Swanage Railway: Classic locomotives gather for diesel gala

Class 24 No. D5054 Phil Southern is among the visiting locomotives

Nine heritage diesel locomotives are gathering for a "diesel gala" at a heritage railway line in Dorset.

The annual event at the Swanage Railway takes place over three days and incorporates a beer festival at Corfe Castle station.

Seven of the nine engines have travelled via the mainline railway network to join the event.

Organisers say the classic locomotives tell the story of the transition from steam to diesel trains in the 1960s.

Organising team member Dan Bennett said: "Over the past 17 years, our diesel gala and beer festival has grown in popularity to become one of the most highly regarded annual events of its type in the country."A lot of detailed organisation by a small team of enthusiastic Swanage Railway volunteers and staff goes into planning the diesel gala with planning beginning four or five months before the event."

Seven of the nine locomotives featured have arrived via the mainline rail network

The event opened on Friday and continues on Saturday and Sunday.

The visiting trains are:

• Class 69 No. 69 007 'Richard Trevithick' courtesy of GB Railfreight

• Class 24 No. D5054 'Phil Southern' courtesy of the East Lancashire Railway

• Class 52 No. D1015 'Western Champion' courtesy of the Diesel Traction Group

• Class 37 No. 37 254 courtesy of Colas Rail

• Class 20 No. 20 302 courtesy of the Harry Needle Railroad Company

• Class 20 No. 20 311 courtesy of the Harry Needle Railroad Company

• Class 50 No. 50 021 'Rodney'

The beer festival, organised by Purbeck Kitchens, features 34 local ales and seven ciders.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240.