A CLASSIC locomotive has arrived in Dorset ahead of a heritage railway's diesel gala and beer festival.

Class 35 'Hymek' No. D7076 dating from 1963 is the star of the 10th Swanage Railway's Diesel Gala and Dorset Beer Festival from Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 10.

Built in Manchester by Beyer Peacock with a top speed of 90 mph and a weight of 75 tonnes, it will be the first time that a main line express Hymek diesel has hauled trains on the Swanage Railway.

The diesel gala, which will see trains hauled up the Purbeck line by a range of locos all weekend, is a big event for the Swanage Railway. The beer festival which runs alongside it is held at Corfe Castle.

Last year, the award-winning Swanage Railway carried 216,267 passengers. It helps to boost the Purbeck economy by £14 million a year.

Volunteer Dan Bennett, a member of the diesel gala organising committee, said: "It's wonderful to see the Hymek arrive on the Swanage Railway because it's such a classic locomotive that sums up so much of the English railway scene during the 1960s and early 1970s.

"The Hymek diesel locomotives hauled inter-regional passenger trains from the Midlands and the north down to Weymouth. They also hauled passenger trains from Bristol to Weymouth.

"The Hymek's saddest duties were to haul heavy track-lifting trains on the old Somerset and Dorset line from Blandford to Bath between 1967 and 1969."

The Diesel Gala will see an intensive three-train service operate between Norden and Swanage.

Subject to availability, other visiting diesel locomotives will be Class 25 No. D5185, Class 37 No. 37057, Class 45 No. 45060 'Sherwood Forrester', Class 50 No. 50035 'Ark Royal' and Class 56 No. 56006 as well as a Class 66 from GB Railfreight which will be named Swanage Railway at a diesel gala preview event this Thursday.

It will be named by Wave 105 radio presenter Mark Collins with GB Railfreight Managing Director John Smith at 1.30pm.

Offering 25 real ales and craft beers – as well as six craft ciders and three exclusively brewed Swanage Railway special edition beers – the beer festival takes place at Corfe Castle station.

Contact the railway for ticket information and train times.