A heritage railway in Dorset has launched a £20,000 appeal to restore a historic British Rail carriage that would enable 1960s ‘push-pull’ trains to return to Swanage for the first time in over 50 years.

The Swanage Railway Trust’s 4TC Group aims to restore a Driving Trailer Second Open carriage, No. 76275, which would complete their collection of vehicles needed to operate a three-car TC train set. These distinctive trains were a common sight in Dorset from 1967 to 1988, bridging the gap between the end of steam and the introduction of modern electric services.

“The restoration of our third TC coach is the last hurdle in our goal of running a 1960s TC ‘push-pull’ train at Swanage for the first time since September 1971,” said Dan Bennett, a volunteer diesel locomotive driver and 4TC Group member. The total restoration cost is estimated at £70,000, but thanks to matched funding from a benefactor and the Trust, only £20,000 needs to be raised through public donation.

The TC trains, which could be pulled or pushed by Class 33 diesel-electric locomotives, were a crucial part of Dorset’s railway history. They operated between London Waterloo and Swanage from 1967 until 1969, with a special service running in September 1971, just months before the branch line’s controversial closure.

Frank Roberts, Swanage Railway Trust chair, emphasized the historical significance of the project: “The restoration of a 1960s TC ‘push-pull’ train will enable the Swanage Railway to tell the fascinating story of the optimistic start and the sad end of the branch line from Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage.”

The Trust aims to have the restored three-car TC set operational by early 2026, adding another chapter to their preservation of Britain’s railway heritage.

The last TC train to visit Swanage ran in September 1971 as part of the Poole Grammar School Railway Society’s ‘Dorset Venturer’ rail tour, using the same Class 33 locomotive that is now based at the heritage railway.