Swanage Railway's Diesel Gala & Beer Festival Weekend - Friday 11th to Sunday 13th May 2012
Visitor Information

A Class 57/3 is to star, courtesy of Network Rail, in the Swanage Railway's 7th annual three-day Grand Diesel Gala which will run over the weekend of Friday 11th to Sunday 13th May 2012

Click on the button to book your Diesel Gala tickets on-line

The Swanage Railway is pleased to confirm that our seventh annual three-day Grand Diesel Gala will run over the weekend of Friday 11th to Sunday 13th May 2012. We will host a selection of main line diesel locomotives, hauling a very intensive train service on the relaid Purbeck Line.

Details have now been finalised for this year's Swanage Diesel gala running over the weekend of Friday 11th to Sunday 13th May 2012. As in previous years there will be an intensive three-train service running each day from 09:00 to midnight (Sunday until 19:00).

The popular 'Dorset Beer Festival' will also be taking place at Harmans Cross alongside the Swanage Railway's Diesel Gala. Although the Beer Festival is not operated by the Swanage Railway, it always proves popular with Gala visitors!

Our 40-page full-colour illustrated guide and timetable for 11th to 13th May 2012 is now available for puchase on-line here or by clicking on the cover picture. With a cover price of £1, the printed guide will be free for those purchasing a rover ticket - but a donation to our funds would be gratefully received of course!

The programme includes details of the Dorset Beer Festival, visiting locos, timetable and of other events around the railway.

Please scroll down this page to see a single-page passenger timetable which is downloadable for printing.

The Swanage Railway is delighted to announce that the final loco to be confirmed to attend this year's diesel gala will be a class 57/3, courtesy of Network Rail.

This will be the first opportunity to ride behind one of these locos since Network Rail have taken over ownership of these engines.

The Swanage Railway would like to thank Network Rail for its kind assistance in supporting the Railway's annual gala.

The confirmed final line up of visiting locos to star in the 2012 Diesel Gala is now:
•  Class 57/3 Courtesy of Network Rail
•  Class 50 - 50026 'Indomitable'
•  Class 27 No. D5401 - courtesy of the Northampton Type 2 Group
•  Class 73 136 'Perseverance' - courtesy of Transmart Trains Ltd and moved by GB Railfreight.

The Swanage Railway's resident diesel locomotives also taking part in the annual event are:
•  Class 08 Shunter No. 08 436
•  Class 08 Shunter No. D3591
•  Class 33 Crompton No. 33 111

Please note that due to circumstances entirely beyond the control of the Swanage Railway we regret to announce that the following locomotives will now not be appearing at the Diesel Gala:
•  Class 55 No. 55 019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' - courtesy of the Deltic Preservation Society
•  Class 42 Warship No. D821 'Greyhound' - courtesy of the Diesel Traction Group
•  Class 20s No. D8188 and D8059 - courtesy of the Somerset and Dorset Locomotive Company
•  Class 33 Crompton No. D6515

On the Friday and Saturday evenings, there will be a two-train service from 7pm.

The first of those trains will be the Wessex Belle bistro dining train - for which advanced booking is advised - while the second train will include a buffet serving light refreshments and alcoholic drinks.

Diesel Gala Fares:

• 1 day rover £22 - child £16
• 2 day rover £33 - child £25
• 3 day rover £40 - child £31
REMEMBER - UNDER 5'S TRAVEL FREE
In addition:
• CAMRA members and Privilege card holders can obtained a one day rover at the child rate
• CAMRA members special fare Norden - Harmans Cross £5 return
• Special Friday and Saturday evening fare Swanage to Harmans cross £5 return (valid from 18.45)

SORRY: THE SWANAGE RAILWAY'S 'DRIVE A 20 FOR £20' CLASS 20 DRIVING EXPERIENCE IS NOW SOLD OUT!

Timetable:

A simplified single-page passenger timetable is available below plus our 20-page Working Timetable, both of which are downloadable for printing.

Downloadable conveniently-sized Diesel Gala 2012 timetable. Click here or on the image above.

SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DRIVE FROM SWANAGE TO WAREHAM IN A CLASS 73 HERITAGE DIESEL

You can experience what it's like to drive all the way from Swanage to Wareham in a Class 73 heritage diesel thanks to a pioneering DVD from Swanage Railway official photographer Andrew P.M. Wright.

Running for more than an hour, the DVD features a real-time trip between the two Purbeck towns as the GB Railfreight locomotive was returning home from the 2011 Swanage Railway Diesel Gala.

With full location and gradient captions for the ten mile trip, the DVD also includes rare colour photographs of the Swanage branch's last day of operation on New Year's Day, 1972 - featuring 'Hampshire' diesel-electric multiple units.

Filmed to broadcast standards, the DVD is just £12.95 from the Swanage Railway shop - in person or on-line.

You can see a sample of the DVD on the Swanage Railway YouTube videos page here.

DVD CELEBRATING THE SWANAGE RAILWAY'S FIRST FIVE DIESEL GALAS - SWANAGE DIESELS

Locomaster Profiles has produced a new 90+ minutes DVD, exclusively for the Swanage Railway, highlighting all 30 diesels to have run during the first five Swanage Railway Diesel Galas including 2010.

The DVD also features an exclusive 'official' cab ride, from Wareham to Norden, filmed when 47580 brought stock to the 2010 Gala.

DVD's cost £16:95.

The DVD can be found in the Swanage Railway's shop at Swanage station, and can also be ordered on-line from the Swanage Railway by following this link or click on the image on the right.

Appearing at the Swanage Railway's 2011 three-day Grand Diesel Gala, 6th - 8th May 2011, was 33103 Swordfish. Photos Martin Payne