DIESEL and beer isn’t a mix that usually goes together.

But it’s likely to prove a hit at the Swanage Railway this weekend as volunteers prepare for the annual Diesel Gala and beer festival from May 6-8.

Eight diesel locomotives and the last ‘slam door’ train to run on the Lymington branch line in Hampshire will be the railway stars.

Meanwhile there will be more than 30 locally-brewed ales available at the Dorset Beer Festival next to Harman’s Cross station. The event also features a hog roast and live music.

A Swanage Railway spokes-man said: “Featuring an intensive train three-train service along the six-mile relaid Purbeck Line from Norden park and ride to Swanage, the popular three-day event will be our sixth annual Diesel Gala.

“Between 9am and midnight on the Friday and Saturday – and 9am to 7pm on the Sunday – there will be a intensive three train service using the main line diesel locomotives which are visiting Purbeck from Barrow Hill in Derbyshire and the Severn Valley Railway.”

Visiting locos include Class 33 No 33035 hauling its first train in preservation after being withdrawn from service while Class 56 No. 56301 will be celebrating its 50th birthday.

Other visitors include Class 73 Nos 73205 and 73136, Class 37 No 37503, Class 50 No D1062 ‘Western Courier’ and Class 55 No D9009 ‘Alycidon’.

One of the Swanage Railway’s resident Class 33 diesel locomotives will also be present in its 1960s green British Railways livery and sporting its old D6515 number.

Joining the diesels will be a three-coach 3-CIG class electric multiple unit unit No 1498 in a special 1960s British Railways green livery which ran for the last time between Brockenhurst and Lymington in May last year before modern diesel units took over.

On the Friday and Saturday evenings, there will a two-train service operating – one train having a fully-licensed buffet service and the other being the Wessex Belle Bistro dining train.

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) members travelling to the beer festival at Harmans Cross will be entitled to 50 per cent discount on rail tickets on production of a membership card.

Diesel gala service details are available by visiting the website swanagerailway.co.uk or call 01929 425800.