GRAND DIESEL GALA & BEER FESTIVAL A STORMING SUCCESS
9th-11th May 2008
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Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 15th May 2008
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright or as noted. To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph and subsequently use the Back button on your browser to return to this page. Photos on these pages are low resolution versions. Full resolution photos are available for media use

Two massive Class 37 diesel locomotives No. 275 and No. 906 pass at Harman's Cross station during the Swanage Railway's 2008 three-day Grand Diesel Gala and Beer Festival, held 9-11th May, 2008.

The Swanage Railway's three-day Grand Diesel Gala and Beer Festival has been a storming - and sweltering - success with the weather during the Friday to Sunday event being the hottest since May, 1972.

That was rather apt because back in May, 1972, the deserted British Rail branch line to Swanage had been closed for some five months and was in limbo.

And, the lifting of the seven miles of track from Swanage to Corfe Castle and Furzebrook would start just two months later - in July, 1972.

The beer festival was staged in association with the Red Lion pub in Swanage High Street with more than 4,000 pints being served over the three-day event from the temporary beer tent next to Harman's Cross station.

The temporary beer tent next to Harman's Cross station, during the Swanage Railway's 2008 three-day Grand Diesel Gala and Beer Festival, held 9-11th May, 2008.

The seven visiting diesel locomotives from the national railway network were Class 73 No. 107 'Spitfire', Class 66 No. 724 'Drax Power Station', Class 50 No. D444 'Exeter', Class 37s No. 275 and No. 906, Class 20 No. 096 and Class 07 shunter No. 007.

They were joined by 1967 four-coach BR Southern Region VEP electric unit No. 3417 which spent the three days being locomotive-hauled between Norden park and ride, Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston and Swanage.

One of the Swanage Railway's four resident diesel locomotives - Class 47 No. 635 with its 'Jimmy Milne' nameplates freshly refitted.

Joining the visitors were three of the Swanage Railway's four resident diesel locomotives - Class 47 No. 635 with its 'Jimmy Milne' nameplates freshly refitted, Class 33 D6515 'Stan Symes' - the last locomotive to run from Poole to Wimborne in May, 1977, on the truncated 'Old Road' or 'Castleman's Corkscrew' - as well as Class 08 shunter No. 436.

Plans are already being made for next year's Swanage Railway grand steam gala and beer festival so watch this space!

To see the full set of photos featuring all the visiting and resident locomotives, please follow the links at the bottom of the page.

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To see the full set of nearly 300 photos from Andrew P.M. Wright of the Swanage Railway's 2008 three-day Grand Diesel Gala and Beer Festival, please follow these links.
- To visit the first page of photos please click here.
- To visit the second page of photos please click here.
- To visit the third page of photos please click here.
- To visit the fourth page of photos please click here.
- To visit the fifth page of photos please click here.
- To visit the sixth page of photos please click here.