Swanage Railway | Spring Steam Gala | 27th-29th March 2026

- Austerity WD152 "Rennes" (visiting from the Dean Forest Railway)
- Austerity No. 68067 (visiting from the Great Central Railway)
- GWR Grange No. 6880 "Betton Grange" (visiting from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway)
- U-class 31806
- 34070 "Manston"
- 34072 "257 Squadron"
- T3 No. 563

 

As someone who covers Marchwood signal box from time to time as part of my 'real' job, I'm delighted to see a former Marchwood engine visiting Swanage!

 

Be good to see an Austerity again at Swanage.

 

Odd that this is the same weekend as the Dean Forest Spring Steam Gala which is where Rennes is based.

 

The DFR gala is a 'small engines' gala using 0-4-0s only.

 

I see that both "Spam Cans" will be in the line up. This plus the River Frome bridge running in and of itself suggests that once again, I may make the 260 mile return trip. If only the weather willl oblige as gloriously as it did for last year's galas! Here, rather late to the party, are two of my pictures of a couple of last year's guests:-

 

I see it looks like the railways official photographer gets in your images as well John.
The weather on the Sunday of the Autumn Gala was not that good in the late afternoon.

 

....and everybody else's <BJ>

 

There are clues on the Swanage Facebook page that I think are hinting towards Betton Grange being the second visitor.

Sent from my SM-A166B using Tapatalk

 

Hinting?!

"Secret Squirrel has again been left behind, whilst the Admin team take the opportunity for a rest in the build up. Where you say? Once again they’ve told us they’re lauding it up as Kings and Queens in a Castle, but it’s far more likely to be Manor, that is probably a Hall (or something similar) in a hamlet in Shropshire, that was the 81st listing on the website they booked from."

 

And as expected - 6880 "Betton Grange" added to the line up

 

Great addition. All in all a great lineup of locos to be running. Definitely will be popping down for a day.

 

Interesting!
The Events and experiences page on youtube only shows:-
" Visiting Engines;

Austerity Tank Engine WD152 "Rennes"
The current locomotive lineup for the event includes;

• Battle of Britain Class Number 34072 "257 Squadron"
  
  
• Battle of Britain Class Number 34070 "Manston"
  
  
• U Class Number 31806
  
  
• T3 Class Number 563
  

We have some very exciting guests to announce soon, so keep checking back for updates! "

So, is 6880 a definitive visitor or speculation? I Don't do Facebook. I am sure somebody knows better than me.

 

Yep facebook confirmation:

 

Thanks for that, strange that is not in the Events and experiences yet.
Looking forward to seeing in steam, wonder if it will be out of gauge through the up platform at Corfe like 4953 was last year.

 

6880 makes it for me. A new loco plus the Bulleids. We are booked into our favourite hotel

 

Austerity No. 68067 joins the line up

 

As far as I am concerned excellent, two Austerities. Pity we do not have a bit of 1 in 19 like Foxfield to give them a good work out!

 

Well I can't normally abide "I'm coming to this" posts that add nothing to gala threads, but I'll allow myself a bit of hypocrisy for a pair of aussies, hotel booked

 

It's good that we're all different. Personally, I wouldn't get out of bed for an Austerity, viewing them as the last resort for railways (with a few exceptions like Foxfield) that can't get hold of anything else and have been somewhat sceptical as to the "pulling power" (not literally) of any industrials as guest engines at galas. Othere clearly hold other opinions so I hope the gala goes well and makes a profit for the railway. Although I can't see myself either riding behind or photographing these two visitors, there will be plenty to keep me happy with the home fleet, 6880 and (presumably) River Frome running. Let us all hope that the weather will have improved by then.