- LNER A4 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ has arrived! Here we see it as it passes onto Bluebell metals at East Grinstead, in advance of its appearance at “Giants of Steam” over the coming weekend.
See also this video showing ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ on its way down to the Bluebell today.
Full details are available here for the “Giants of Steam” Gala which starts on Friday. In addition to 60007, it’s also the first appearance at Giants of Steam of the new-built ‘Beachy Head’ and of ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’ since its recent overhaul. The other two locomotives running are ‘Camelot’ and ‘Wightwick Hall’, so it’s an “all namer” event this year.
- The photo here, by John Sandys, taken on Saturday this week, shows the GN saloon back in service (on a private charter) after an extended period under maintenance this spring and summer. The saloon will be operating in public service for the first time this year behind ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ on each of the three days at Giants, with a single-journey supplement of £7 covering unlimited tea/coffee and either a toasted teacake or a scone.
- Following our limited preview of the Diesel Gala, we are delighted to announce that the Bluebell Railway are now part of the growing Railcam UK family.The eagle-eyed of you may have already spotted the early stages of this partnership, but now we can officially announce that not only are our existing seven cameras now part of the Railcam network, but we have added an additional three at Horsted Keynes, giving us a total of 10 webcams across 5 locations at our railway.
- On Sunday our newly reconstructed ‘Beachy Head’ Atlantic locomotive was re-united briefly with its original smokebox numberplate and one of its original nameplates, as seen in the photo on the left.
- Video from The Southerner covering the incoming railtour and beer festival, on Saturday 21 September.
- Videos from Dan Gosling: A short one of Beachy Head at the Brighton Works Weekend, and one of a ride behind ‘Beachy Head’ from Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes on 26 August.
- John Sandys’ photos and videos from 26 September, and also from Friday 4, from Saturday 5 and Sunday 6th when there was a visit from The Gruffalo, and a Rolls Royce/ Bentley meet-up.
- Update to the Wagon Stock List, with Dogfish ballast hopper wagon BD993217 now moved to the “Wagons which are no longer at the Bluebell Railway” section, since it has been sold, and has moved to the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway.
- Monday and today have seen photo charters, featuring 34059 ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’ and 73087 ‘Linette’ (aka ‘Camelot’) with an 8-coach train led by a pair of Bulleid coaches, and also using a couple of our restored Southern parcels vans, creating scenes reminiscent of the Somerset and Dorset line. The first photo below is thanks to Nick Gilliam, and the second, Dave Clarke.