January 2025 edition of Bluebell Times
Posted: 11th January 2025
The January 2025 edition of Bluebell Times, issued yesterday, features:– Beachy Head and Car 54 both nominated for prestigious Heritage Railway Association Awards – and you still have time to vote for either in the Steam Railway Award
– Tree on the line – All in a day’s work for the Railway’s staff tackling a winter of storms
– Ivatt 2MT 41313 announced as first visitor for Branch Line Weekend
– Join the 500+ Club and help keep Sir Archibald Sinclair in prime condition
– Make 2025 the year you start volunteering – we have a range of opportunities across the Railway
Round up from 1st January
Posted: 9th January 2025
- View Keith Duke’s photos from 1 January.
- With the track relaying in the tunnel having started on Monday this week, we are next open to the public over the February half term, when we also have ice skating with Bluebell on Ice, from 15 to 23 February.
- Our contribution to Railway 200 Global Whistle-Up made a news feature on RTBF (Belgian TV) about the start of the Railway 2000 celebrations – it featured the Bluebell in some detail!
- Two of Peter Edwards’ photos from the wet 1 January are below. His first photo shows Stroudley “Terrier” 72 ‘Fenchurch’ which was running shuttles with the LNWR Observation Car from Horsted Keynes up to the portal of the tunnel. The second shows SECR O1 No. 65 with its goods train, which ran between passenger services between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes. In spite of the weather, visitor numbers were good.
First visiting locomotive for Branch Line Gala announced
Posted: 9th January 2025
- We are delighted to announce that Ivatt Tank No. 41313 is our first visiting locomotive, from our friends at the Isle Of Wight Steam Railway, for our 2025 Branch Line Gala, 14-16 March!
Tickets, further guest announcements and timetables will be available shortly.
30 Years of Bluebell on the Web
Posted: 1st January 2025
2025 marks the 30th Anniversary of the first web pages about the Bluebell Railway
As we enter the Bluebell Railway’s 65th Anniversary year, 30 years ago the Bluebell’s first tentative steps were made towards use of the Internet.
Prepared by Richard Salmon, and hosted by Mark Dewell (who was to become the Heritage Railway Association’s first Internet Officer) on his UK Heritage Railways web site, the Bluebell led the way in providing more than just the forthcoming year’s timetable. Those first pages have been re-created here from what survived in an archive. In addition to the timetable and dates of operation, the pages provided details of how to get to the Bluebell, BRPS membership, a section about the Rolling Stock, Special events, and the ever-popular Santa Specials and Golden Arrow Pullman Dining services.
Later that year a rudimentary email-based “News from the Bluebell” service was started as well. The following year more web pages were provided, and in 1997 we opened our own web site, again edited by Richard Salmon, and hosted by Lewis Nodes.
This very “What’s New” page is the successor of what’s now one of the three longest running, continuously updated web logs (the origin of the Blog) on the entire Internet, and that entire log from 1997 to date is still available.
The Railway 200 Global Whistle-Up on Wednesday 1 January 2025, and more from the visit of 60007 last October
Posted: 30th December 2024
The Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust held their Members’ Day the weekend after our Giants of Steam Gala, and this video from Harnetty Railways covers the event.
Maxim Gamble also captured this photo of 60007 on the same day, 18 October 2024.
As part of the celebrations in 2025 of 200 years of train travel, we kick off at midday on 1 January by joining in The Railway 200 Global Whistle-Up, the first event in the Bluebell’s participation in Railway 200.
If our timetable for our New Years Day Steam Up is running to plan, then ‘Camelot’ and ‘Fenchurch’ will be at Horsted Keynes at noon, ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’ will be at Sheffield Park, and the SECR O1 will be en route to Horsted Keynes with a goods train.
In addition, the Southern Electric Traction Group, who look after the Bluebell-owned 4VEP unit 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’ at Strawberry Hill Depot, plan to open the shutters there and sound the unit’s horn at noon too.
