DIESEL GALA & BEER FESTIVAL - THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVES ARRIVE TO TAKE THEIR PLACE ON STAGE

News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 6th May 2010
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright.
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The convoy of massive main-line diesel locomotives passes through Corfe Castle station on the Swanage Railway. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

The cast is assembling and the stage is nearly ready for the Swanage Railway's mouth-watering three-day beer festival and dramatic diesel gala which takes to Dorset's relaid Purbeck Line from tomorrow, Friday, 7 May 2010.

Swanage Railway's official photographer & press officer Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied 70 photos of the arrival of the convoy of diesel locomotives from the main line onto the Swanage Railway. Please scroll down the page to see them..

There will be some 50 first class beers on offer and ten main line diesel locomotives in action, seven of the Leviathans visiting from the main line.

With musical entertainment, tasty food, ample attended car parking at Norden 'park and ride' station - and 50 per cent off single and return train fares for CAMRA members on production of their membership card - the event is ideal for the perfect weekend away.

The three-day Beer Festival next to Harman's Cross station - between Corfe Castle and Swanage - runs from Friday, May 7, to Sunday, May 9, 2010, and runs alongside the Swanage Railway's annual three-day diesel gala with seven visiting ex-British Rail main line diesel locomotives.

Swanage Railway volunteers raise a glass during 2009 Beer Festival and Diesel Gala. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

This year, the visiting diesel locomotives are Class 31, Class 37, Class 45, Class 47, Class 50, Class 56 and Class 73 as well as an ex-Southern Region 4VEP four-coach electric unit which will be hauled by diesel locomotives during the special weekend.

Also running during the diesel gala will be the Swanage Railway's three residents diesel locomotive - one Class 08 shunter and two Class 33s which used to haul trains between Bournemouth and Poole between 1967 and 1988.

The six mile long Swanage Railway linking the historic village of Corfe Castle with the seaside at Swanage - on the Jurassic Coast, a protected and internationally recognised World Heritage Site - has been rebuilt from nothing since 1976.

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

The convoy of massive main-line diesel locomotives at Corfe Castle station. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

The focus of the fund-raising beer festival and diesel gala event - with proceeds going towards the further development of the Swanage Railway - 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 which is supplying the catering.

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.

The convoy of massive main-line diesel locomotives at Corfe Castle station. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

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.

The visiting diesel locomotives attending the three-day event via the main line at Wareham will be:

* Class 31 No. 31 271 'Stratford 1840 - 2001' in BR Railfreight Construction two-tone grey livery from the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley.
* Class 37 No. 37 264 in BR blue livery from the Birmingham Railway Museum.
* Class 45 No. 45 133 in BR blue livery from the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley.
* Class 47 No. 47 580 'County of Essex' in Br large logo blue livery from the Tyseley Railway Centre.
* Class 50 No. 50 135 'Ark Royal' in BR large logo blue livery from the Severn Valley Railway.
* Class 56 No. 56 101 in BR large logo blue livery from the Barrow Hill engine shed.
* Class 73 No. 73 119 'Borough of Eastleigh' from Bruce Knights Rail Services at Eastleigh Works.

The visiting Southern region 4VEP four-coach electric unit is No. 3417 'Gordon Pettit' in BR blue livery courtesy of the Bluebell Railway and based at Eastleigh Works.

The convoy of massive main-line diesel locomotives at Corfe Castle station. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

The Swanage Railway's resident diesel locomotives operating during the special three-day event will be Class 08 shunter No. 08 436 as well as Class 33 diesels No. 33 103 'Swordfish' and No. 33 111 'Hot Dog'.

One day rover tickets are £21 for adults and £18 for children while two-day rover tickets are £30 for adults and £24 for children. Three-day rover tickets are £38 for adults and £30 for children. Evening rover tickets, giving unlimited travel are £5 for adults and £3.50 for children.

Further details of the event - as well as the train timetables - are available from www.swanagerailway.co.uk.

The convoy of massive main-line diesel locomotives arrives at Swanage station. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright

For further details of the event - as well as the train timetables - see our dedicated page here.