Swanage Railway - Diesel Gala - 9-11 May 2025

According to today's SR Facebook page earlier this evening:
Double Diesel Delight!
We are excited to announce the first two visitor for our 2025 Diesel Gala and Beer Festival!
Joining us courtesy of the Peak Locomotive Company is Class 45 45108.
And thanks to Shaun Wright and his team we are also joined by Class 20 20066.
Our 2025 Diesel Gala & Beer Festival takes place from the 9th - 11th of May (plus preview day on the 8th). Watch out for further exciting announcements regarding the Diesel Gala over the next few weeks.
The preview day on the 8th May is usually a mixed steam and diesel day and the Beer Festival is generally held at Corfe Castle.
Further details as and when announced.

 

4VEP No. 3417 "Gordon Pettitt" will also be attending (as the air braked set) I think.
Further details to be revealed on: https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/diesel-gala very soon I hope.

 

Visitors' list now appears to be:
20066
45108
50008
69007
73128
plus 4VEP Unit 3417 "Gordon Pettitt"
A loco has also been requested from Colas as well.

 

Apparently a Class 56 loco has been requested from Colas if possible.
47715 has been added to the list of visiting locos.
This year’s “Preview Day”, on Thursday 8th May, will have a “Network SouthEast” theme with 47715, 73128, and Class 423 4VEP 3417 in action alongside one of the resident steam locos. Both locos wear NSE livery and the 4VEP is in all over BR Blue.

 

Loco allocations now on timetable

 

Thursday's steamer currently seems to be pencilled in for 34072 "257 Squadron".
Next week's moves for (some) visitors appear to be on RTT which has the following with Hanson & Hall:
BH Monday 5th May -
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/servic ... 5/detailed Presumably 50008 light engine to CPRR
Tuesday 6th May -
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/servic ... 6/detailed Presumably 50008 collecting 47715 and going to Strawberry Hill depot
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/servic ... 6/detailed Presumably 50008 + 47715 bringing down the 4VEP to Swanage.

These should be followed by 37706 hauling 45108 and 20066 about three hours later - late night for the signalman.
Also, GBRf might be bringing in 69007 and 73128 on 7th.
Colas is likely to be 'last man in' on Thursday sometime. 56049 has been requested I believe but depends on availability, etc.
However, I cannot see any of these latter workings yet on RTT.

 

For safety reasons the 4VEP has to be top and tailed by diesel locos otherwise could have made it most of the way using 3rd rail electric.
No passengers as it does not have CDL.
Goes from Strawberry hill to Clapham Junction, where it was in sidings for a long time, but instead of taking the main line goes via the Overground line to Willesden, then the long way to Reading, then joining the mainline at Basingstoke towards Wareham and the Swanage branch over the recently repaired bridge.
Think the 4VEP team will hope for more mainline running.

 

Do you know why an ECS move needs a diesel on the back? What is it trying to protect should there be an incident. Other Mk1 stock does not need a diesel on the back, although normally has one for other reasons.

 

So unless the unit is strengthened will definitely need a diesel in front. But not at the back, might even be double headed if no reversing is needed?

 

56090 vice 56049 now

 

Might find it difficult after Worgret Junction without a diesel.

 

It doesn't. It was towed by Class 37 'Flopsie' with nothing on the rear when it went to the Bluebell last year.

It was top and tailed by 73s when it went to Waterloo but that was simply due to the lack of run around facility at Waterloo.

I'm also assuming the Class 47 isn't mainline certified so it would just be easier for it to remain attached to the rear of the 50.

 

The railways Sygnets group 2025 Diesel Gala Mug offering @ £8 .
The Sygnets are the railways youth group and all monies taken will go towards their development.
These can be found and of course purchased from the Sygnets stall at Corfe (Saturday and Sunday) as well as from the SETG stall in Swanage.
Your support in helping our Sygnets will be greatly appreciated

 

Would it be possible to order any of these mugs online? Good luck next weekend!

 

Will ask the question

 

Thanks
Thinking about the route if the 4 VEP went from Strawberry hill to Clapham then the main line it would have needed 3 mainline approved locos to reverse at Clapham junction.
As it goes via Willesden and Reading there is no reversing needed so just needs one mainline approved diesel.

 

How do you arrive at needing 3 locos for a reverse move?

 

Why three mainline locos? Only two locos would be required for a reversal at Clapham.

I am curious why it is going via the GWML, when it could loop round from Willesden towards Kew Bridge and go to Swanage via Virginia Water and Woking.

 

Sorry meant 2.
2 locos are needed for a reverse move at say Clapham, the route chosen for the 4VEP does not need a reverse move, but they are using one mainline, and taking one non mainline loco along with the 4VEP unit just to get to the gala.

There must be some reason why it goes via Reading rather than Kew Bridge

For future railtours with passengers from Waterloo with a 4 VEP or 4TC (as with the Summer specials a while back) two 73s are suitable and run on electric, then diesel from Wareham to Swanage and back.
If the Brighton Bell ever makes it to Swanage as it is now strengthened, it could run to Wareham using 3rd rail, and will need a diesel loco to take it to Swanage

 

I think a 4VEP railtour is am incredibly long way off. They need CDL and even then I think they will strategically lock some doors out of use anyway.

I think the short/medium term goal is to get her to run as ECS under her own power to heritage railways.

Genuine question - would she have the power to tow/propel the 4TC?