PUBLIC TO GET TO DRIVE A GIANT CLASS 37 DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE WHEN IT VISITS THE SWANAGE RAILWAY’S ‘RAIL’ ALE FESTIVAL - MAY 2006

Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 18th April 2006
Press Officer and official photographer, Swanage Railway
Photos on this page are copyright Kevin Jarvis, Andy Williams or Andrew P.M.Wright as noted.

Members of the public are to get the exciting chance to drive a giant ex-British Rail Class 37 diesel locomotive when it visits the Swanage Railway in May for the line’s first ever ‘Rail’ Ale Beer Festival.

A unique opportunity to drive a powerful diesel locomotive on The Purbeck Line. To visit our dedicated Diesel Driving Experience page, please click here.

Resplendent in its 1970s BR blue livery – and owned by the Growler Group, the English Electric Type 3 Preservation Society – No. 37 324 ‘Clydebridge’ is spending two weeks on the six mile relaid Purbeck Line in Dorset which runs from Swanage to Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden park and ride.

Visiting the Isle of Purbeck from the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway, the massive Class 37 diesel will be the centrepiece of the Swanage Railway’s first ever ‘Rail’ Ale Beer Festival on a large grassed area at Norden park and ride – next to the railway station – on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 19, 20 and 21 May 2006.

And the public will have the chance to take to the controls of the huge Class 37 diesel locomotive while it is in the Isle of Purbeck thanks to the Swanage Railway’s Driver Experience packages. The massive 1,300 horsepower Class 37 locomotive weighs in at 105 tonnes and was built in 1962 and remained in service for over 30 years until its withdrawal in 1996.

The Class 37 will be available for driver experience bookings on Saturday and Sunday, 13 and 14 May 2006, as well as the following week leading up to the Swanage Railway’s first ‘Rail’ Ale Beer Festival.

Sponsored by the Isle of Purbeck Brewery at Studland, near Swanage, the ‘Rail’ Ale Beer Festival is being staged in association with the East Dorset Branch of CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale.

Swanage Railway’s General Manager, Nick Brown, said: “While it is the first time that a Class 37 diesel has visited the Swanage Railway, the Class is not new to the Isle of Purbeck. Sisters of No. 37 324 used to haul the ball clay and gas trains from Furzebrook, near Wareham, from 1991 to the mid-1990s.

“The first Class 37 to be used on such work on the stub of the former Swanage branch to Furzebrook was No. 37 294 which came down the branch on 22 February 1991 and took out two Tiger ball clay wagons from the Furzebrook works of English China Clays – now Imrys.

“I can remember watching those clay and gas trains at Furzebrook and admiring the lines of the power Class 37s – not to mention the growl of their exhaust.

“I never thought that I would be able to enjoy one at Swanage and a Class 37 passing the dramatic ruins of the Medieval Corfe Castle must be every diesel enthusiasts idea of heaven.

“Photographers and passengers who love diesels will have a field day. No. 37 324 is a smashing locomotive – a real gem,” added Mr Brown.

The Swanage Railway’s first ever ‘Rail’ Ale Beer Festival will be sporting more than 50 real ales and ciders.

Organised by volunteer Swanage Railway train guard Graham Cope – who lives in Bournemouth and works on the Winfrith science and enterprise park between Wareham and Dorchester – the venue for the Swanage Railway’s first ‘Rail’ Ale Festival is the park and ride car park next to Norden station. (Graham Cope photo, right, copyright Andrew P.M. Wright)

To visit our dedicated page with full details of the beers on offer plus other information, please click here.

Norden park and ride is clearly signposted just off the A351 between Wareham and Corfe Castle. The beer festival runs from 11am to 11pm on the Friday and the Saturday – and 11am to 3pm on the Sunday.

Admission to the beer festival is free and there is a frequent steam and diesel train service every 40 minutes from Swanage, Harman’s Cross and Corfe Castle.

To book a Driver Experience trip at the controls of Class 37 No. 324 on 13th or 14th May, call the Swanage Railway Reservations Office on 01929 475207 (10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday) or e-mail the Swanage Railway on general@swanrail.freeserve.co.uk

The price for each participant for a full day will be £180.

A unique opportunity to drive a powerful diesel locomotive on The Purbeck Line.

To visit our dedicated Diesel Driving Experience page, please click here.