The sound of steam trains whistling along the Swanage branch line in Dorset, will be reverberating throughout the valley with an impressive six historic locos in action over the Autumn Steam Gala weekend.
The event, which takes place from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th September 2025, will see two visiting locos – the 1930s steam locomotive No. 926 Repton and the 1920s S15 class freight locomotive No. 30506 – join Swanage Railway’s home fleet of four preserved steam locomotives for the gala.
No. 926 Repton will be heading south from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Rare appearances
The headline attraction is Southern Railway ‘Schools’ class locomotive No. 926 Repton, built in 1934 and based in Bournemouth during the Second World War.
This will be the first time Repton has hauled trains in Dorset since the 1960s, appearing courtesy of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
Also making a rare appearance is freight engine No. 30506, a 1920s S15 class locomotive on loan from the Watercress Line in Hampshire. This is the first time an S15 has visited the Isle of Purbeck in more than 20 years.
Freight engine S15 No. 30506 will be visiting Swanage Railway from the Watercress Line in Hampshire
Chance to ride in a 1950s brake van
The gala will feature an intensive timetable of passenger trains, demonstration freight services, and with the added attraction of a cider bar for 2025, there will be special evening “beerex” and night trains running between Swanage, Corfe Castle, and Norden.
A highlight for many will be the chance to ride in the brake van of a 1950s-era freight train.
Swanage Railway volunteer commercial director Alexander Atkins said:
“With steam locomotives from the 1890s to the 1940s hauling passenger and demonstration freight trains as well as bracing brake van rides, the Autumn Steam Gala will be an exciting spectacular not to be missed, especially as some of the passenger trains will be running over our four mile line beyond Norden to Furzebrook and the River Frome within sight of Wareham.”
Recreating the days when goods were transported by train rather than road
Visitors
- Schools class express steam locomotive No. 926 Repton (1934)
- S15 class freight locomotive No. 30506 (1920s)
Home fleet
- T3 No. 563 (1893) – a unique Victorian locomotive
- U class No. 31806 (late 1920s)
- Battle of Britain class Pacifics: No. 34070 Manston and No. 34072 257 Squadron (both 1940s)
Always a special sight, the Victorian T3 locomotive which was restored by a team of Swanage Railway volunteers
“Evocative taste of yesteryear”
Chair of Swanage Railway Company Gavin Johns said:
“We are delighted to be able to offer enthusiasts and the general public such a wide variety of steam locomotives at work through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck countryside.
“No. 926 Repton’ and No. 30506 are wonderful and fascinating examples of Southern Railway steam locomotive design through the 1920s and the 1930s – Repton being designed for express passenger train work while No. 30506 was designed for hauling heavy freight trains.”
Chair of Swanage Railway Trust Frank Roberts added:
“I would like to thank all the dedicated volunteers who have worked so hard to plan and stage such a complicated event as our Autumn Steam Gala featuring six steam locomotives, which promises to be a wonderfully evocative taste of yesteryear.”
Further information
- More about the Autumn Steam Gala and to book tickets visit the Swanage Railway website
