Bluebell Diesel Gala 18-19th April

i know Diesel fans are strange but breeding with each other
i wonder, in the future will we see a Southern Region diesel gala with 33, 73 , 09 and an Sussex DEMU or the Hastings unit ?

 

I was passing near the area en route from a family visit to home and was interested to see how well the trains were loading. so I made a slight detour to see 55019 on the 5.15 ex-SP approaching Kingscote and the six coaches looked pretty full. Quite incredible to watch the big bulbous yellow nose emerging out of the shadows as it passed the signal box - a sight I for one never dreamed I would see on the Bluebell line.

It will be interesting to find out in due course whether the event made a profit and if so, whether it will be followed by any further such events. A couple of hydraulics next? They seem to draw the crowds too.

Sadly, after having hosted two generations of East Coast racehorses in the last year, I doubt if an A4 or Scotsman would make it to the Bluebell due to clearance issues. I'd like to be proved wrong, but I'm not gong to be holding my breath.

 

I thought my visit yesterday was very good as it seemed did the very many others who went. The Deltics looked somewhat incongruous and were unsurprisingly running on only one engine but it was good to see them. For steam fans, in the afternoon 1638 made a noisy departure from Sheffield Park with the dining train. I assume that was for the wedding reception that was being held at Horsted Keynes. That provided some interesting sights when there was a lull in the railway action.

 

Hi all, photos and a video of the event

Photos - http://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/Bluebellphotosets/Deltic-weekend-April-2015/
Video -

 

My dad and I had a very good day out yesterday. It seemed very successful with both trains fully loaded and standing room only for the majority of the day.

The only part that marred the event was a group of about 3 or 4 lads that had been drinking all day and couldn't handle it. Shame really, as the main culprit had some sort of disagreement with the guard at East Grinstead on the very last train on the Saturday.

All in all, a very good event.

 

Chatted with some friends this morning who'd been working at BB yesterday, they said the booking office takings at SP had been VERY healthy... Much as I really don't care about diseasels, can't argue too much with the funds in the coffers!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Mine and my Dad's video from Friday plus some extra photos...





https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/sets/72157647921843163/

 

Seem to be a few gripes on WNXX about the 09 not being in service today, any news on that?

Also a report of a member of staff acting in a racist manner toward one of the punters, although have not seen this mentioned anywhere else.

 

That could of been linked to what I saw right at the end of the day at East Grinstead...

 

Deleted.

 

Spoke to someone who witnessed that incident. His account was that a group had got themselves drunk, had been asked to make less noise and at that point the "racist" card was played.

 

A good turn out on Sunday too. Great to see the nay sayers proven wrong, perhaps this will encourage the bluebell to hold some more adventurous diesel galas.
In answer to @A1X's query about the 09, it was certainly running brake van rides at Sheffield Park today.

A couple of my shots from today:

D9009 Alycidon by timz2011, on Flickr


55 019 Royal Highland Fusilier by timz2011, on Flickr

More on my Flickr stream at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/timw1/sets/72157652055086441/

 

OK, well that's good to know. Have to say it didn't sound right, just a shame some of them have decided to post it as fact on there as it gives the railway an undeserved bad name.

 

If it was the incident I witnessed, the lad who was arguing with the guard was a complete moron. He was on the brakevan rides earlier in the afternoon, bellowing at the top of his voice. Couldnt handle his beer/cider

 

A good day at the Bluebell today. Still not keen on the idea of diesels on the line but I'll always make an exception for the mighty Deltics.
55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' West Hoathly by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' Freshfield Bank by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

555019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' Keysford Lane Waterworks by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' Horsted Keynes by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

D9009 'Alycidon' Sharpthorne Tunnel by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

D9009 'Alycidon' Freshfield Bank by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

D9009 'Alycidon' Keysford Lane, Horsted Keynes. by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

D9009 'Alycidon' Horsted Keynes by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

D9009 'Alycidon' Horsted Keynes by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

Are the Deltics going to the SVR on Tuesday? There's a movement from East Grinstead to the SVR at 10.27 and I can't imagine it's anything else.

 

Latest loco roster mentioned that both loco as re being used on special workings tomorrow (Tuesday). Does anyone have the timings, please?

Thanks

 

This is the one I mentioned earlier so could be it although it's a strange time for an excursion to leave.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R36140/2015/04/21/advanced

 

I agree. I wish the Bluebell had remained a steam only railway but if they must have diesel events then I hope they make money.

 

Thoroughly great day on Friday, I had my first full length trip to the Bluebell since we got to Kingscote. Couldn't fault it at all and I finally got to Atlantic house. Went for the spectacle of 2 Deltics and thats what I got. Without getting embroiled in a 'steam only' debate I (personally)don't think it would have worked with any other class of diseasel. I am now in a position to visit the railway more often and hope to be seeing steam but good call BB and I'm sure the numbers made it.