Investigations after the locomotive derailed from the historic railway during the festival

An investigation has been launched after a restored diesel locomotive partially derailed off a historic railway line during a festival in Dorset.

The evening Diesel Gala and Beer Festival train service on the Swanage Railway’s Heritage line was suspended on Saturday after the diesel locomotive partially derailed at Corfe Castle station.

The incident involving a former British Rail Class 50 locomotive named Indomitable occurred at around 6.30pm as a Harman’s Cross and Swanage passenger train entered Corfe Castle station from the north.

The restored 115-ton historic diesel locomotive from 1968 was at the back of the six-car passenger train when it partially derailed.

No passengers were injured in the incident and no damage was caused to the train’s carriages.

The partial derailment occurred on the second day of an annual three-day diesel gala and beer festival, which is in its 17th year on the Swanage Railway.

Nine historic diesel locomotives from the 1960s and 1970s – seven on the Swanage Railway and two on local residents – gathered on the Heritage line to haul passenger trains during the gala and festival.

The Swanage Railway has informed the government’s independent Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), which is investigating the cause of the partial derailment.

The Heritage Line’s regulator and regulator – the Government’s Office of Rail and Road (ORR) – is aware of the incident.

Special contractors were called in to re-rail the diesel locomotive; the work was completed in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The locomotive, wearing the 1980s British Rail Network South East livery, has been removed from service and is being inspected for any damage.

Gavin Johns, chairman of the Swanage Railway Company, said: “The Government’s Rail Accident Investigation Department has been informed of the incident and we have liaised with the RAIB regarding the recovery of the diesel locomotive and the RAIB’s investigation into the cause of the partial derailment of the diesel locomotive.”

“While the RAIB is investigating the incident – ​​and following discussions with the RAIB – our scheduled train services for Sunday have been changed.

“There will be 11 trains in use, but they will only run on the five and a half mile route between Swanage, Corfe Castle and the north – not beyond the north on the four mile route to the River Frome, within sight of Wareham, as.” Our train service took place during the first two days of our annual Diesel Gala and Beer Festival.”

The Class 50 Indomitable locomotive was withdrawn from service by British Rail in 1990 and was restored over 15 years by a group of volunteers.