Bluebell Branch Line Weekend 14-16 March

First visitor 41313 from Isle of Wight

Info from Bluebell's Facebook page

Sent from my SM-A137F using Tapatalk

 

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/branch-line-gala/

Webpage

 

Oh wow! Something I haven't seen! Looking forward to it already

 

Be nice if they ran Beachy Head and booked one final visitor.
The GWR-ish event last year was good, but it didn't need that many engines running at it.

 

Strong disagree, I think having a number of smaller engines running around is a great thing, and the Bluebell only really have three in this regard (72, 65 and 32424), so two more visitors would be the perfect number

An austerity of some sort would be fun, not seen one of those at the railway for a very long time

 

Yeah, I put 80151 in both categories.
Though, an industrial engine does sound fun.
Or maybe 51456? The other East Lancs lanky?

 

Second visitor - Austerity 0-6-0ST No. 68067 from the GCR.

72, 65 and 32424 also booked to run

 

Clearly someone was listening to you!

Tom

 

I missed out on a run behind 68067 at the GCR, so nice to get another chance to, also to try and get some better pictures of it.

 

Well it's about time...

 

As I posted somewhere else on Nat Pres else a few weeks back, I hope that SR (LM) loco is booked to haul a short rake of coaching stock similar to what it hauled when that class worked Brockenhurst to Lymington in the 1960s. Preferably on 14 or 15 March, then I shall be making my first visit to a Bluebell Branch Line Gala. And if 32636 is also on a similar short train that will be a bonus.

But of couse I have to accept that it may well not fit with sensible plans to run the event by having too many very short trains of the style I prefer.

Such is life for those of us, sorry, those of me (I think I am in a minority of one!) who have such a very narrow focus on steam loco likes (I will add a comment re the Giants of Steam shortly).

So I always accept what is running and don't throw my toys etc out of my pram over it.

And of course I hope that, whatever the line up re locos and coaching stock turns out to be, the event will prove a great success for the Bluebell and very many visitors alike.

Bryan

 

I think it’s been stated elsewhere the Ivatt will be on the Chesham set at some point to recreate the final years of the Chesham Flyer shuttle. I’d like to see 72 on the four wheelers personally.

 

I seem to recall there was a push to get 949 (the Stroudley Brake 3rd) finished in time for Branch Line, which would mean a five coach set of four wheelers.

Tom

 

If so, that'll be the train of the event I'd wager!

 

Web Page now seems to show 32424 as part of the line up.

 

Timetable available https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/branch-line-gala/

 

Timetable https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Branch-Line-Gala-2025-Timetables-1.pdf

 

Timetabling will always be a challenge, and I've been involved with such matters elsewhere in the past and know how much so that is, but to me it seems 72 is rather underused at this one - a double-headed positioning move each way between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes, and one return goods working between the same stations each day (approx. 1 hour 10 minutes out on the line each day). Not sure if it is doing shunting demonstrations at Horsted at all, but oddly the goods engine that is the Bucket doesn't work the goods at all. I'm a little biased as I like the Terrier; a few years ago it worked SP-KC shuttles which I though worked well and the shorter rake gave a branch line feel.

The webpage promotes 'authentic branch line operations' including 'mixed' workings (which I read as parcels/milk wagons added to passenger rakes), but carriage allocations don't mention anything as such - I could of course just be jumping to conclusions on that one.

I hope I'm not being too overly critical - it's probably safe to say last two year's events were really quite something and there was no doubt they would be a tough act to follow, what with double headers and an all line freight run. I'll still be there for this event regardless - almost always am - but probably not for all three days as I had previously planned for.

 

Thanks Ben. That looks good to me. SR (LM) 41313 mainly on a green MK 1 set or Bulleid coaches plus 31065 on Maunsell set. I think that will see both locos on green SR used coaches all/most of the time on Friday and Saturday.

So, tickets for those two days just booked.

Bryan

 

Previously when Fenchurch (or similar) has done something like this then it has worked brake van runs at HK in between trips, I have no idea but it would not be a surprise to see this happen this time around.