A train was partially derailed during a diesel gala and beer festival.

Train services were suspended along the Swanage Railway Heritage Line after a train was partially derailed at Corfe Castle station yesterday.

 The incident involved a 1968-built ex-British Rail Class 50 and took place at around 6.30pm as a passenger train bound for Harman’s Cross and Swanage was running into Corfe Castle station from Norden.

 No passengers were injured and no damage was sustained to the carriages of the train.

 Passengers attending the beer festival at Corfe Castle station from Swanage were returned to Swanage by the Swanage Railway after evening train services were suspended.

 Swanage Railway Company chairman Gavin Johns said: “The Government’s Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been advised of the incident and we liaised with the RAIB regarding the recovery of the diesel locomotive and the RAIB’s investigation into what caused the partial derailment of the diesel locomotive.

“While the RAIB is investigating the incident – and after discussions with the RAIB - our planned train services for Sunday, May 12 have been altered.

“There will be 11 trains operating but they will only be running on the five and a half miles of line between Swanage, Corfe Castle and Norden – not beyond Norden on the four miles of line to the River Frome, within sight of Wareham, as our train services were during the first two days of our annual diesel gala and beer festival.”

 Specialist contractors were brought in to re-rail the Class 50 diesel in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The train, which carries a nostalgic British Rail 1980s Network South East livery, has been taken out of service and will be examined for any damage as a result of the incident.