5th September, 2025
Story by Andrew P.M. Wright,
Swanage Railway official photographer and press officer.
Six magnificent locomotives dating from the 1890s to the 1940s are to star in an historic three-day Autumn Steam Gala spectacular that takes place in the Isle of Purbeck from Friday, 12 September, to Sunday, 14 September, 2025, inclusive.
The historic event will be the first time that visiting 1930s Southern Railway ‘Schools’ class express steam locomotive No. 926 ‘Repton’ has hauled trains in Dorset since it was based in Bournemouth during the Second World War.
With trains running along the whole nine-mile length of the Swanage Railway, the Autumn Steam Gala will also feature visiting 1920s S15 class freight locomotive No. 30506 – the first time that a S15 has visited the Isle of Purbeck in more than 20 years.
With a busy timetable of passenger trains between Swanage, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle, Norden and four miles beyond to the River Frome – within sight of Wareham - there will also be nostalgic demonstration freight trains as well as evening ‘beerex’ and night trains between Swanage, Corfe Castle and Norden.
The public also has the exciting chance to ride in the brake van of a demonstration 1950s freight train during the Spring Steam Gala with tickets available from the Swanage Railway website at swanagerailway.co.uk.
Never visiting the Isle of Purbeck branch line to Corfe Castle and Swanage in pre-preservation days, the ‘Schools’ class of steam locomotives, designed by Richard Maunsell, hauled main line express trains across the south of England – including between London, Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester and Weymouth – from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Designed by Robert Urie, the ‘S15’ class steam locomotives hauled heavy freight trains between London and Southampton as well as between the capital and Exeter across more than 40 years – from the 1920s to the 1960s.
Based at Bournemouth after being built at Eastleigh in 1934, Schools class No. 926 ‘Repton’ is appearing at the Swanage Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala courtesy of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway while the Urie Locomotive Society’s S15 class No. 30506 is visiting the Isle of Purbeck from the Watercress Line in Hampshire.
Also hauling passenger and demonstration freight trains will be Swanage Railway’s home fleet of four preserved steam locomotives, subject to availability.
That fleet consists of unique Victorian 1893 London and South Western Railway T3 No. 563, late 1920s Southern Railway U class No. 31806 and two 1940s Southern Railway Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific express steam locomotives – No. 34070 ‘Manston’ and No. 34072 ‘257 Squadron’.
Swanage Railway volunteer commercial director Alexander Atkins said: “With steam locomotives from the 1890s to the 1940s hauling passenger and demonstration freight trains as well as bracing brake van rides, the Autumn Steam Gala will be an exciting spectacular not to be missed, especially as some of the passenger trains will be running over our four mile line beyond Norden to Furzebrook and the River Frome within sight of Wareham.
“It will be thrilling to watch and ride behind 1930s Southern Railway ‘Schools’ class locomotive No. 926 ‘Repton’ on the Swanage Railway for the first time while it will be the first time in more than 20 years that a Southern Railway ‘S15’ class locomotive has operated is the Isle of Purbeck,” added Alexander who is a volunteer Swanage Railway driver, the deputy chair of the Swanage Railway Trust and a director of the Swanage Railway Company.
Swanage Railway Company chair Gavin Johns explained: “We are delighted to be able to offer enthusiasts and the general public such a wide variety of steam locomotives at work through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck countryside, past the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle and beyond Norden to Furzebrook and the River Frome within sight of Wareham.
“No. 926 ‘Repton’ and No. 30506 are wonderful and fascinating examples of Southern Railway steam locomotive design through the 1920s and the 1930s – ‘Repton’ being designed for express passenger train work while No. 30506 was designed for hauling heavy freight trains.
“One of the class of steam locomotives named after English public schools, ’Repton’ was based at Bournemouth from the late 1930s and operated from there during the Second World War. The coming of peace saw ‘Repton’ used on inter-regional express passenger trains before it was withdrawn from British Railways at Basingstoke at the end of 1962.
“The S15 class steam locomotives proved to be strong and capable locomotives with No. 30506 hauling freight trains between London and Southampton, as well as from the capital to Exeter, from the 1920s until it was withdrawn from traffic in 1964,” added Gavin who is a volunteer signalman on the Swanage Railway.
Swanage Railway Trust chair Frank Roberts said: “I would like to thank all the dedicated volunteers who have worked so hard to plan and stage such a complicated event as our Autumn Steam Gala featuring six steam locomotives - dating from the 1890s to the 1940s – and promises to be a wonderfully evocative taste of yesteryear.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering should contact the Swanage Railway volunteer recruitment and retention officer Lisa Gravett on 01929 475212 or email iwanttovolunteer@swanagerailway.co.uk. Details about volunteering can also be found at swanagerailwaytrust.org/volunteering.