RAIL buffs face a race against time to secure cash to make their mainline dream a reality.

They need £3million for junction improvements on the track at Worgret to allow engines on to the Swanage Railway in Purbeck.

But they only have until the end of July to raise the cash for Network Rail to include the work in its works programme for the Weymouth to Waterloo line in 2012 to 2013.

Members of Dorset County Council’s cabinet deferred their decision on an application for the money until their next meeting later in July because they needed more information about costs.

Coun Spencer Flower said: “We need to make our decision on sound judgement and not make these sort of decisions blindly.”

Coun Robert Gould said he thought it was a good idea but was concerned about the £3million and potential future costs of bringing the track up to standard and running the service.

Swanage Railway volunteers spent more than 25 years restoring the railway lines in Purbeck.

Trains have returned to the tracks, including many steam engines and one off visits.

But the junction points must be operated manually to allow trains on to the tracks.

Network Rail is willing to include work on the Worgret junction, near Wareham, for £3million but it has demanded a guarantee that the money will be available.

It is estimated that the same work would cost £9million if carried out in isolation at a later date.

Swanage Railway and Dorset County Council are among the organisations on the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership.

The group has been dedicated to reconnecting Swanage to the mainline at Wareham since 1997 to provide an alternative and sustainable transport link to the A351, which can become congested.