Swanage Railway's Special Events

Swanage Railway runs regular events as well as our normal scheduled services. These often run to a special timetable and with special booking arrangements, and are indicated by a red coloured date on our timetables. Check back here for the latest information prior to all our sepecial events.

Special Event Fares for Major Events:

Individual Special Events are likely to have their own fare structure with 1-day, 2-day and 3-day tickets available if appropriate.

Please check the individual Special Event information page prior to the event, or directly with the Booking Office.

Travel during Swanage Railway Special Events

Revised fares may be available giving access to certain Special Events. Please check the individual Special Event information page prior to the event, or directly with the Booking Office.

Normal fares for point to point travel will also be available during Special Events (with the exception of Santa Specials), although a Special Event or 1, 2 or 3-day Rover Ticket will be required for access to Special Event areas outside normal travel.

September 10th-12th - Grand Steam Gala & Vintage Transport Rally

All our engines will be in steam over the weekend with special workings, PLUS there will be a rally of vintage transport at Harman's Cross.

Click here to visit our dedicated page with a downloadable poster and advance details, and here to visit our news archive pages to see photo reports of last year's event.

Family Fun Week 23rd-31st October 2010

A week of fun around the railway with trains and entertainment - click here to visit our event news archive pages with photos of last year's event.

Santa Specials December 2010

Every child receives a present from Santa during the hour-long train journey and adults receive a hot mince pie and seasonal drink. Advanced booking for Santa Specials is essential. Children under 2 go free. See our Santa Specials page for more details.

Offering Christmas Fun for the whole family at the Swanage Railway with Santa in Dorset, you can see Santa at the Swanage Railway when he visits Dorset this Christmas.

December 26th-31st - Mince Pie Specials

Enjoy an after-Christmas train ride with a mince pie and sherry from the on-train buffet.

Previous Special Events

Why not take a look at some of our past events? The following clickable links will take you to illustrated News Pages on our Special Events held over the past year.

July 31st - 7th August - Swanage Regatta & Carnival

RED ARROWS flying display was on Saturday 7th August.

The Swanage Regatta and Carnival fireworks displays provide a spectacular highlight to the carnival week.

The fireworks are let off from the jetty on the main beach after dark so there are many vantage points to see the displays, the beach, the seafront, Recreation ground, Sandpit Field, the Downs or near the Quay.

Please click here to visit our news pages with hundreds of photos of the fireworks displays and evening services.

A week of special events around the region celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the arrival of the railway in Swanage.

More details and illustrated news reports are available here

Diesel action all weekend and a great beer festival at Harman's Cross.

Illustrated news items are available here

Free hot cross bun for every passenger travelling on Good Friday and Easter Saturday. Complimentary hand-made Swanage Railway Easter Egg for every child travelling on Easter Sunday and Monday.

A photo report is available ">here

Family Fun Week 13th-21st February 2010

A week of fun around the railway with trains and entertainment - click here to visit our dedicated page with a downloadable poster and further details, and here to visit our event news archive pages with photos of last year's event.

Attractions include a static engine in steam in Swanage (not necessarily Eddystone) plus steam-hauled brake van rides in Swanage.

Your chance to see behind the scenes of a working steam railway. Meet staff and volunteers and learn how we run the railway. This event incorporates the Swanage Railway Trust's annual members' weekend. Click here to visit our event news archive pages with photos of last year's event.

Sunday 14th March 2010 - Mothering Sunday Dining

Treat your mother to something very special this Mothering Sunday. Our special Wessex Belle steam service departs Swanage at 13.10 and serves a superb lunch while travelling through the splendid Purbeck countryside. Your main course will be served at your table while you pass the majestic ruins of Corfe Castle, surely one of the best views from a dining table anywhere.

A second round trip between Swanage and Norden allows you to view that you missed on the first trip as your dessert is served followed by coffee. Look out for the local wildlife such as pheasants, deer and buzzards. The steam train then returns you to Swanage around 15.30. There is still time to photograph the steam engine, if you wish. Booking is now closed.

Santa Specials 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd & 24th December 2009

Every child received a present from Santa during the hour-long train journey and adults received a hot mince pie and seasonal drink.

Our Santa Specials were full all through December. If you missed them, check out a video clip from IssTV HERE

The Capital Christmas Express - Saturday 28th November 2009

Can you think of a better way to travel from Swanage to London than riding in 50-year old coaches steam hauled by the remarkable Battle of Britain Class Locomotive No. 34067 'Tangmere'? Well, that's exactly what the Railway Touring Company lined up for its customers in the West Country who wanted to spend the afternoon in the capital enjoying the myriad attractions on offer - and do some Christmas shopping, too!

The special excursion ran via Poole, Bournemouth, Southampton and Eastleigh to London Waterloo.

Photos and news items are now available on our news pages here.

Family Fun Week 24th October to 1st November 2009

A week of fun around the railway with trains, clowns and entertainers.

Grand Steam Gala and Vintage Transport Rally 11th-13th September 2009

See our News Pages here

Swanage Regatta and Carnival 25th July - 2nd August 2009

See our News Pages here for a photo item on the Red Arrows over Swanage.

A feast of diesel action and real ale.

See numerous visiting heritage diesels operating along the line, with the Beer Festival every day at Harman's Cross.

Please click here and here to visit our event news archive pages.

Family Fun Week 14th-22nd February 2009

A week of fun around the railway with trains and entertainment - click here to visit our event news archive pages.

Railway at Work 21st-22nd March 2009

Our annual Railway at Work Weekend offers visitors the chance to see behind the scenes of Swanage Railway and visit areas not normally open to the public - full details of the 2010 event including downloadable poster and Green timetable here or here to visit our event news archive pages for details of the 2009 event.