Watercress Line Autumn Steam Gala 3rd to 5th October 2025

Just like every other year, sadly (for me)

 

Visitor no.2 now appeared on the website - 34059

"We’re excited to welcome 34059 ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’, a rebuilt Battle of Britain class locomotive, to The Watercress Line, courtesy of Bluebell Railway. Originally built for Southern Railway’s secondary main lines, these locos were rebuilt in the 1950s to improve reliability while keeping many of Bulleid’s innovative features.
Rescued from Barry scrapyard in 1979, ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’ has undergone extensive restoration, including a new tender and firebox, returning to steam in 2023. Owned by the Bluebell Railway and supported by dedicated preservation groups, this visit offers a rare chance to see a legendary piece of steam history in action."

 

This is so exciting for me, it's a really nerdy reason. At Medstead there's a photo of Archibald Sinclair running on the Watercress Rails in BR days so to see it here in present day will be really cool based on how it has travelled on the line in BR service.

 

There is a well known photo of Archie at Ropley.
I have also seen a photo of Archie at Itchen Abbas.

 

I believe it was the same when another Bluebell loco in 80151 visited a few years back. Like 34059, I think there was a picture of it passing through Ropley towards Alton.

If I'm not mistaken this is 34059's first visit to another railway (it's only trip away so far was to a Private event in London earlier this year).

 

...and all taken the same day - 15th May 1966 when it worked the diverted 10.34 Bournemouth-Waterloo. It was withdrawn only two weeks later.

 

Yes first time 34059 will travel on a heritage line that's not the Bluebell in preservation.

Hopefully this means 34059 might travel to some other lines in the future, Swanage probably most likely next.

 

I found two pictures of 34059 on 15th May 1966;

34059 passing through Medstead


34059 passing through Itchen Abbas


I wonder if she will come in by rail for the Gala?
Really looking forward to this event. 34059 was in fine form at the Bluebell 65th Anniversary Gala as we had a cracking run behind her.

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I would love it if 34059 stayed on the line for an additional weekend following the gala so to attempt to recreate these photos in the present day when the line is a bit quieter.

 

When 80151 visited from the Bluebell a few years ago it stayed on for a while and also operated the Wizard week services at the end of October. It would be good if 34059 stayed on a while but I guess it depends if she is needed back at Sheffield Park.

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Realistically it could stay for at least a couple of weeks. Especially as two weeks later Bluebell has their Giants of Steam focusing on new build steam so 34059 won't be required for that.

 

I just wonder, who was that boy, stood by the signal box, how old would he be now, has anyone tried to find out, with a view to recreating that Picture, with him now, i guess an old man?

 

I suspect GOS will need more then the 4 new builds, but I suppose Camelot could fit the bill.

 

What a shame 34058 is still under restoration. Maybe one day 34058 and 34059 could both double head together at the MHR or the Bluebell.

 

I suspect we probably need a minimum of five locos for GoS of which four are the "headliners" - but any Bluebell loco could be that fifth one. But as you say, 80151 or 73082 could be the fifth.

(You can operate a service at maximum line occupancy with four locos, but having a fifth one enables more creativity with the timetable; otherwise it is just pure up and down for each train).

Tom

 

Didn't we have something from the MHR in exchange for the same time period? (Was it Cheltenham?) It seemed quite an inventive arrangement; both parties got a bit of variety that could be marketed at comparatively minor net cost beyond the transport moves.

Tom

 

I believe it was Cheltenham, when it and Clan Line visited for Giants of Steam. I think the MHR Gala was a week or two prior.

 

The first one is by John Scrace - the Bluebell Museum has just put a much sharper version of it up on Facebook.
(https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=746845124925525&set=a.133055799637797 for those who use FB).

He managed to catch that working three times it seems: at Itchen Abbas, at M4M and at Haslemere. They are photos 141452 - 141454 in the Bluebell Museum archive. (https://www.bluebell-railway-museum.co.uk/photographArchive.php)

Tom

 

and maybe 6989 if that comes back...

 

I believe the timetable is being changed to include at least 5 engines, but not sure which homefleet it will be.