Update on the overhaul of Maunsell Q-class locomotive No.541
Posted: 30th December 2024
Work over the last four months, taking place over three locations, to bring the sole-surviving Southern Q-class back into service on the Bluebell
September 2024
Leaky Finders have completed copper welding on the inner firebox, enabling them to move on to re-assembling the steel outer firebox. On the locomotive’s frameswork has concentrated on the horn blocks, which having been removed, are all now machined, and starting to be refitted. The new rear dragbox is almost complete.
The 4253 Group continue making progress with the rear half of the new tender tank and a new (second) access hatch (from the front half of the coal space).
The photo (from Leaky Finders) shows the new rear drag-box of the locomotive, inverted.
Read/download the full September report (pdf) here.
October 2024
Leaky Finders now have the outer wrapper welded in place and the smoke and flue tubes ordered. All the rivets on the running plate angles are done, along with re-riveting the rear frame stretcher and boiler mounting bracket. Both frame stretchers adjacent to the driving axle have been removed, cleaned and re-attached. The new rear dragbox has been riveted in place. The new horn block wedges, slippers and associated nuts/bolts have been machined and all axle boxes undergoing crack testing.
The 4253 Group at Rolvenden are welding in the two rear half sides of the tender tank, onto the previously fabricated inner frame – see photo. The original sand boxes are back up on the front of the tender tank, and the steps and lamp irons from the back of the old tank have been rivetted onto the new platework.
Back at Sheffield Park the corroded front dragbox of the tender and a short wasted length of the inner frames have been removed. The front section of the outer frames had been needle gunned back to bare metal. Fred Bailey is preparing drawings for new rear and front dragboxes. The stripping and repainting of the loco and tender brake rigging is in hand.
The tender wheelsets have returned from tyre turning at the South Devon Railway.
The photo shows the inside of rear end of the new tender tank (4253 Group).
Read/download the full October report (pdf) here.
November 2024
Down in Devon, Leaky Finders have completed reaming 2/3 of the firebox stay holes. Once the final inner firebox repairs have been completed, the new firehole ring can be fitted. On the chassis, the horn faces and wedges have received new steel plates, the axle boxes have received Magnetic Particle Inspection, and welding repairs. The riveting of frame stretchers, angles and bracketry is pretty much finished.
The replacement tender tank being made by the 4253 Group, as of the end of October, is roughly 70% complete. The rear section of the tank is fabricated and ready for fitting. The original tank-top edge beading has been repaired.
At Sheffield Park, workshop staff and volunteers have the front dragbox fabricated and bolted in place ready for riveting onto the tender frames. Maunsell Locomotive Society volunteers have continued to clean and paint the brake rigging, prior to it being re-bushed. The outside of the tender frames have been de- greased.
The photos (thanks to Leaky Finders) show the firebox side sheets being drilled and reamed ready for fitting the stays, and the new dragbox being riveted in place on the loco frames.
Read/download the full November report (pdf) here.
December 2024
As of the end of November, the main structure of the tender tank is now complete over at Rolvenden, with the top of the water space and coal space having been welded into place. The front of the tank including the tool lockers and shovelling plate are finished and painted in primer. The repaired original beading has been rivetted in place on the top of the tender tank. The tool box doors have been re-hung to give a better fit.
At Sheffield Park, the rear dragbox has been rivetted into place. Other repairs to the tender chassis are also progressing well.
The photo (by Melvyn Frohnsdorff) shows the new rear drag box fabrication rivetted in place in the tender frames.
Read/download the full December report (pdf) here.
THE Q NEEDS YOU!
The Maunsell Locomotive Society has agreed to try and raise £40,000 towards the cost of overhauling the tender and providing a new tender tank. The Q is an ideal size and economical loco for Bluebell operations. It fits in well with the ‘Southern’ image, and it did actually operate in the vicinity.
Online payments to the appeal can be made by clicking either of the DONATE buttons here and then selecting “Q 541 Overhaul” in the drop-down box.
