Diesel Gala and Beer Festival 2026

Save the date: 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. Move visiting locomotives to be announced soon!

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.

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 45 Real Ales and 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. The traction for these will be announced soon.

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.

Look out for more information soon. We’ll share further additions to the visiting loco roster, detailed timetables, and the full beer list as we get closer to the event. For now, pop the dates in your diary and start planning your perfect Gala weekend!