Swanage Railway Diesel Gala & Beer Festival

🗓️ Friday 10th – Sunday 12th May 2024

**Please see amended information & timetable in this Swanage Railway news article, following a partial derailment on Saturday: www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news/view/locomotive-partially-derailed-at-corfe-castle-during-diesel-gala-and-beer-festival **

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.

This year marks the 17th annual gala, which will run across the weekend with a preview day on Thursday 9th May.

Trains will run across the full 10-mile line between Swanage towards Wareham, with shuttle services in operation between Swanage and Corfe.

There’s also a special Beerex train and beer festival at Corfe Castle Railway Station as part of the event.

Our annual diesel gala and beer festival is an important and popular event in the Swanage Railway calendar, and 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
  • Class 31 No. 73 136 diesel train from Nemesis Rail
  • Diesel 'Lt Jenny Lewis' at Norden Station
  • Class 46 No. D182 blue loco at Swanage Diesel Gala
  • Class 25 No. D7612 (British Rail No. 25 262), visiting from South Devon Diesel Traction

The beer festival will showcase over 30 Dorset-produced real ales and ciders, with live music in the evenings on Friday and Saturday, as well as Sunday afternoon.

There’ll also be various stalls at Swanage Station, including vintage railway memorabilia and train-related souvenirs.

You’ll find food stands both at Swanage Station and at the beer festival in Corfe.

The locos for 2024

Home fleet

  • Class 33, 33 012 – Courtesy of 71A locomotive group
  • Class 33, 33 111 – 33/1 Preservation Company

Visiting locomotives

  • Class 69 No. 69002 – Courtesy of GB Railfreight
  • Class 24, D5054 ‘Phil Southern’ – East Lancashire Railway
  • Class 52, D1015 ‘Western Champion’ – The Diesel Traction Group
  • Class 37 No. 37 219 – Colas Rail
  • Class 20, 20 302 – Harry Needle Railroad Company
  • Class 20, 20 311 – Harry Needle Railroad Company
  • Class 50 No. 50 021 ‘Rodney’

Tickets

  • Adult day rover: £35 – £40
  • Child day rover: £25 – £30
  • Priv card day rover: £35
  • Adult 2-day rover: £60 – £65
  • Child 2-day Rover: £40- £45
  • Adult 3-day rover: £74 – £79
  • Child 3-day rover: £50 – £55

Buy discounted tickets in advance.

For full information, tickets and more events at the Swanage Railway, visit their website:www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events

Class 37 No. 37 70 train from the Harry Needle Railroad Company
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Visiting diesel locomotive Class 46 No. D182 (British Rail No. 46 045)
GB Railfreight Class 31 73 136 at Swanage railway station
Crab Apple Catering van at Swanage Railway Diesel Gala
Food from the BBQ tent at Swanage Railway Diesel Gala
Model trains and railway history books
Old Swanage Railway guidebooks: 'The Railways of Purbeck' and 'Swanage Railway Guide'
Vintage model trains and railway memorabilia
GB Railfreight Class 69 No. 69 004