Report on Giants of Steam, October 2024
Posted: 27th December 2024
Giants of Steam Gala, 11-13 October 2024
Our busiest gala for some years saw the crowds flock to see five large locos on an intensive timetable, with plenty that was new, in spite of just having one main visitor, Gresley A4 Pacific 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’.
Rob Howard’s three photos here show the visitor, and BR Class 5 73082 ‘Camelot’ on Friday 11 October.
As always in this What’s New/Blog, click on the photos to see an enlargement.
6989 ‘Wightwick Hall’, a “visiting” locomotive which has now been with us for over two years, was still popular with the crowds at Horsted Keynes, as seen in Julian Clark’s photo on the Saturday of Giants of Steam. 
The Great Northern Directors’ Saloon, in LNER livery, made it back into service after extended maintenance earlier in the year, to run at Giants of Steam behind ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’. Photo by Jemima White, 11 October.
YouTube videos from Giants of Steam, from:
- SatNavDan,
- BasicTrainContent,
- Chailey Stowe,
- E-an-e,
- Toby’s Trains,
- TheModster,
- FrontLineSteam,
- Pico Railway Videos,
- TheSoutherner,
- Sharpthorne Steam, and
- Rob Howard.
Nick Gilliam’s photo shows 32424 ‘Beachy Head’ topping Freshfield Bank with the 2.15 service from Sheffield Park (formed of eight Victorian and Edwardian carriages) on the Friday. 
This was the first gala appearance for our new-build Atlantic, ‘Beachy Head’. David Cable’s photo shows it approaching Horsted Keynes on Friday 11 October. 
Peter Hollands’ photo from the Friday shows 73082 ‘Camelot’ and 34059 ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’ on Freshfield Bank. It was the latter’s first gala appearance since completion of its recent overhaul.
Photo Galleries covering Giants of Steam, from:
- Brian Dandridge,
- Keith Duke,
- Jemima White, and
- John Sandys – Friday, and Saturday.
David Cable’s photo shows ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ at the top of Freshfield Bank on the Friday. One feature of the gala was that all five locos were named locomotives. 
David Cable’s photo shows ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ approaching Horsted Keynes on Friday 11 October. 
‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ with the 1.30pm service from Sheffield Park, tops Freshfield Bank in this photo from Nick Gilliam from the Friday of Giants.
BR Standard 2MT 84030 Project – November Newsletter
Posted: 27th December 2024
The latest (November 2024) newsletter is now available. If you missed the July issue, that’s also available.
The end is in sight for the work on the bunker. All the external welding and quite a bit of the internal welding is now complete.
Other areas the team have been concentrating on are the access steps at the front, the cab and rear of the engine.
The photo shows the trial fitting of the bunker steps.
Services over the coming weeks
Posted: 26th December 2024
- Over the coming few days we have our first ordinary public trains since last half term. From Saturday through to New Year’s Eve we are running from Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes, as the tunnel is currently closed for its rail to be replaced.
Then we have our New Years Day Steam Up, with four locomotives in steam, with some services running North of Horsted Keynes up to the tunnel mouth. Access by public transport is available via Metrobus Service 270 from East Grinstead and Haywards Heath.
Public services then resume for the February Half Term where, alongside our ‘Kids for s Quid’ special offer, we also have ice skating with Bluebell on Ice between 15 and 23 February.
- David Cable’s photo shows ‘Beachy Head’ at Horsted Keynes on a Jon Bowers’ photo charter on 18 November. The newly built Brighton Atlantic locomotive is currently receiving maintenance work, which is mainly dealing with minor teething issues discovered during its highly successful Summer and Autumn in service.
- We have had a very good Santa Special and SteamLights season, with just a few compartments available for some of the remaining Santa’s SteamLights services (28-30 December).
The first photo below from Nick Gilliam shows 80151 leaving Horsted Keynes with the 6pm SteamLights service to Sheffield Park on 29 November. The second, from David Lilley, shows ‘Camelot’ with a Santa Special service on 8 December.
Bluebell Railway Event Dates for 2025
Posted: 26th December 2024
We now have the main Special Event dates for 2025, with just a few more still to be announced.
