CAST & STAGE SET FOR GRAND DIESEL GALA & BEER FESTIVAL - 9th-11th May 2008

Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 9th May 2008
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
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The train of 5 of the visiting locos arrive on the Swanage Railway from Wareham at Motala on 8th May 2008

The cast is assembled and the stage set for one of the Swanage Railway's most impressive and dramatic special events - the three-day Grand Diesel Gala and Beer Festival which starts first thing on Friday 9 May 2008.

History is to be made because the largest number of main line diesel locomotives to ever visit the award-winning relaid Purbeck Line will be hauling an intensive train service between Norden park and ride, Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston and Swanage.

Seven diesel locomotives have arrived at Swanage to join the volunteer-run railway’s stable of three resident diesel locomotives for the fund-raising event which runs until Sunday 11 May 2008, inclusive.

The train of 5 of the visiting locos approach Corfe Castle on 8th May 2008

All but one of the visiting diesel locomotives ran down to Swanage from the national railway network on the afternoon of Thursday, 8th May, 2008, via the Swanage Railway’s connection with the national railway system at Motala between Norden and Furzebrook.

The guest diesel locomotives are Classes 73, 66, 50, 37, 20 and 07 and have travelled from Barrow Hill and Derby, the Severn Valley Railway as well as Eastleigh in Hampshire.

The Class 07 arrived from Eastleigh Works at the Swanage Railway by road on Tuesday, 6th May, 2008, and will be hauling brake van rides at Swanage. (See separate news item by clicking here).

The four-coach electric VEP unit – owned by South West Trains – hauled by Class 73 diesel-electric 'Spitfire' arrives at Motala on 8th May 2008

The locomotives have been joined by a four-coach electric VEP unit – owned by South West Trains – built for the new electric train service between Bournemouth and London Waterloo which replaced steam traction in July, 1967.

The four-coach electric VEP unit hauled by Class 73 diesel-electric 'Spitfire' meets rebuilt West Country Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 'Eddystone' on an 'up' train from Swanage at Harman's Cross on 8th May 2008.

The VEP unit hauled by Class 73 diesel-electric 'Spitfire' arrived at Motala just after 2.30pm on Thursday, 8th May, 2008, before running down to Swanage - passing rebuilt West Country Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 'Eddystone' on an 'up' train from Swanage at Harman's Cross.

Just over two hours later, the Class 20, two Class 37s and a Class 50 hauled by Class 66 No. 66 724 'Drax Power Station' arrived at Motala before running down to Corfe Castle where the entourage passed 'Eddystone' with an 'up' train bound for Norden park and ride.

The Class 20, two Class 37s and the Class 50 hauled by Class 66 No. 66 724 'Drax Power Station' passing rebuilt West Country Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 'Eddystone' on an 'up' train from Swanage at Corfe Castle on 8th May 2008

Main line operators South West Trains and GB Railfreight are among the companies supplying diesel locomotives for the special three-day event.

Varied permutations of the ten diesel locomotives will be operating an intensive train service between Norden park and ride, Corfe Castle, Harman’s Cross, Herston and Swanage throughout the special event.

Behind the scenes in Swanage and Corfe Castle signal boxes on 8th May 2008.

To offer added interest for the diesel locomotive enthusiast, there will also be an intensive shuttle train service between Norden park and ride, Corfe Castle and Harman’s Cross stations.

Joining the visiting diesel locomotives will be the Swanage Railway’s resident diesel locomotives – Class 33 D6515 ‘Stan Symes’, which hauled the last train from Poole to Wimborne in May, 1975, as well as a Class 47 and a Class 08 shunter.

The focus of the fund-raising event – with proceeds going towards the further development of the Swanage Railway, which has been rebuilt from nothing since 1976 – will be a large marquee offering more than 50 specialist ales and ciders in a field close to Harman’s Cross station.

The beer festival is being staged in association with the historic Red Lion pub in Swanage High Street.

The large beer tent close to Harman’s Cross station will be open from 11am to 11pm on the Friday and Saturday – as well as 11am to 3pm on the Sunday.

There will be evening trains on the Friday and Saturday evening when there will be live music in the beer tent at Harman’s Cross which will also offer a range of wines.

Cheers! Preparing for the three-day diesel gala and beer festival are, from left, Peter Frost, Phil Thrower, Graham Cope and Matt McManus.

As well as a wide range of beers and ciders, non-alcoholic refreshments will also be available in both the beer tent and the nearby Harman’s Cross village hall.

Special one, two and three-day rover tickets for unlimited train travel will be available, as will be normal return and single fares between stations.

One day rover tickets are £18 for adults and £15 for concessions while two-day rover tickets are £25 for adults and £20 for concessions. Three-day rover tickets are £35 for adults and £28 for concessions.

Concession fares apply to children aged three to fifteen, inclusive, and adults aged 60 and over. Further details of the event - as well as the train timetable - are available by clicking here.

The following 200 photos showing the movement of diesel visitors to Swanage via Wareham on 8th May 2008 Corfe Castle are courtesy of Swanage Railway press officer and official photographer Andrew P.M. Wright.