Swanage Railway Diesel Gala & Beer Festival MAY 2024

🗓️ Friday 10th – Sunday 12th May 2024

Swanage Railway’s Diesel Gala & Beer Festival is a three-day extravaganza showcasing the railway’s own diesel engines as well as visiting locomotives from across the UK – and of course its famous Beerex train and beer festival at Corfe Castle Station help make the event a proper celebration of all things diesel.

One of the most highly regarded annual events of its type in the country

DAN BENNET – Event Organiser
  • GB Railfreight Class 69 No. 69 004 locomotive
    The GB Railfreight Class 69 No. 69 004 was raising money for Prostate Cancer UK
  • Diesel train at Swanage Station for its annual gala
    GB Railfreight at the Diesel Gala

The May sun shone, the locos ran the full nine-mile track from Swanage, beyond the usual terminus at Norden, to the River Frome, and two of the heritage locos had the important job of wearing the ‘Beerex’ hat – carrying passengers to and from Corfe Castle Station in the evenings to sample a range of award-winning local ales and ciders.

Also part of the festivities was the unveiling of Swanage Railway’s latest addition – the industrial narrow gauge diesel loco Ruston and Hornsby 48DL No. 283871 – which was recently restored here.

The locos

Visiting diesel and diesel-electric locos joined Swanage Railway’s own for the three-day extravaganza.

Class 37 No. 37 70 train from the Harry Needle Railroad Company
The Class 37 No. 37 703, visiting from the Harry Needle Railroad Company
Diesel 'Lt Jenny Lewis' at Norden Station
Swanage Railway’s own Class 33 D6515 (BR No 33 012) ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ arriving into Norden Station
Visiting diesel locomotive Class 46 No. D182 (British Rail No. 46 045)
Visiting from the Peak Locomotive Company was the Class 46 No. D182 (British Rail No. 46 045)
Class 46 No. D182 blue loco at Swanage Diesel Gala
The Class 46 No. D182 pulled one of the evening ‘Beerex’ trains
Visiting diesel loco preparing to leave Swanage Station
Preparing to leave Swanage Station
Class 31 No. 73 136 diesel train from Nemesis Rail
Visiting Class 31 No. 73 136 from Nemesis Rail stepped in for the 31 128 after it developed a fault
GB Railfreight Class 31 No. 73 136 arriving in Swanage Station
People on the platform at Swanage welcoming in GB Railfreight Class 31 No. 73 136
GB Railfreight Class 31 73 136 at Swanage railway station
Class 31 73 136 at Swanage Station
Class 25 No. D7612 (British Rail No. 25 262) diesel train from South Devon Diesel Traction
Class 25 No. D7612 (British Rail No. 25 262), visiting from South Devon Diesel Traction

Food, fun and fundraising on Platform 1, Swanage Station

Passengers arriving at or departing from Swanage Station were treated to various stalls including vintage railway memorabilia, train-related souvenirs, and hearty rolls and baps provided Smith’s Butchers’ BBQ.

And the ever popular beer festival at Corfe Castle Station went on into Friday and Saturday evening, with Beerex diesel trains providing transport.

Vintage model trains and railway memorabilia
Perusing vintage model locos and railway memorabilia
Old Swanage Railway guidebooks: 'The Railways of Purbeck' and 'Swanage Railway Guide'
The fascinating history of the Swanage Railway
Food from the BBQ tent at Swanage Railway Diesel Gala
Food from the BBQ tent at Swanage Station
Model trains and railway history books
Hornby & Bachmann model trains
Model trains at the Swanage Railway Diesel Gala
Vintage model trains for sale
Crab Apple Catering van at Swanage Railway Diesel Gala
Wraps & baps by local Crab Apple Catering at the gala’s beer festival at Corfe Castle Station’s goods yard
Rail Riders merchandise
Railway club Rail Riders merchandise
Swanage Railway guidebooks and toys
The Railway’s history links with Wareham

New addition to the tracks

Part of the diesel gala included the unveiling of small-but-perfectly-formed and newly-restored Ruston & Hornsby 48DL No. 283871 industrial locomotive.

The Ruston had its first outing on the two feet gauge line at the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum, situated just above the tracks at Norden Station, before operating demonstration ball clay trains across the weekend.

Ruston & Hornsby 48DL industrial loco
The newly-restored 1956 narrow gauge Ruston & Hornsby 48DL industrial loco was welcomed into service at the Purbeck Mineral & Mining Museum
Swanage Railway Ruston loco unveiling
A big moment for principle benefactor Ian Bradshaw as the Ruston & Hornby’s ribbon is cut
Narrow gauge tracks at the Purbeck Mineral & Mining Museum
Two-feet narrow gauge line at the Purbeck Mineral & Mining Museum
Swanage Railway Trust members with Ruston loco
Swanage Railway Trust members unveiling Swanage railway’s ‘littlest loco’