Now in its eighteenth year, the Swanage Railway’s Diesel Gala and Beer Festival is to feature a train named after the former British Rail manager who opened Harmans Cross station in 1989.
The popular diesel gala and beer festival, which takes place from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th May 2025, will also see eight classic 1960s diesel locomotives travelling between Swanage, Corfe Castle and Norden in Dorset.
The opening of Harmans Cross station in 1989 by Gordon Pettitt
Highly respected British Rail manager
Gordon Pettitt, who at the time was a highly respected British Rail Southern Region general manager, was invited to open Swanage Railway’s new Harmans Cross station on a rainy Saturday on 4th March 1989.
This was part of the project by volunteers to rebuild the railway, following the closure of the branch line in 1972, and meant that trains could travel between Swanage and Harman’s Cross.
Later in the mid 1990s the track was relaid to Corfe Castle and Norden.
Built in York during 1967 for British Rail’s Southern Region, the four-carriage Class 423 4VEP electric multiple unit named after Gordon Pettitt
The Gordon Pettitt train travelling past Corfe Castle on a previous visit to the Swanage Railway
“It’s a piece of history”
In 2004, after Gordon Pettitt had retired, the preserved former South West Trains electric unit was named after him. Speaking at the naming ceremony at Waterloo Station in London, he said:
“I was bowled over when I was told I would have a train named after me. The unit has been beautifully restored, and for the general public, it’s a piece of history.”
From 2014, he was president of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society in Sussex and was instrumental in securing the steam railway’s reconnection to the main line at East Grinstead.
Gordon Pettitt died at the age of 90 on Monday 31st March 2025.
At the opening of Harmans Cross station, Gordon Pettitt took great interest in the steam locomotive
The official opening on a rainy Saturday in March 1989
“Gentle and decisive reformer”
Event organiser Dan Bennett, who lives in Wareham, said:
“We are delighted the 1967 4VEP electric multiple unit ‘Gordon Pettitt’ will be taking part in our diesel gala as it’s an important piece of almost 60 years of history and a poignant tribute to the highly respected former British Rail Southern Region general manager from the 1980s, who officially opened the Swanage Railway’s new Harmans Cross station in 1989.
“A lifelong railwayman described as a gentle and decisive reformer, Gordon Pettitt was surprised and delighted to have the unit named after him. Owned by the Bluebell Railway in Sussex – and cared for by the Southern Electric Traction Group – the unit has been restored and maintained to a high standard.”
In The Daily Telegraph obituary, Gordon Pettitt was described as a man with a first rate mind and unruly hair!
Heritage diesel locomotives and rolling stock at the gala
- Class 423 No. 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’ courtesy of The Bluebell Railway
- Class 20 No. 20 066 courtesy of Shaun Wright
- Class 45 No. 45 108 courtesy of the Peak Locomotive Company
- Newly preserved Class 47 No. 47 715 courtesy of Rail Engineering Solutions
- Class 50 No. 50 008 ‘Thunderer’ courtesy of Hanson & Hall Rail
- A Class 56 courtesy of Colas Rail
- Class 69 No. 69 007 ‘Richard Trevithick’ courtesy of GB Railfreight
- Class 73 No. 73 128 ‘Kent & East Sussex’ courtesy of GB Railfreight
- Class 33 No. D6515 ‘Lt Jenny Lewis RN’ based at Swanage Railway
Barry Light (left) and Andy Dunster (right) pulling the pints at the beer festival in 2023
Beer festival at Corfe Castle
The other popular attraction of the gala is the beer festival at Corfe Castle station, organised and operated by Purbeck Kitchens.
It will have 45 real ales and ciders on offer, alongside hot food. Admission to the beer festival next to the Victorian goods shed at Corfe Castle station will be free with a token system in operation for the purchase of drinks. There will be trade stands at Swanage station.
Further information
- More about the Diesel Gala and Beer Festival, including timetables and fares, is available on the Swanage Railway’s website
- Reduced price fares apply if tickets are purchased online in advance
