Swanage Diesel Gala - 6th to 8th May 2022

Announcement posted on 23rd January on https://www.facebook.com/swanagerailway
Following yesterday’s exciting news that our Diesel Gala and Beer Festival will be returning between 6th - 8th May 2022 (alongside our regular Preview Day on 5th May) our planning team are already working hard behind the scenes to create an incredible event and show that we’re BACK on the map as the premier event on the traction calendar!
To help our team really focus on the things that matter, we’d love to hear your Gala must do’s, must haves and favourite memories from our fantastic events from years gone by! Favourite class of traction? Food or drink high up the list? Whatever it might be post below and we’ll make sure to do our best to incorporate as many as we can come May!
Keep an eye out for further posts, including the new Event page and those all important festival and loco announcements along the way!
SR Social Media Team
Event page - https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/...iesel-gala

 

No updates so far, and if the Wareham DMU will be running? For those coming on a long SWR train ride for the day and hope to have some beer and food, the bus service does not sound appealing. Hopefully if the Wareham DMU does run, some timetable comprise will allow some non mainline running from Norden to Frome bridge as in 2019?

Any plans for the LU 4TC?, if not there, maybe the partly restored Swanage 4TC will at least be on show, if not running.
Will the Beryl and May locos which helped get the railway back working be able to run?
No doubt both the clay mine narrow gauge locos at Norden will also be working?

 

No idea about anything to/from Wareham. 'Mountains of requisite paperwork' still awaited from DFT/ORR/etc. I believe.

Not sure braking/electrical work completed on any repainted vehicles but even if complete the seating will, at the very least, need a thorough deep cleaning I think. I would suggest you might plan for TC vehicles not running - if they do, then a pleasant surprise I guess.

No. Both lacking working engines/gearboxes/brakes/etc. The paint job for "Beryl" looked good when it was towed through Corfe en-route to Norden. If it is intended to stay there for a while then "Beryl" will be ideally sited for pictures as it's right opposite the platform.

PMMM has yet to confirm what will be happening but they usually have something running so hope for the best.

Latest news (Saturday 12th) on https://www.facebook.com/swanagerailway
We are delighted to announce the first two visiting locos for our 2022 Diesel Gala!
Visiting us courtesy of the Harry Needle Railroad Company is Class 37 37703. This will be its first time working passenger trains in the south for quite some time having spent the last few years residing in Scotland.
Also paying us a visit will be Class 44 Peak D4 “Great Gable”, courtesy of the Peak Locomotive Company. This will be the first appearance of a Class 44 on the Swanage Railway.
The event will run from the 6th - 8th of May, along with a “themed preview day” on the 5th.
Watch this space for further announcements!

 

Seen it mentioned elsewhere but not on here. On Sunday May 8 according to the SWR website trains from London terminate at Southampton Central. Shuttle service between Bournemouth and Weymouth (which is normally hourly when engineering works). Bustitution of course for the missing bit.

 

For anyone considering using the X3 bus between Salisbury and Bournemouth should be aware that long-term road works on the A31 at Ringwood are (and will be) causing delays - sometimes quite serious during busy periods - for a long time to come.
The public transport 'gods' seem to have it in for this Diesel Gala!

 

Friday will be one train each direction at Wareham (too early for the timetable update later in May).
Saturday will be 2 trains each direction at Wareham according to the SWR website.
On Sunday the "Bustitution" will not be via the A31 at Ringwood, so should not be too delayed.

So far no news of a 73/LU 4TC 'Purbeck Explorer’ charter from London as in 2018.

 

The Engineering Access Statement shows fast buses Southampton Parkway to Bournemouth for Cross Country. They normally take as long as the fast services via Southampton. Check the SWR site and National Travel closer to the day. I suggest both as SWR sometimes give more details on the bus connections.

Cheers, Neil

 

https://www.facebook.com/swanagerailway - 3rd and 4th visitors announced
Class 31 31128 courtesy of Nemesis Rail.
Class 46 D182 (46045) courtesy of the Peak Locomotive Company.
These join visitors already announced -
Class 37 37703 courtesy of the Harry Needle Railroad Company. This will be its first time working passenger trains in the south for quite some time having spent the last few years residing in Scotland.
Class 44 D4 “Great Gable”, courtesy of the Peak Locomotive Company. This will be the first appearance of a Class 44 'Peak' on the Swanage Railway.

Not forgetting the 'Home' locos of D6515 (33012), after extensive refurbishment at Arlington, Eastleigh, and 33 111.
Six listed and, apparently, there's more to be announced.

 

Class 25 D7612 joins the lineup from South Devon Railway

 

Tickets available at : https://buy.myonlinebooking.co.uk/swanagerailway/buy.aspx?tid=19
Advance Tickets (reduced prices) available only until Wednesday 4th May @ 1700.
Note: PRIV Rate one day rover ticket (£35) - Priv card must be shown when collecting ticket(s) at Booking Offices and upon inspection, otherwise Full rate will be charged.

 

Back by popular demand SR are excited to announce that some day time Diesel Gala services will be running ‘over the road’ beyond Norden to the River Frome. Trains will run 'Top n Tail' to and from our limit of operations at Bridge 4. This is the boundary between Swanage Railway and Network Rail at Worgret Junction so the extra mileage will offer a 10 mile journey each way!

From Bridge 4 it's a standing start before a 1:78 gradient to the summit at Furzebrook, so there will be plenty of opportunities for our all home and visiting engines to clear their throats…

The gala runs from the 6th - 8th of May 2022.

For more details and tickets visit https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/diesel-gala

 

Good morning,ref the Priv rate rover at £35 this is the the same price as the day rover if bought in advance so there is no point buying a Priv rover in advance.If I'm right on past Galas the Priv price was the same price as the normal child rover.Also do we know if there are 2 and 3 day Priv rovers available?.Even without priv prices £66 in advance or £71 on the day for a 3 day ticket is very good value for what's attending.

 

Can't answer as I was just relaying what had appeared on the Swanage website.
Hopefully someone with details will post information for you.

 

D6515 duly arrived back at Swanage last week, on the 14th, after much refurbishment/overhaul work at Arlington's in Eastleigh.
It hauled 50026 Indomitable as the last announced visitor for the Diesel Gala and the first arrival.

 

Great news! Can you give any indication at all what the Preview day will be like? I’m tempted!

 

I have no idea I'm afraid as I'm not on the organising committee.
The Railway's Facebook site mentions:
"19th April - Time for another Diesel Gala update!
This year’s Diesel Gala “Beerex” evening services will be hauled by Class 46 D182 on Friday the 6th and Class 50 50026 “Indomitable” on Saturday the 7th.
What better way to travel to the Beer Festival at Corfe, which this year is organised by Purbeck Kitchens. But more information on that soon!
For further information and to purchase advance tickets, please visit https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/diesel-gala "

 

Thanks for the reply! I’m definitely going on the Thursday (as well as Saturday). I was just wondering which loco(s) will cover the diesel roster on Thursday. Just idle curiosity! My first gala since 2019, so I am ever so slightly excited!

 

Timetables including loco workings for all four days will be released tomorrow (provided no-one finds any more 'deliberate' mistakes!).

 

Thanks! As I said earlier, it’s just idle curiosity on my part re Thursday!

 

Passenger TT