These are:
- 1 January – New Years Day Steam Up
- 14-16 March – Branch Line Gala
- 2 June to 2 July – Railway 200 (Education Phase)
- 28-29 June – Model Railway Weekend
- 19-20 July – Southern at War ‘VE Day 80’
- Late July to early September – Railway 200 (Celebration Phase)
- 8-10 August – 65th Anniversary Gala
- 16-17 August – Music Festival
- 5-7 September – Diesel Gala
- 19-21 September – Beer Festival
- 10-12 October – Giants of Steam
We are now taking bookings both for special Catering services, and Footplate Experience opportunities, for 2025 – full details here.
Preparations for “Giants of Steam”, 2025 Special Event dates, more Photo Charter photos
Posted: 10th October 2024
- This photo, from John Sandys, shows ‘Beachy Head’, one of five locos, being warmed through in preparation for the “Giants of Steam”, which starts tomorrow. This is one of the photos from his gallery from today.
Event Dates for 2025 – more to be confirmed too.
Make a note and keep these dates free in 2025! More details will follow in due course, as will further events to make up our gala/event programme for next year.
Look out for further news on what’s taking place next year at The Bluebell Railway! 
Three more photos, thanks to David Cable from the S&D-themed photo charter at the start of this week.
On the right we see 34059 ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’ with a local train, from Tuesday.
Two below, from Monday, show 34059 ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’ and 73082 running as 73087 ‘Linette’.
SNG arrives for “Giants of Steam” – GN Saloon in service – New Webcams – Photo and video updates – Wagon leaves – Photo charter
Posted: 8th October 2024
- 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.
Beachy Head keeps running, Beer Festival starts tomorrow, Diesel Gala videos
Posted: 19th September 2024
- Peter Edwards’ photo from Sunday 15 September shows ‘Beachy Head’ ready to leave Sheffield Park with the 2.15pm train for East Grinstead, in place of the rostered Standard 4 Tank 80151. ‘Beachy Head’ was in action alongside Camelot and SECR No. 65. The carriages included the SECR Hundred seater and the LBSCR Bogie First with three of the 4-wheelers.
- The newly-built locomotive has been in action also for a wedding special, and should be running again tomorrow, alongside visiting 33111 on the first day of our annual Beer Festival.
- Full details of this weekend’s Beer Festival (20-22 September) – including the timetables, and also bus links to enable you to get to and from the railway.
- Available for £5, our 2024 beer festival glasses are now in stock and available to purchase: pre-order yours and collect them on the day when you visit us this weekend; they will also be available to purchase on the day of your visit until stocks run out.
- The photo here shows newly restored early Mk.I TSO 4754, with 73082 ‘Camelot’, at Sheffield Park earlier today.
- More videos from the Diesel Gala:
- Highlights video from the Saturday by Trevor Stone, along with a further videos, featuring extended footage of 33111 with VEP unit 3417, more of Class 20 D8188, and of Class 37 D6851;
- Video from Toby’s Trains;
- A Video short of 33111 and 3417 from James Seward-Prior.
- Pullman Car ‘Carina’ has now left the Bluebell. It was rendered surplus by our decision to convert a Mk.I BG as a kitchen car, rather than adding a second relatively cramped kitchen to our train within a very expensive to restore/maintain Pullman vehicle. As reported here it has gone for restoration at the Churnet Valley Railway. To re-iterate our Pullman strategy, going forward, this is to replace the LMS BGZ within the train by the BG, and then add a fourth Pullman to the train, ‘Car 36’
This News Update from the Bulleid Society released yesterday shows recent work on both ‘Blackmore Vale’ and LSWR B4 ‘Normandy’.
Diesel Gala well under way
Posted: 8th September 2024
- Jack Lamb’s photo shows the arrival at Horsted Keynes of BR Class 37 D6851 ‘Flopsie’ leading BR Class 423 4VEP No. 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’, which it had collected from Strawberry Hill on its way down from Crewe, in torrential rain on Thursday.
