This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/dorset/6764095.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Steam train collides with coach One hurt in level-crossing crash
(20 minutes later)
A steam train carrying a party of school children has collided with a motor coach at a level-crossing on the Swanage Railway in Dorset. A steam train carrying a party of school children and a motor coach have collided at a level-crossing on the Swanage Railway in Dorset.
The 52-year-old driver of the coach, who is from Swanage, was flown to hospital with serious injuries.The 52-year-old driver of the coach, who is from Swanage, was flown to hospital with serious injuries.
The school children and the train driver were unhurt in the crash which happened at about 1230 BST. The school children and the train driver were unhurt in the crash, which happened at about 1230 BST.
It happened at Quarr crossing near Harman's Cross, south of Corfe Castle on the Isle of Purbeck. It occurred at Quarr crossing near Harman's Cross, south of Corfe Castle on the Isle of Purbeck.
Police, fire and ambulance services have been at the scene.Police, fire and ambulance services have been at the scene.
Unmanned crossing
The coach driver was freed by the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service at 1310 BST after being trapped under the wreckage.The coach driver was freed by the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service at 1310 BST after being trapped under the wreckage.
Unmanned crossing
He was then flown to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.He was then flown to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.
Ch Insp Rick Dowell, of Dorset Police, said: "A comprehensive forensic investigation is now taking place.Ch Insp Rick Dowell, of Dorset Police, said: "A comprehensive forensic investigation is now taking place.
"It is too early to provide any definitive cause for the collision.""It is too early to provide any definitive cause for the collision."
It is known however that the level crossing is unmanned. It is known that the level crossing is unmanned and there is no barrier or gate at the crossing, which leads down a track to a farm.
A Swanage Railway spokesman said the crossing is controlled by flashing coloured lights.
Maximum 25mph
Nick Brown, general manager at the railway, said the train was a 1950s British Rail standard class four tank engine, worth up to half a million pounds.
It was hauling five British Railway designed carriages.
He said between 30 and 50 passengers were on board the service from Swanage to Norden, including a party of twenty people with the driver and foreman in the engine room.
Mr Brown said the train would have been travelling at a maximum speed of 25mph and heading up a steep slope at the time of crash.
Arrangements were being made to remove the four rear-most carriages of the train and tow them back to Swanage railway station using another steam train.Arrangements were being made to remove the four rear-most carriages of the train and tow them back to Swanage railway station using another steam train.