First new Great Western Railway locomotive since 1950s to star in Spring Steam Gala

Photo: Keith Burton

The first steam locomotive to be built to a Great Western Railway Company design since the early 1950s is to star in the Swanage Railway’s seven-engine passenger and freight train Spring Steam Gala from Friday, 27 March, to Sunday, 29 March, 2026, inclusive.

A pioneering and historic new-build project by the 6880 Betton Grange Society, No. 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ was constructed between 1998 and 2024 to be the 81st Grange class steam locomotive.

All 80 original Grange class steam locomotives - built between 1936 and 1939, at the Swindon works of the Great Western Railway in Wiltshire, to haul passenger and freight trains - had been withdrawn and scrapped by the mid-1960s.

The popular annual three-day steam spectacular will see some trains running along the entire nine miles of the Swanage Railway – from Swanage to Corfe Castle and four miles beyond Norden to the River Frome within sight of Wareham.

Owned by the 6880 Betton Grange Society, No. 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ is based at the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway with the locomotive’s visit to the Swanage Railway being the only one planned to another heritage railway in 2026.

With a busy timetable of passenger and demonstration freight trains during the three days – and an evening train service between Swanage and Norden on the Friday and Saturday - the other two visiting steam locomotives for the Spring Steam Gala will be two Austerity saddle tank engines built for hauling vital freight trains during the Second World War.

Built in 1943, Austerity No. WD 75091 carries the number 68067 - from a J94 class tank engine scrapped in 1971 – and appears courtesy of the Roger Hibbert Locomotive Collection and the Great Central Railway.

Built in 1944, Austerity No. WD152 ‘Rennes’ worked on the Longmoor Military Railway, in Hampshire, during the 1940s and 1950s, and appears at the Spring Steam Gala courtesy of the Dean Forest Railway after a major engineering overhaul.

The Spring Steam Gala will also see the Swanage Railway’s five resident steam locomotives in action – 1940s Southern Railway Bulleid Pacifics No. 34072 ‘257 Squadron’ and No. 34070 ‘Manston’, 1920s Southern Railway U class No. 31806 and Victorian 1893 London and South Western Railway T3 No. 563.

Newly upgraded for hauling excursion trains on the national railway network, Swanage Railway resident 1940s Southern Railway West Country class Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ will be hauling trains on the Sunday of the Spring Steam Gala.

Featuring a range of beers, ales and ciders, evening trains will be running on the Friday and Saturday of the steam gala until 11pm with the two wartime 1940s Austerity steam locomotives double-heading the four evening trains on the Friday and No. 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ hauling trains on the Saturday evening.

Food and drink will be available across the Swanage Railway during the Spring Steam Gala, including hot drinks and snacks from the Brake Train on-train buffet as well as a range of takeaway favourites available from Swanage, Corfe Castle and Norden stations.

The newly refurbished shop will also be open at Swanage station where there will be railway trade stands on the platform.

Spring Steam Gala organising committee chairman Alexander Atkins said: “We are delighted to be hosting the first steam locomotive to be built to a Great Western Railway Company design since the early 1950s. Constructed between 1998 and 2024, No. 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ is a remarkable engineering achievement and a fine steam locomotive.

“Built in the early 1940s, the two wartime saddle tank Austerity steam locomotives also have a fascinating history and played an important part in hauling vital freight trains during the Second World War before going on to have busy railway careers with the coming of peace.

“We are delighted to be able to offer enthusiasts, and the public, such a wide variety of steam locomotives at work through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck countryside and past the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle.

“I would like to thank all the dedicated volunteers who have worked so hard to plan and stage such a complicated event as our seven steam locomotive Spring Steam Gala which promises to be a wonderful and evocative taste of yesteryear,” added Alexander who is a volunteer steam locomotive driver, the chairman of the Swanage Railway Trust and a director of the Swanage Railway Company which operates the heritage trains.

Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering on the Swanage Railway should email iwanttovolunteer@swanagerailway.co.uk while details about volunteering can also be found at swanagerailwaytrust.org/volunteering.

Story by Andrew P.M. Wright,

Swanage Railway official photographer and press officer.