Swanage Diesel Gala 11 - 13 May 2012

'Swanage Railway has announced details of its seventh annual Diesel Gala which will see visiting main line locomotives in operation through the Purbeck countryside.
This year's popular three-day event is being held from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 May, 2012, and co-incides with the Dorset Beer Festival being staged next to Harman's Cross station by the Globe public house in Swanage.
There will be an intensive all-diesel three-train service between Norden Park & Ride, Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston and Swanage from 9am to　midnight on the Friday and the Saturday – and until 7pm on the Sunday.
Subject to availability, the visiting main line diesel locomotives starring in the diesel gala will be:
· Class 27 No. D5401 – courtesy of the Northampton Type 2 Group.
· Class 37 No. 37 521 – courtesy of Harry Needle Railroad　Company.
· Warship class No. D821 'Greyhound' – courtesy of the Diesel Traction Group.
· Class 55 No. 55 019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' – courtesy of the Deltic Preservation Society.
The Swanage Railway's resident diesel locomotives also taking part in the annual event on the six-mile Purbeck Line will be　Class 08s No. 08 436 and No. D3591 as well as Class 33s No. D6515 and No. 33 111.
　On the Friday and Saturday evenings, there will be a two-train service from 7pm.
The first of those trains will be the Wessex Belle bistro dining train – for which advanced booking is advised – while the second train will include a buffet serving light refreshments and alcoholic drinks.
Traction for these trains will be allocated closer to the diesel gala.
　Diesel gala adult rover tickets are available for £22 for a one-day ticket,£33 for a two-day ticket or £40 for all three days.
There are also discounted fares available for children, 'priv' (privilege) card　owners and CAMRA members at £16 for a one-day rover ticket, £25 for a two-day rover ticket and £31 for a three-day rover ticket.
　For further updates and details, visit the Swanage Railway website at Welcome to the Swanage Railway, call the Swanage Railway on 01929 425800 or send a stamped addressed envelope to the Swanage Railway, Station House, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1HB.'[/quote]


Another quiet weekend in the Purbecks....

 

Will be great to see and hear a 27 again here in the south. If a certain class 50 can be resurrected in time to make it, then that would be the icing on the already impressive cake. I was intending to make it last year and was gutted that I couldn't following a little incident the day before meaning a very un-eventful day being spent in hospital instead of Swanage. I do hope there will be no repeat this year so that I can once again sample the great traction and beers on offer.

 

According to WNXX Class 37 No. 37 521 is unable to attend this year's Gala.
This is due to increasing workload at Harry Needle Railroad Company meaning they've insufficient time/manpower available to get 521 ready for operation.
I believe an alternative loco is being 'sourced'. Further details as and when available.

 

Latest press release with updated line-up:-

'The Swanage Railway are delighted to announce final details for the Railways forthcoming 7th annual Diesel Gala and Dorset Beer Festival, which is running over the weekend of Friday 11th to Sunday 13th May 2012. There will be an intensive 3 train service operating between Swanage and Norden Park and Ride from 08:00 to midnight each day (19:00 on Sunday) with all trains hauled by visiting diesels and those based at the Swanage Railway.

The confirmed line up for this years gala is:- (all locos subject to availability of course)

Class 08s - D3591 and 08436
Class 20s - D8059 and D8188 - Courtesy of the Somerset and Dorset Loco Company
Class 27 - D5401 - Courtesy of the Northampton Type 2 Group
Class 33s - D6515 and 33111
Warship - D821 'Greyhound' - Courtesy of the Diesel Traction Group
Class 50 - 50026 'Indomitable' - Courtesy of the PTG
Class 55 - 55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' - Courtesy of the Deltic Preservation Society

HNRC owned Class 37, 37521 has now sadly been forced to withdraw from attending this years gala. The Swanage Railway would like thank HNRC for their continued support in supplying locomotives to our annual gala.

Class 50, 50026 'Indomitable' will be making it's preservation debut, subject to completing successful running in trials on the Swanage Railway prior to the Diesel Gala. This will be the first time it will have hauled a passenger trains for 22 years.

There will also be one more visiting loco to be added to the line up, which will be confirmed prior to the Gala.

Class 08 shunters 08436 and recently overhauled D3591 will be operating over the full length of the line each morning, before operating brake van rides at Harmans Cross. There will be a donation box operating on these services. All donations will go to 'Heroes Haven Swanage' ( Welcome to Heroes Haven Swanage ), a local based charity who provide holidays for disabled Servicemen and Women.

There will be a 'Beerex' service, plus the Wessex Belle Bistro dining train in operation on the Friday and Saturday evenings. Advance booking on the Wessex Belle is highly recommended. Traction for these services will announced prior to the Gala.

For the 3 days of the Gala there will be a rare chance to drive one of the locos attending on the Norden to Matala section of the Railway for £20. Advance booking will be available for this by contacting the Swanage Railway or at the Gala.

Class 55, 55019 in association with the Deltic Preservation Society, will be operating Driver Experience courses on Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th May. At the time of writing the Monday courses have now SOLD OUT, with only a few spaces left for Tuesday 15th. For further details,please check the Swanage railway website - Swanage Railway News Gallery - Page 813

The Swanage Railway have also made a number of spaces available to trade stands. Any group or association interested in attending should contact commercial@swanage-railway.co.uk .

