wagon behind it. Helmets are essential

‘Personal Protective Equipment’.

Next, the Lever Frame is hoisted out, for use elsewhere on the Swanage Railway.

The Press, from the BBC, ITV and Kingfisher Publications, have been provided with a

Viewing Area to film the proceedings.

At last, what we have been waiting for – the first Trap Point is lifted out.

The Trap Points are placed on the flat wagon, to join the Cabin and the Lever Frame.

Now the second Trap Points are craned out, while the Press confer.

The Road-Railer now shovels away the ballast to provide a flat road-bed for

the new track.

The concrete sleepers are lifted one-by-one and

placed on the road-bed.

The sleepers are carefullyspaced out on the road-bed.

The two Road-Railers lift the first 60ft length of rail and place it in the chairs.

The rail is nudged into place so it will drop into the chairs.

It is exactly the correct length.

The second rail is then lowered into position in its chairs.

This was Motala. Nothing but some fresh ballast marks the former Boundary with

Network Rail as an Engineer’s Special passes on 30th Oct 2014. Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

Photo credits:

Gerry Andrews and

Andrew P.M. Wright as credited.

Otherwise:Mike Walshaw