- Video which was live-streamed from 4Vep 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’ during its journey down from Strawberry Hill last Thursday. This was a UK first, to livestream from a train on Network Rail, achieved using multiple sim cards to ensure the best possible continuity of connection.
- Also see this video at Strawberry Hill station from Claire Twine.
- Below we see E6040 ‘The Bluebell Railway’ passing the VEP at Kingscote on Friday (Jack Lamb).
This was the first service use of the Class 73 on the Bluebell, having been passed fit for traffic on Thursday. It was also the first time passengers have been able to travel in Bluebell-owned 3417 since 2013, following its restoration by the SETG (Southern Electric Traction Group), which is on-going with the aim of eventually being able to carry passengers again on the main line – fundraising for which is also on-going – donate via the Bluebell Railway Trust, to enable Gift Aid to be claimed – you can make a single or a regular donation here – and then select “Other Funds” from the drop-down menu and enter “VEP 3417” in the comments box.
- The Bluebell Diesel Gala concludes today – full details here.
- Photos and videos so far from the Diesel Gala:
- Saturday from John Sandys;
- YouTube video from TheModster, including Friday morning’s goods train, E6040’s first passenger service on the Bluebell, and the VEP’s first passenger services in 11 years, working Push-pull with 33111;
- Keith Duke’s photos from Friday;
- YouTube video from Friday from Matthew Sell;
- YouTube Video from Saturday from Joe Light Railway.
Photos and Videos of ‘Beachy Head’ and Built at Brighton Gala – Diesel Gala coming up next – Giants of Steam Timetable published
Posted: 2nd September 2024
- Peter Edwards’ photo on the right shows 32424 at the foot of Freshfield Bank on 25 August.
- Alex Colquhoun’s video of Beachy Head’s first day in public service.
- Keith Duke’s photos from the first day of the Brighton Works Weekend Gala.
- Video from Saturday from BrickishRail.
- Dave Bowles’ photos from the Built at Brighton Gala, featuring particularly ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’ and ‘Beachy Head’.
- Chris Ward’s Photos and Video from the Brighton Gala.
- The photo on the left shows the Atlantic arriving at Horsted Keynes on 25 August, as 72 ‘Fenchurch’ prepares to take water. So here we have the newest “Brighton” locomotive, alongside the oldest surviving locomotive built there, and the newest survivor (80151) carrying the number 80154 which was the very last locomotive to have been built at Brighton Works.
- Photos and videos from John Sandys from Monday 26, and Wednesday 28 August.
- Ashley Smith has added photos taken on Monday and Tuesday last week to his 2024 gallery of Bluebell photos and also provides this video.
- The photos below show the Atlantic at West Hoathly (Brian Lacey, 30 August) and ‘Fenchurch’ arriving at Sheffield Park in the rain (Keith Duke, 24 August).
- We are gearing up for this weekend’s Diesel Gala (which starts on Friday) – details here – not only are there four visiting diesel locomotives, and two Bluebell-based diesels as well. This is also the first opportunity to travel in the Bluebell-owned 4 Vep unit 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’ for over a decade, follwing it’s major refurnishment in the hands of SETG.
- The timetable has also now been published for our Giants of Steam Gala (11-13 October). 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ is visiting us for the first time, and it’ll also be the first GoS appearances for our new-build 32424 ‘Beachy Head’ and our freshly overhauled Bulleid Pacific 34059 ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’. Completing the line-up are 73082 ‘Camelot’ and 6989 ‘Wightwick Hall’.
What’s New – Summer Fun Fair
Posted: 25th August 2024
Summer Fun-Fair
Open daily until 1 September, The Bluebell Railway has a fantastic funfair and rides at both Horsted Keynes & Sheffield Park, courtesy of L&L Leisure! There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from big inflatables, a carousel, candy floss, sweet stands and much more. Prices are £15 for kids but adults go free!
