TRIBUTES have been paid to a “special lady” who became one of the guardians of the Swanage Railway.

Monavyn Moss, known as Monni, hailed from a Purbeck family which farmed land next to the Swanage branch line from the beginning of World War Two.

She lived at Challow Farm, within sight of Corfe Castle railway station, and eventually formed the pressure group which fought to stop a bypass being built through the historic village on the disused railway track bed.

While chairman of the Corfe Castle Eastern Preservation Group she worked tirelessly to ensure the bypass plans were scrapped and the Swanage Railway was steadily rebuilt.

Swanage Railway Trust chairman Liz Sellen said: “Everyone is very saddened to hear of Monni’s death and our condolences go to her family and friends.

“Without Monni’s determined campaigning work there would not be the Swanage Railway that so many people enjoy today because the line would only have been re-laid the three miles from Swanage to Harman’s Cross.

“A bypass on the railway track bed would have meant that the Norden park and ride scheme, which takes thousands of cars off the narrow and winding A351 road to Swanage every year, could not have been built.

Bournemouth Echo:

“The Swanage Railway would not have been connected to the national railway system and special excursion trains would not bring some 500 passengers a time into Swanage.”

The Preservation Group fought to secure a bypass around the west side of the village, rather than through the centre of Corfe, along the track bed.

Swanage Railway founder member Peter Frost, who knew Monni for many years, said: “Her leadership and popular following in Corfe Castle played a major role in influencing her peer group within the parish, district and county councils.

“Monni was a special lady, prepared to raise her head above the parapet and lead the fight for her community, a fight without which the Swanage Railway, as we know it, would not exist.”

Monni passed away at the age of 94.