Diesel Gala

Swanage Railway is delighted to announce full details of our 17th annual Diesel Gala and Beer Festival, running from Friday the 10th to Sunday the 12th of May, with a Preview Day on Thursday the 9th. 

We will have an intensive service in operation on all three days over our full 10-mile line between Swanage and our boundary with Network Rail at “Bridge 4” over the River Frome on the line towards Wareham. There will be three trains in service each day, with two trains operating over the full length of the line and a shuttle running between Swanage and Corfe Castle.

Preview Day
This year’s preview day on Thursday 9th May will see D1015 “Western Champion” operating a diesel service alongside our normal steam service between Swanage and Norden. 33111 will also work two return trips in the afternoon in Push-Pull mode with the London Underground 4TC unit once it has arrived on the “Jurassic Crompton” Railtour. Timetable and tickets for the Preview Day are available here.

Travel to and from the event by rail!
Thanks to our friends at The Branch Line Society and GB Railfreight, you can travel to our Diesel Gala in comfort and style aboard “The Jurassic Crompton Railtour”, as well as travel home again aboard “The return of the Jurassic Crompton” Railtour! 

The “Jurassic Crompton” railtour runs from Eastleigh to Swanage via Guildford and London Waterloo, whilst the return tour runs from Swanage to Eastleigh via London Waterloo. Both Railtours will be hauled by Class 33 D6515 “Lt. Jenny Lewis RN” courtesy of the 71A Locomotive Group, and a GB Railfreight Class 69 69007.

You can book tickets for “The Jurassic Crompton” on 9th May here. 

And you can book tickets for the “The return of the Jurassic Crompton” on 12th May here. 

Beer Festival
This year’s Beer Festival takes place once again in Corfe Castle Goods Yard adjacent to the Goods Shed. Organised by Purbeck Kitchens, there are planned to be 34 Real Ales and 7 Ciders on offer - all from the Dorset area. There will also be hot food available on site from 12pm until late. 

Evening Services
On both Friday and Saturday evenings we will have our “Beerex” train in operation to get you to and from the Beer Festival at Corfe. Friday night’s services will be hauled by Class 50 50026 “Indomitable” (making a guest appearance at the event), and Saturday night’s trains will feature Class 24 D5054 “Phil Southern”. 

Trade Stands
Swanage Station will play host to several trade stands, selling a wide variety of railway related items and railway models. 

GB Railfreight will have a charity sales stand on Swanage Station selling a wide range of railway memorabilia and train components. They will also be giving you a chance to own two nameplates removed from their Class 73 fleet – “Charlotte” is being sold by auction (bids to be placed at the stand), and “Fiona” is being sold by raffle. All proceeds from the GB Railfreight sells stand will be donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.