Book Wagon
The Book Wagon sells a wide range of railway second-hand books. All the books have been donated with proceeds supporting the museum. The wagon is open most weekends, during events and can be opened on request when the museum is open.
We accept both cash and card payments in the Book Wagon.
We welcome all book donations, but please contact us before bringing them to the museum. We can also arrange local collection.
Museum Signal Box
The 1950s Signal Box sited on the station platform adjoining station house, offers the public a ‘hands on’ opportunity to pull the levers to operate signals and gain knowledge of how a single line runs safely.
Signal Box History
When the Swanage branch line opened in 1885, three signal boxes served the line located at Worgret Junction, Corfe Castle and Swanage. Circa 1955 the foundations of the 1885 built Corfe Castle signal box became unstable. British Railways (BR) took the decision to re-site signalling operations into the main station building.
Choosing the porters room for the purpose, an extension of this room out onto the platform provided increased space for equipment. Three windows incorporated into the extension allowed all round vision for the signalman. Work also entailed excavation of the up platform for the installation of point rods, signal cables and associated pulleys etc’. Evidence of this work survives in the form of concrete slabs forming the platform surface at this point. The 1885 signal box closed on June 17th 1956 and was subsequently demolished. Operation of the signalling system thus passed to the replacement site, remaining in use until the Swanage Branch was closed by British Railways on January 3rd 1972.
