New Year’s Day Steam Up – Celebrate the Start of 2026 in Style!

Welcome in the new year with the Bluebell Railway’s New Year’s Day Steam Up — a special mini-gala event to mark the start of the 2026 season in true steam-powered fashion!

Enjoy a full day of heritage trains, atmosphere, and festive fun as we steam into another exciting year on the Bluebell. An enhanced two-train service will operate throughout the day, with the first passenger train departing Sheffield Park at 10:00am and the last service completing around 6:00pm.

In addition to our regular passenger trains, you can also enjoy something extra special:

  • A vintage goods train in operation, ideal for enthusiasts and photographers
  • Our beautifully restored Observation Car, offering a unique travel experience

A full timetable will be available by mid-November.

Locomotives

We’re planning a strong and varied line-up for this year’s Steam Up, featuring:

  • No. 72 “Fenchurch” – LB&SCR A1 Class
  • No. 6989 “Wightwick Hall” – GWR Modified Hall
  • No. 34059 “Sir Archibald Sinclair” – BR Rebuilt Battle of Britain Class
  • No. 73082 – BR Standard Class 5MT

All locomotives, rolling stock, and listed activities are subject to availability or last-minute change.

Celebrate the start of 2026 surrounded by steam, history, and heritage charm. Whether you’re joining for the day or just stopping by to soak up the atmosphere, the New Year’s Day Steam Up is the perfect way to begin the year.