Diesel Gala adult rover tickets are available for £22 for a one day rover, £33 for 2 days and £40 for all 3 days. In addition, there are also a range of discounted fares available for Children, 'Priv' card holders and CAMRA members at £16 for a one day rover, £25 for 2 days and £31 for all 3 days.

For any further updates and details please visit the Swanage railway website ( Welcome to the Swanage Railway ), by phone 01929 425800, or contact 'The Swanage Railway',Station House, Swanage, Dorset, Dorset, BH19 1HB.'

 

Current update on "Drive a Deltic" [55019]:
Monday 14th - Fully Booked; Tuesday 15th - Vacancies only on 1040 & 1600.

Dorset Beer Festival details on The Globe's website: The Globe Inn and Cycle Hire - Dorset Beer Festival
List of planned Beers (57) and Ciders (14) on: http://www.theglobeswanage.co.uk/new menu ticklist.PDF [subject to last minute alterations of course].

 

Finding accommodation in Swanage during Diesel Gala weekend can be difficult.
May I suggest you contact Swanage Tourist Information Centre on 01929 422885 or E-mail: mail@swanage.gov.uk with the subject "Accommodation Availability during Swanage Railway Diesel Gala".
You can download the current Swanage & Purbeck Holiday Guide here: http://www.visit-dorset.com/dbimgs/Swanage_&_Purbeck_Guide 2012.pdf
Dorset County Council's site may be able to help too: http://www.visit-dorset.com/about-the-area/areas-to-visit/swanage-and-purbeck

 

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/12broch/dieselgala12tt.pdf

Timetable for the weekend......

Am led to believe that the loco diagrams will be available, free, 7-10 days before the event

 

The Swanage Railway has announced "Drive a 20 for £20" taking place between Norden and Motala Ground Frame: Swanage Railway News Gallery - Page 821 This is likely to prove popular so advance booking is recommended. Booking details will be available shortly.
Also, a typo was noticed in the public timetable for the Gala and an updated version is here: http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/12broch/dieselgala12tt.pdf

 

BBC News - Heroes Haven Swanage opens for combat heroes

 

And from another website the following:...


Here you go guys and girls,the last loco for this years gala......
'The Swanage Railway are delighted to announce,courtesy of Network Rail the final loco to attend this years diesel gala will be a class 57/3.This will be the first opportunity to ride behind one of these Locos since Network Rail have taken over ownership of these engines.
The Swanage Railway would like to thank Network Rail for their kind assistance in supporting the Railways annual gala

 

I understand the 'Drive a 20 for £20' is going fast, with the Friday already sold out and the Saturday and Sunday only having a few spaces each day.

 

Swanage Railway's Diesel Gala & Beer Festival Weekend 2012

For the first time we have produced a 40-page full-colour illustrated guide and timetable for 11th to 13th May 2012. With a cover price of £1, the printed guide will be free for those purchasing a rover ticket - but a donation to our funds would be gratefully received of course!

The programme includes details of the Dorset Beer Festival, visiting locos, timetable and of other events around the railway.

 

Friday and Saturday 'Drive a 20 for £20' now sold out, and only three spaces left on the Sunday.

 

57312 and 50026 (dit) worked down through Parkstone at 1231 today en route to Swanage from Eastleigh. Understand that the 50 is to do some running in prior to next weekend DH

 

Traffic notices on the Severn Valley Railway show:

Monday 7th May
Movement of Class 20s and D821 over CS2 pit must either be clear before 12:45pm or start after 1:00pm

(Fitness to Run?)

Wednesday 9th May
Class 20s and D821 ex KR exchange to NR. Time to be advised to KR signalman when known

(For towing?)

I saw D821 on an observation saloon charter on Saturday and one of the 20s was due in traffic on the SVR today

Patrick

 

"Drive a 20 for £20" - Totally Sold Out
"Drive an 08 at Harmans Cross" will be available on all three days on payment of a donation. Further details in Diesel Gala Guide £1 [Free to Rover Ticket holders]. Donations will go to Heroes Haven Swanage (Reg Charity No. 1139553): Welcome to Heroes Haven Swanage
Assuming all goes well 50026 is scheduled to undertake running-in duties on 8th, 9th and 10th. These trains are not available to carry passengers.
D6515 is scheduled to depart Swanage on Wednesday 9th en-route to Kidderminster SVR to collect locos for Gala. Loco drag arrives back at Swanage sometime on Thursday 10th.

 

Good to see that the WTT is out well in advance with no fees attached

 

Timings thanks to Wiltshire Avon Gen. <BJ>

0Z56 08.30 Kidderminster[SVR]-Swanage
Cheltenham 10.01
Standish Junction 10.19
Yate 10.39
Bristol Parkway 10.47-10.49
Dr Days Junction 10.59
Bath 11.27
Bradford Junction 11.40
Westbury 11.48-12.11
Warminster 12.18
Salisbury 12.30-12.54

 

Unfortunately D6515 is reported to have suffered a hot box near Trent Junction and was moved to Nemesis Rail's depot at Burton on Trent. 47375 appears to have been tasked with bringing visiting locos to Swanage. The loss of D6515 and the minimal/non use of 47375 [it's air braked only] means the Working Timetable needs to be amended.

 

47.375 has now failed. The convoy is stuck in Haresfield loop, south of Gloucester.
Now awaiting a rescue loco from the SVR .....43106 or 7812 perhaps?

Wishful thinking. <BJ>