A GROUP of people have been reunited to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the last train to run on a Dorset branch line.

Former signalman Bob Richards met with some of the passengers who travelled on the British Rail train from Swanage to Wareham which he oversaw before the line closed at the beginning of 1972.

The line has since been restored and now steam trains run on the Swanage Railway.

Among the passengers who travelled on the last train were Peter Sills and his father Fred-erick Sills from Wareham as well as Wool’s Malcolm Munro.

They were joined by Bryan Trent, from Parkstone, who turned up on Swanage station platform with his 1972 British Rail train ticket. Mr Munro designed a special commemorative headboard for the day.

Mr Richards was presented with two pieces of signalling equipment that he last used.

Peter Sills said: “I remember Bob because I rode on the trains between Wareham and Swanage as a child and so I knew the staff very well.

“The people who operated the branch line were like a large family.”

Malcolm Munro said: “I was 16 years old in 1972 and had to pay the adult fare of 50 pence for a special commemorative ticket to ride on that last British Rail train from Swanage to Wareham.”