Come along and enjoy a fun day out with a difference and mix all the fun of the fair with a train ride along the picturesque Sussex countryside that our railway runs through! Park up at Horsted Keynes and enjoy heading back to the golden age of steam.
What’s New – First public services hauled by our new-built locomotive, ‘Beachy Head’
Posted: 23rd August 2024
- Today saw the first public services hauled by our new-built locomotive, ‘Beachy Head’. Our other trains were hauled by Terrier 72 ‘Fenchurch’ and Bulleid Pacific 34059 ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’. For the Bank Holiday weekend we have a “Brighton Works Weekend” as these Brighton-built locomotives are joined by BR Standard Tank 80151. This locomotive is the newest surviving locomotive built at Brighton Works, and 72 is the oldest surviving locomotive built there, all very appropriate running alongside the Bluebell-built replica of the Brighton Atlantic, ‘Beachy Head’.
- Today’s events feature in this ITV report, and also on the BBC Website.
- See this video from today from Sixpenny Films.
- Nick Gilliam’s photo shows 32424 passing Three Arch bridge with the 5.35 crew familiarisation run from Sheffield Park on Sunday 18 August.
- There are also more videos from the launch/handover event last Sunday: from TheSoutherner and from Chailey Stowe.
Timetables for Beachy Head and Brighton Galas
Please note that amended timetables have been published (access via the following links) for:
- ‘Beachy Head’ Launch Trains: Friday 23 August, Tuesday 27 August to Sunday 1 September
- Brighton Works Weekend – Beachy Head Event: Bank Holiday weekend 24 – 26 August
Note in particular that many of 34242’s runs are shown as non-stop between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead – the ‘/’ in the time indicates this.
Note also that there is wheelchair accessible accommodation on set C as well as A.
What’s New – Atlantic Launch, NLHF grant for “Railway 200”
Posted: 22nd August 2024
- Everything is set and ready to go. Tomorrow, ‘Beachy Head’ will haul its first ever public service trains on The Bluebell Railway.
We look forward to welcoming you all to celebrate its entry into service. ‘Beachy Head’ will be hauling trains every day from tomorrow through to Sunday 1 September.
More details can be found here. - Nick Gilliam’s photo above shows 32424 as it climbs Freshfield Bank with the 2.45 Special handover Pullman train from Sheffield Park on 18 August.
- The photos below, taken the same day, show the blessing of the locomotive in front of invited guests by the Bluebell’s Chaplain, The Reverend David Murdoch, and the locomotive ready to leave Sheffield Park at the head of the Pullman train.
- Neil Munro-Thomson also provides this gallery of photos from that day.
- There will be guided Tours of the Carriage & Wagon Works at Horsted Keynes on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and the Carriage Shop at the South End of Platform 5 is open as follows:
Friday 23 August 10.30am – 4.30pm
Saturday 24 August 10am – 5pm
Sunday 25 August 10am – 4.30pm
Monday 26 August 10am – 4.30pm
The shop has a wide selection of items including Railway Art by Matthew Cousins, Railway and Transport books, Model Railway locos, coaches and wagons, Model buses, Thomas & Friends books and toys, and Horsted Keynes exclusive souvenirs.
- We are pleased to announce that The National Lottery Heritage Fund has made a grant of £250,000 to enable the Bluebell Railway to celebrate 200 years of rail travel in 2025. Read the Press Release here.
- See John Sandys’ album from his visit on Friday 16 August.
- And now a bit of a catch up from recent weeks – here we see Tim Dunn with ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’ at that locomotive’s launch ceremony on 15 June, in Sam Brown’s photo.
- Sam Brown’s video of the relaunch ceremony for ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’ on Saturday 15 June, and John Sandys’ photos and videos from the day.
- Video of the trains running on 6 July by Jamie R.
- Keith Duke’s collection of photos from 22 June.
