7th May - 10th May 2026
Main Gala: Friday 8 – Sunday 10 May 2026
Preview Day: Thursday 7 May
Our much-loved Diesel Gala & Beer Festival returns to the Purbeck line for a long weekend of heritage diesel action and good cheer. From first light to late evening, expect the friendly buzz Swanage Railway is known for – coupled with a cracking beer festival at Corfe Castle station. It’s the perfect mix of classic traction, big skies, and time well spent with family and friends.
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. Trains operate from around 09:00 – 23:30 on Friday and Saturday, and 09:00 – 18:00 on Sunday. There will be three carriage sets in service each day, with two sets operating over the full length of the line and a shuttle running between Swanage and Corfe Castle.
Visiting locomotives
Joining our home fleet Class 33s 33012 & 33053 at this year’s event are the following guest locomotives:
| Class 20 20066 | Courtesy of Shaun Wright |
| Class 26 26007 | Courtesy of Victor Korzeniewicz |
| Class 37 37607 | Courtesy of Swietelsky |
| Class 45 45041 “Royal Tank Regiment” | Courtesy of Peak Loco Company |
| Class 58 58023 “Leicester Depot” | Courtesy of Ed Stevenson |
| Class 73 73119 "Paul Taylor" (requested) | Courtesy of GB Railfreight |
| Mystery loco (TBC) | Courtesy of GB Railfreight |
| Class 438 "4TC" Multiple Unit no. 428 | Courtesy of London Underground |
All visiting locomotives are subject to availability.
Preview Day
On Thursday 7 May, we’ll warm things up with our popular mixed traction Preview Day – a relaxed taster that sets the tone for the three days to come. This year’s preview day will see Class 45 45041 “Royal Tank Regiment” operating a diesel service alongside our normal steam service between Swanage and Norden.
On-Train Bar
For the first time at this year's event we will have a bar onboard one of sets of carriages. The bar can be found in the brake coach of our "B" set of carriages - this is marked in the timetable by a "beer glass", and will be the set of carriages in operation both evenings (as well as all three days). The bar will be selling two casks beers and eight ciders, as well as a selection of wines, spirit mixers, soft drinks and snacks. Warm sausage rolls and pasties are also planned to be available too.
Beer Festival
This year’s Beer Festival takes place once again in Corfe Castle Goods Yard adjacent to the Goods Shed. There are planned to be 40 Real Ales and 10 Ciders on offer - all from the Dorset area. The Beer Festival will be open 1100 – 2300 Friday & Saturday, and 1100 – 1800 on Sunday. Entry to the Beer Festival is free. Hot food, hot & cold drinks and ice cream will be available on site all day and into the evenings, and there will be live music on both Friday & Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoon.
Our railway museum and second-hand book sales wagon will also be open all weekend adjacent to the Beer Festival.
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 evening's trains will be operated by Class 20 20066, whilst Saturday evening's trains will be operated by Class 26 26007.
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 sells stand on Swanage Station selling a wide range of railway memorabilia and train components. GB Railfreight will donate all proceeds from their sales stand to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
To buy tickets for our preview day, Thursday 7th May, please click here.
Swanage Railway
Station House<br />
Railway Station Approach<br />
Swanage<br />
Dorset<br />
BH19 1HB