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Autumn Steam Gala

Our Autumn Steam Gala will take place between Friday the 11th and Sunday the 13th of September and it is an event which always proves to be popular with enthusiasts and families alike. Our Steam Galas are the best way to see and travel behind our home fleet of steam locomotives which will be working alongside visiting A1 Class Locomotive 60163 "Tornado"! 

Tornado was built in 2008 and has since become a household name having featured on the big and small screens such as on the BBC TV series "Top Gear" and even in the children's film "Paddington 2". The locomotive also completed test runs up to 100mph overnight, proving that steam locomotives still have what it takes to haul heavy trains at high speeds. 

 

New for the Autumn Steam Gala - Full Line Brake Van Rides! Click here for more info

 

Travel aboard our freight train inside of our brake vans as the train travels from Swanage all the way to the River Frome and back again to Swanage, something which has never been done before at our railway. This means you can enjoy the sight and smells of our locomotive tackling our gradients as they travel along the line, an experience like no other! This service is currently planned to run at intervals throughout the day, including an early morning service before other passenger trains are running!

 

You can expect to see and enjoy all of the typical sights from our previous events, such as a busy event timetable which features services from Swanage all the way to the River Frome on our "extension" towards Worgret Junction, on site catering as well as facilities on our trains to keep you fed and watered, as well as trade stands at Swanage Station. 

 

Confirmed Trade Stands

 

Beloved Author Christopher Awdry will be at Harmans Cross Station along with "Full-Steam-Ahead" who will be there for a special launch event of the much anticipated George & Wilbert Awdry’s wonderful collaboration of ‘The Canadian Wonderland Tour 1980’. Pop along to see them between 10:30 and 14:30 on Saturday 12th to say hi and grab a copy two days before the general release!

 

Our friends from Model Railway Solutions will be at Swanage Station on Saturday and Sunday of the event and their trade stand will be stocked full of new and second hand models to take home with you. The team at MRS are also experts at building model railway baseboards, so why not have a chat with them during your visit to the railway?

 

Locomotive Lineup

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31806

U Class 31806

  • Built - 1926 (rebuilt into a U Class in 1928)
  • First Shed (on record) - Guildford
  • Last Shed (on record) - Guildford
  • Withdrawn - 1964
  • Returned to steam - 1981, 2011 and a new 10 year boiler ticket in 2021
  • Based at the Swanage Railway
34070

Battle of Britain Class 34070 "Manston"

  • Built - Brighton, 1947
  • First shed allocation - Ramsgate
  • Last shed allocation - Exmouth
  • Withdrawn - 1964
  • Returned to steam - 2008 and again in 2022
  • Based at the Swanage Railway
563

LSWR T3 Class 563

  • Built - 1893
  • First shed allocation - Nine Elms
  • Last shed allocation - Eastleigh
  • Withdrawn - 1945
  • Returned to steam - 2023
  • Based at the Swanage Railway
60163

A1 Class 60163 "Tornado"

  • Built - Darlington, 2008
  • Home Base - Darlington
  • Owned by The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust
  • First locomotive to reach 100mph since the end of steam on the mainline!
34072

Battle of Britain Class 34072 "257 Squadron"

  • Built - Brighton, 1948
  • First shed allocation - Dover
  • Last shed allocation - Eastleigh 
  • Withdrawn - 1964
  • Returned to steam - 1990 and again in 2018
  • Based at the Swanage Railway

Sunday Fish and Chips

Fish & Chips Behind Tornado

We’re excited to offer you the chance to enjoy a traditional fish and chip meal while travelling behind Tornado!

Departing from Swanage, this special journey lasts approximately one hour to one hour 40 minutes and combines the excitement of a steam-hauled journey with a delicious fish and chip meal.

Your experience includes a fish and chip meal, a soft drink and a spectacular journey behind Tornado.

There are two ways to enjoy this special experience. If you already have tickets for our Autumn Steam Gala, you can purchase a Fish & Chip Meal Add-On to enjoy the experience. Alternatively, you can purchase a combined Gala Day Ticket with Fish & Chips, giving you everything you need for a fantastic day on the railway.

Sit back, relax and enjoy your meal as Tornado does the hard work – a fantastic combination of steam, scenery and great food!

Fish and chips and a day rover ticket £69.95, Fish and chips add on £19.95.

Please book here

Gala Tickets

TICKET TYPE ADVANCE* ON THE DAY
ADULT 1 Day Rover Ticket £50 £55
CHILD 1 Day Rover Ticket £35 £40
ADULT 2 Day Rover Ticket** £95 £105
CHILD 2 Day Rover Ticket** £65 £75
ADULT 3 Day Rover Ticket** £125 £140
CHILD 3 Day Rover Ticket** £80 £95

*Advance Tickets available until 1700 on 10th September 2026.

** Two & Three day rovers are consecutive days.

Child Tickets (5-15)

Under 5's FREE

Carers FREE

Dogs FREE

DISCOUNTS 

SCHEME DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
Premier Life Members  50% discount on all rover tickets*
Lifetime Travel Members  50% discount on all rover tickets*
Ordinary Life Members  Can use their allocated free tickets*
Annual Members  33% discount on all rover tickets*
Season Ticket Holders  50% on all rover tickets*

* Discount available on 'On The Day' tickets only.

No other discounts are available

 

Buy your tickets HERE