Swanage Railway Autumn Steam Gala 2025

Dates for Autumn Steam Gala
12th Sep – 14th Sep 2025

We are delighted to announce that our Autumn Steam Gala makes a welcome return for 2025 and will be taking place between 12th & 14th of September.

Our Steam Galas are the best chance to see our exclusive selection of steam locomotives operating alongside each other on both passenger and freight services, and we are delighted to announce the return of services over the branch extension to the SR/Network Rail Boundary!

We are looking forward to welcoming spectacular visiting locomotives alongside our home fleet and are beyond excited to welcome you all back.

Services will be running between Swanage, Norden and over the extension, and trains throughout the weekend will call at Harmans Cross, Corfe Castle as well as Herston Halt (by request.)

Home-Fleet locomotives

• LSWR T3 Class Number 563
• Battle of Britain Class Number 34070 “Manston”
• Battle of Britain Class Number 34072 “257 Squadron”
• Maunsell U Class Number 31806

Guest Locomotives

• S15 Class Number 30506 Courtesy of Urie Locomotive Society.
• 926 Repton Courtesy of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Highlights

• Passenger Trains over the extension
• Goods trains, local trains and expresses.
• Freight train brake van rides – see here
• Evening & night running
• Evening beer-ex

New for the Autumn Steam Gala – 12 hours of Ciders and Beers that will make you cheer!

Enjoy a refreshing drink from a range of 8 local Ciders and 2 Beers which will be served by our friendly volunteers. The Cider Bar will be open from 11am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then on Friday and Saturday evening you can enjoy these drinks until 11pm on The Night Ale. The Night Ale will also be stocked with snacks and soft drinks to keep you fuelled throughout the night.

Don’t forget you can travel on The Night Ale all evening when you purchase an Evening Rover Ticket, or you can travel for free if you have a Day Rover Ticket on Friday or Saturday!

What is on at each Station?

Swanage

• Main terminus of the railway
• Station Gift Shop full of model railway items and other gift ideas
• Large viewing area with picnic tables which a short walk from the station with great views of the shed area and is perfect to watch locomotives shunting and to see trains arrive and depart.
• New for the Autumn Steam Gala – A range of hot snacks will be available from our new kiosk on Swanage Platform called Trackside Treats.

Herston Halt

• Request Station – Please make guard aware before departing and clearly signal to driver if you wish to board an approaching train.
• A short walk from local campsites

Harmans Cross

• Passing point for trains offering great photo opportunities
• Recently restored Station Master’s office in the station building
• Please note there is no footbridge to cross platforms – access is via a road bridge outside of the station. Cross-platform connections are not generally possible due to the long walk around.

Corfe Castle

• Passing point for trains offering great photo opportunities
• “Have a go” signalling museum
• Swanage Railway Museum in the Goods shed
• “Steam Café” Station Buffet serving hot and cold food and drinks
• The Book Stall will be open each day of the event on Corfe Castle Platform, who knows what gems you might find there!

Norden

• Large long stay car park a short walk from the platform
• Purbeck Mining Museum open for visits and their Narrow-Gauge Railway operating on the demonstration line
• Station buffet open for hot and cold drinks and snacks