What’s New – August Bluebell Times – Atlantic launch events – News of Q-class overhaul – Location Map and Gradient Profile
Posted: 16th August 2024
The August 2024 edition of Bluebell Times, issued last week, features:
– BRPS Chairman’s update from Roy Watts
– All geared up for Beachy Head’s launch
– Update on overhaul progress on Q class No 541 and 2MT No 84030
– Help is needed to manage the legacies to the Bluebell Railway Trust
– Bob Pamment is the Railway’s new Rolling Stock Director
– More photos from the Museum archive
This video, Welcoming Britain’s Newest Steam Locomotive, has just been released.
The wait is almost over before we officially welcome H2 Marsh Atlantic 32424 ‘Beachy Head’, nearing the end of a project over 30 years in the making!
We welcomed the filming team from the Watercress Line Film Unit to the Railway who helped produce this short video, looking around this incredible locomotive. Don’t miss out and join us in celebrating the launch of ‘Beachy Head’ between 23 August and 1 September at our Railway. This also includes our ‘Brighton Works’ weekend gala from 24 to 26 August.
Book your tickets here for the launch event.
Before then, at 11.45am on Sunday 18 August the formal handover ceremony will take place, as the care of the locomotive passes from the team who have created it to the Railway’s Locomotive Operations Department. It will then haul a celebratory Pullman dining train for those heavily involved over the years with the project, and major financial supporters.
Finally, on 5 October, all other registered supporters of the Atlantic project have been invited for a day for them to travel behind the locomotive.
- We have three more months’ worth of News updates on the overhaul of the Maunsell Q-class available. The photo (by Melvyn Frohnsdorff) shows the tender chassis rear buffer beam taken down from the frames in the workshop at Sheffield Park, in preparation for major work on the rear drag-box.
- The Gradient Profile of the line, and official “Location Map” as used by operational staff, have returned to the archive server, having been hosted on the main web site for the last decade.
What’s New, 12 June 2024
Posted: 12th June 2024
Graham Lugsdin’s photo taken last Friday shows the concentration on the faces of those on the footplate of ‘Camelot’ as they prepare for a shunt move at Sheffield Park.
This Saturday is the BRPS Members’ Day and AGM, so in addition to our normal timetabled trains, there is an extra morning train (timetable here) to get visitors to Sheffield Park in time for the 12-noon relaunch ceremony for 34059 ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’, and evening trains – leaving for East Grinstead after the AGM, at 6.45pm and at 9.00pm in conjunction with the volunteers, staff and members social evening.
32424 ‘Beachy Head’ – Coming in August 2024
The Bluebell Railway is proud to announce the highly anticipated launch of the new build LB&SCR Marsh Brighton Atlantic 32424 ‘Beachy Head’. This major milestone in railway preservation will be celebrated with a launch into traffic over the August Bank Holiday, with a launch event running from 23 August to 1 September, marking an extraordinary achievement in railway preservation and engineering.
Tickets and further details will be released imminently so watch this space!
Jack Lamb’s photo below, taken last Friday, shows ‘Beachy Head’ in steam at Sheffield Park.
The scale of this achievement, and its importance to the history of the Bluebell line, can be judged from an article covering the potential for rescuing locomotives, and the problem of having to prioritise securing the line on which to accommodate them over spending any money on acquisitions, on Page 7 of the second issue of the BRPS Journal, Bluebell News (December 1959), in it was stated “As each week goes by, more interesting pre-grouping classes become extinct – the loss of the last Brighton Atlantic was an irreparable catastrophe…”.
Of course the locomotive had been scrapped more than 6 months before the Bluebell’s launch meeting in March 1959.
So may I, as editor of this web page, add my personal words of congratulations to the Atlantic team for their dedication in having reversed, in considerable style, that supposed “irreparable catastrophe”.
Dinosaur Weekend At The Bluebell Railway
Join us at The Bluebell Railway for an epic adventure with dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes at Sheffield Park, at East Grinstead, and on our Set A trains with our Timetable C service this weekend!
Don’t forget this event is FREE for all travel ticket holders – and kids travel for just £1 with any fare-paying adult.
Bring the family for a roaring good time with prehistoric giants and timeless steam trains. Don’t miss out!
