Bluebell Railway

Giants of Steam 20 October 2007

I arrived at Horsted Keynes in beautiful weather. Cloud arrived from mid-morning, but dissipated soon after lunchtime.

Many thanks to Graham Briggs for providing the transport; I could never have parked in some of the tight spots he managed to find. Entertainment was provided by Garrulous Gordon McCulloch, Henry Elliott (the 'Person Really In Charge' for the day who provided the focus for the team and who had planned the locations in meticulous detail to Graham's specification!) and the radiant celebrity photographer Dee Davison. We bumped into John and Margaret late in the day.

The first two shots were in glorious early morning sunshine. After filming a horizontal column of steam (inside which was allegedly 34081) the inevitable happened and my XM2 failed on the next and best shot of the day. Fortunately my faith in this camcorder is such that I always carry an old XM1 as a spare and only three shots were actually lost. Note the difference in colour rendition compared to the XM2; quite appropriate for autumn tints I feel.

With four Bulleid Pacifics on show, the whole event reminded me of the Monty Python sketch involving an attempt to purchase anything other than Spam in a specialist spam-loving cafe. One of the regulars chimes in "I like Spam and I've ordered Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam and more Spam". Apologies to younger visitors who may not understand this reference; I suggest ask your dads, or even grandads!

"Spam Spam Spam Spam, Spam Spam Spam Spam, wonderful Spam...." Bulleid Pacifics, visiting engine 34007 "Wadebridge" and local engine 21C123 "Blackmore Vale" burst out of Sharpthorne Tunnel with the 12:29 ex Horsted Keynes (2.6mB)

A classic Bluebell scene; visiting West Country Pacific 34007 "Wadebridge" climbs Freshfield Bank with the 2:35 ex Sheffield Park. (2.6mB)

Standard 4MT 80151 hauling the LNWR Observation saloon and the Mets towards Sharpthorne Tunnel, and later coasting down Freshfield Bank past an enthusiastic Permanent Way Gang. (2.5mB)

West Country Pacific 34028 "Eddystone" catches the late afternoon sun as she heads beyond the Three Arched Bridge towards Horsted Keynes with the 4:18 off Sheffield Park. (2.3mB)

U class mogul 1638 with exotically numbered local spamcan 21C123 "Blackmore Vale" climb Freshfields with the 3:40 (2.4mB)

...more spam: 34081 and 34007 double head the 4:55 ex Sheffield Park. I debated whether to put this in as it is a disappointing shot, the exhaust covering 34007 for most of the time and the stupid cameraman forgetting to stop the pan to record the glinting coaches. Notice the moon hovering above the scene. (2.3mB)

For more information on the locomotives, coaching stock and some images of the event visit the excellent Bluebell railway website.

SR 4-6-0 30777 "Sir Lamiel" 60mph Test Run at the GCR 15/10/2007

Bluebell 125, 11 August 2007

"Bluebell 125" is not a reference to a 70s HST locomotive, but the celebration of 125 years of the Sussex branch line.

Once again we were lucky enough to have beautiful weather for this celebratory event on the Bluebell. I travelled down to Sussex with Clive Hanley and Cliff Jones who will, no doubt, have some excellent pictures of the event on their respective websites. Needless to say we ran into Graham and Gordon those intrepid Gala visitors.

Unfortunately the locomotive operators ran into unexpected problems in the shape of low water pressure, which caused substantial delays in the afternoon.

The sun had just broken through the early morning mist when 'U' Class 1638 appeared with the early morning goods train. (2.5mB)

An adventurous climb through the jungle-like undergrowth saw us in position on top of 3 Arch Bridge for Bulleid West Country Pacific 34028's arrival with the Pullman breakfast train. 32473 brings up the rear. (2.3mB)

SER Stirling 0-6-0 no.65 runs past the Waterworks with the Mets. Unfortunately the Metropolitan E class tank was not available. (2.3mB)

65 leaving Sheffield Park with the Metropolitan set. (2.3mB)

"Blackmoor Vale" in the early stages of the 1-in-75 climb of Freshfield Bank. (1.9mB)

34028 "Eddystone" leaves Sheffield Park late in the afternoon (2.5mB)

Goods Weekend 14 April 2007

Beautiful weather in Sussex for this event saw two goods trains in continuous action throughout the day. However, as the day progressed the temperatures soared and steam effects were almost non-existent by lunchtime. Whatever happened to the Spring?

Photographs of the event can be seen at the website of my companion for the day, Clive Hanley.

672 and 55 Stepney climb past Tremains with an afternoon goods train. We see them later, departing Sheffield Park with 55 leading. (3.2mB)

32473 heads towards the former West Hoathley station with her goods train at lunchtime. The newly restored SR Queen Mary brake van brings up the rear and the Pipefit dropside open wagon just behind the loco. Later we see her return trip after the climb of Freshfield Bank. (3.2mB)

34028 Eddystone pulls the first train of the day ex Sheffield Park through the Three Arched Bridge near Horsted Keynes. (1.8mB)

We join U Class 1638 at Horsted Keynes and then see her working through the reverse curves at the waterworks location. (3.3mB)

There are more videos of the Bluebell Galas here: Bluebell Railway web site - What's New?

Warning: The files are of substantial size and will take a considerable time to download for non-broadband users.