Swanage Diesel Gala 2019

This weekend was the annual Swanage Railway Diesel Gala and Dorset Beer Festival. The theme this year was Railfreight and the loco line-up was as follows:

Class 25 D7535

Class 26 26007

Class 31 97205

Class 33 33111

Class 33 D6515

Class 50 50007 'Hercules'

Class 59 59003 'Yeoman Highlander'

Class 73 73119 'Borough of Eastleigh'

Class 44 44004 'Great Gable' was also due to appear but, sadly, had to withdraw due to a mechanical issue.

Here are some of the photos that I took during a visit on Friday.

Upon arrival I took this photograph of the line, looking towards Corfe Castle, with the ruins of the old castle in the background.

Corfe Castle distant signal with the castle ruins behind.

Class 50, 50007 'Hercules' resplendent in GBRf livery, waits to depart Corfe Castle with the, already delayed, 10:57 to Swanage.

While, at the other end of the train, we have Class 31, 97205. 

This loco had taken the train to the River Frome Bridge, which is the extent of the Swanage Railway and which is about half a mile from the junction with Dorchester to Wareham main line.

With no runaround facility at the Bridge, trains were topped and tailed from Corfe Castle and it was doubtless this procedure that led to ever-increasing delays during the day.

Here the Class 31 has been uncoupled to allow the Class 50 to take the train on to Swanage.

Class 25, D7535 is seen standing beside the Class 31, having just arrived at Platform 1 with the 10:39 train from Swanage.

While, at the other end of that train, Class 33, 33111, has just been coupled up to top and tail the train to the Bridge over the River Frome.

This locomotive is one of the Swanage Railway's home fleet of locos and this is made obvious by the fact that she is dirty while all of the visiting locos are nice and clean!

As this train departs she passes the Class 31, which will now head to the sidings to await her next top and tailing duties.

And here she is, about to cross over to the siding while, in the background is Class 26, 26007. Unfortunately, and much to my annoyance, this was the only photograph that I managed to get of this loco!

Class 73, 73119 'Borough of Eastleigh' now stands at Corfe Castle with the 13:15 service to River Frome Bridge, which was running a bit late!

Meanwhile, at Swanage, I managed to capture BR Standard Class 4MT, 80104 and LSWR Drummond Class T9, 30120 while both were standing on shed.

Hercules stands at Platform 1 having earlier arrived with the delayed 15:39 from Corfe Castle.

While D7535 stands at Platform 1 having recently arrived with the delayed 15:32 from River Frome Bridge.

Class 50, 50026 'Indomitable' is seen in the sidings at Swanage. 

I am not sure why she was there as she was not part of the Gala but she did look rather good in her NSE livery.

Here are a couple more shots of the Class 25, awaiting departure from Swanage. I believe this was meant to have been the 17:15 to Norden although, by then, any semblance of a timetable was out the window, really.

The Class 73 at Swanage having arrived with the late running 17:39 from Corfe Castle.

The Class 73 had worked this train n tandem with Class 59, 59003 'Yeoman Highlander', seen here at the buffer stops.

Another view of the Class 59, standing beside a Class 08 and the station's Bird's Nest Buffet Car.

A final view of D7535, standing at Norden, having arrived with the much-delayed 18:45 from Swanage.