Road Steam passes Sheffield Park
An added bonus today at Sheffield Park came in the form of Mclaren 8NHP No 1713 of 1922 “General French” hauling, on the trailer, the boiler to Bulleid “Merchant Navy” No. 35025 ‘Brocklebank Line’ (on loan from Southern Locomotives Ltd).
This special pairing was on their way to this weekend’s High Weald Working Steam Weekend and took a break outside Sheffield Park station before heading onwards to Pippingford Park, as seen in the photo here.
What’s New, 9 June 2024
Posted: 9th June 2024
- In the above photo No. 80151 prepares to set off from Horsted Keynes with the final leg of the Golden Arrow Pullman Luncheon Train on Sunday 2 June. Behind the locomotive is newly restored Pullman Car 54, the restoration of which is featured in a major 8-page article in the latest edition of Trackside magazine. (Photo: Richard Salmon)
- Meanwhile, the current issue of Heritage Railway magazine has a great write-up of our GWR-themed Branch Line Gala.
- The Bluebell Railway Goods Division has announced, in partnership with The Wagon Yard, a new exclusive wagon made by Rapido Trains UK of the BR Diagram 1/801 Fish Van, with Southern region markings denoting the van should not run on the limited clearance Hastings line between Tonbridge and Battle.
The OO-scale model, numbered as the Bluebell’s own fish van E87720, is available to pre-order now from the Bluebell Goods Division’s online shop for release later this year.
Land Rover Day – 23 June 2024
Mark your calendar for Land Rover Day on Sunday, June 23rd! Come join fellow enthusiasts at Horsted Keynes for an informal showcase of Land Rovers, spanning from 1948 models to today’s.
Land Rover owners who attend will enjoy discounted travel, and our special ‘Kids for a Quid’ offer will also be in place for train travel on this day. Don’t miss this fun-filled day!
What’s New, 7 June 2024
Posted: 7th June 2024
- 32424 ‘Beachy Head’ moves for the first time!
An incredible moment for everyone involved at The Bluebell Railway. Yesterday our new-build Brighton H2 Atlantic ‘Beachy Head’ passed its boiler test at Sheffield Park and made its first movements around the yard as seen in this video. The photo, taken today, shows the loco (which has yet to receive its final paint and lining on the boiler barrel) as it made further tentative test moves around the station.
Further news will be shared in due course regarding 32424, however further testing is required before the locomotive can enter service.
Congratulations to everyone involved in making this a reality and a huge thank you to Neil Glaskin for sharing this video and photo with us! - Last weekend was our revived “Southern at War” event. Photos and videos of the event are available from Brian Dandridge (Sunday’s Spitfire Display), John Sandys from the Saturday, and Richard Salmon, also featuring the Spitfire display as well as other elements of the event, from the Sunday.
- John Sandys visited the railway today, and provides these photos and videos.
- The AGM document pack has been revised with corrected election statements.
- The inaugural (March 2024) issue of the SR Coach Group newsletter is now available for everyone to view on-line. SRCG members receive two newsletters per year, by email, in March and September. The aim is for each issue to contain a mix of current project news and historical articles. If you enjoy reading this first issue, please consider joining the SRCG to support our work, and you’ll receive future editions direct to your inbox at the time they are published (they will only appear online some time later).
If you have joined the group, but haven’t received newsletters and other communications by email, please do get in touch through the details at the bottom of the page here, since not all members’ emails may yet made it onto the distribution list.
Other news, archives & helpful links
Contributions to our What's New Blog & other pages
For submissions of photos for use in What’s New and other pages, please email both the following:
- What’s New page editor: richard.salmon@bluebell-railway.com
- PR team: pr@ bluebell-railway.com
Please note by sending photographs or other material to these email addresses, you confirm both that you have the rights to publication of the material, and that you give us permission to publish it on this website, on social media and in other Bluebell Railway publicity. Copyright remains with you, and we will credit your contributions.
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- Richard Salmon: richard.salmon@bluebell-railway.com
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