150th Anniversary Steam Gala Weekend

Join us this May Bank Holiday for one of the most exciting things to do in the Lake District – the 150th Anniversary Steam Railway Gala at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway! From Saturday 3rd to Monday 5th May 2025, we’re marking 150 years of narrow-gauge heritage with an unmissable celebration of steam engines, railway history, family fun and behind-the-scenes experiences.

Whether you’re a passionate rail enthusiast, a history lover, or simply planning a unique Lake District day out, our steam gala weekend is not to be missed.

Our heritage railway fleet will be out in full force, alongside returning favourites and special guest appearances. The below information is correct at the time of publication, but is subject to change, and updates may follow:

Steam Locomotives

• River Irt (1894)
• River Esk (1923)
• River Mite (1966)
• Northern Rock (1976)
• Whillan Beck (1929)

Heritage Steam Engines

• Katie (1896)
• Synolda (1912)

R&ER Locomotives Returning Temporarily for the Gala

• Bonnie Dundee (1900) – from the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, making its return to Ravenglass for its first passenger trains here in 20 years
• Shelagh of Eskdale (1969) – from the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway

Special Guest Locomotive

• Green Goddess (1925) - A highlight of the event will be the much-anticipated return of Green Goddess, a historic locomotive from the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway (RH&DR). Green Goddess originally trialled at Ravenglass in 1925 before its home line in Kent was operational - this legendary locomotive returns for its fourth visit to the line. Designed by Henry Greenly and built by Davey, Paxman of Colchester, it shares a heritage with our very own River Esk.

Internal Combustion Locomotives 

• ICL4 Perkins (1929)
• ICL8 Lady Wakefield (1980)
• ICL9 Cyril (1932)
• ICL10 Les (1960)
• ICL11 Douglas Ferreira (2005) – out of traffic, will be on static display 
• Greenbat (1957) – electric locomotive nearing completion of overhaul

Vintage Carriages and Historic Trains

Travel back in time aboard a range of historic coaches representing different eras of the railway:

• 1960s Set – Trains will include our green ‘heritage open’ coaches, repainted this year to represent the earliest days of preservation and before. These carriages genuinely were green when they entered service on the railway, and will be for our special event weekend! 

• 1980s–90s Set – We will also run a ‘half-and-half’ set of four closed and four open coaches, representing the style of operation in the 1980s and 1990s.

• Permanent Way Train – Featuring the recently rebuilt tool van and heavily refurbished permanent way carriage (No.105), which have both been repainted with wasp stripe ends to match diesel locomotive Perkins. Passengers can ride in the permanent way carriage on select trains throughout the weekend.

• First Class Options – Upgrade on the day to travel in our Pullman Observation Coach - Joan, First Class Carriage, and Directors' Saloon - Ruth.

Grand Finale Steam Train Each Day at 16:10

Each day ends with an unforgettable steam or diesel spectacular:

• Saturday – Paxman Double-Header - River Esk and guest Green Goddess, both built by Paxman’s in the 1920s, team up for what is likely to be the only time the two engines will work together during the weekend – miss it and miss out!
• Sunday – Diesel Triple-Header - Perkins, Lady Wakefield and Shelagh of Eskdale offer a rare diesel combination.
• Monday – The Big Five - All five of our main steam locomotives – River Irt, River Esk, River Mite, Northern Rock, and Whillan Beck – pull a single train. This has never been done for the public before!

Our steam gala isn’t just for enthusiasts – there’s something for everyone to enjoy at this Lake District family event:

• The Junction – Find out how you can become a part of this unique and engaged railway community. This special weekend will also see the official opening of The Junction, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society’s new hub. Volunteers will have The Junction open all weekend so if you are interested in membership of the preservation society, in joining the railway as a volunteer, or in helping the society’s fundraising activities, this is the place to come!

• Driver for a Donation – Visit The Junction to sign up for our Driver for a Donation activity and enjoy the opportunity to drive one of our locomotives on the Barrow Headshunt, from the workshop yard along the track adjacent to Network Rail’s Cumbrian Coast Line. Various locomotives will be used as part of this activity during the weekend.

• Behind-the-Scenes Tours – Visit The Junction to join short tours of our workshop and engine shed. These buildings are usually out of bounds to the general public but our volunteers will be happy to show you around! Please note these will run subject to demand, bearing in mind some times of day will be too busy with working locomotives being prepared or moving around. You can also visit the former British Railways' signal box.

• Ravenglass Railway Museum – Dive into the rich history of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway at the Ravenglass Railway Museum with special exhibitions. Some of the museum’s resident locomotives – such as Synolda and Katie – will be out and about on the railway for the weekend, but the museum will host some new displays in their place, such as model locomotive collections and a model railway layout representing the original Boot terminus of the railway. There will also be a special anniversary exhibition featuring the fascinating story of the origins of La’al Ratty, looking at the key characters involved in the opening of this vital industrial railway in 1875.

• Photo Opportunities – Douglas Ferreira will be on display outside the workshop for people to sit in and take photographs during the weekend. In the station, some locomotives will be on display for you to admire inbetween duties.

• Live Broadcasts – Our friends at Cheshire Mix 56 (a community radio station) will be with us at the gala event.

• 150th Celebration Header Boards - Each train will proudly display anniversary decorations.

If you’re looking for the most authentic heritage railway experience or unique things to do in the Lake District, this steam gala promises excitement, nostalgia, and world-class scenery. 1, 2, and 3-day event tickets are available online now or you can pay on the day at our main stations, subject to availability. New details are being added all the time, so stay tuned and follow us on social media for the latest announcements.

Don't miss this historic celebration of steam, stories, and stunning scenery. Become part of railway history - we look forward to welcoming you aboard for this once-in-a-lifetime event!