Bluebell Railway - Giants of steam 2018

Looks like it. Appears to be No. 65 Friday AM and 541 Friday PM. Apologies for not spotting it earlier, the working for tomorrow was on last week's Traffic Notice! Don't know what stock will be used, except that it is specifically noted as a short fitted goods.

(Our notices run Sat - Fri; so the gala is nominally split over two week's of notices. The Special Operating Notice concerning the operation of the brake van rides only reached my inbox today, but looking at the traffic notice, it looks like a goods train operation for all three days).

Tom

 

Thanks for that Tom, we are going tomorrow so that works well!

 

Hope you had a good time! From photos, it looks like the goods train for the brake van rides was the 12 ton hand crane; match truck for the crane; the SR 20 ton dropside ballast wagon; a 12 ton SR ventilated van; the six wheel United Daries milk tanker and the Queen Mary brake as accommodation.

Tom

 

Very, very enjoyable day well worth getting out of bed after four hours sleep! My 1st visit and it won't be the last! Horstead Keynes what a place, I've always wanted to pay a visit here and I'm very glad I did. Certainly next time we come we'll be planning a weekend! Thankyou all concerned for a top day out. Difficult for me to pick a Favourite but this one does it for me, what a beauty!

 

Not much from anyone on this gala up to now, so a couple from me. Glad I went yesterday weather wise too. Slight change of locos from printed timetable but all seemed to run to time. Glad I went as it was the first visit for a long time. A couple of rides in the four wheelers too!

 

Thanks a lot for the pictures camraman Is it a very precise investigation of the time table we can see in picture no 2?

regards,
Knut

 

Union of South Africa at East Grinstead.

 

Busiest I've seen the railway since another certain LNER pacific visited last year, so clearly the A4 draws a crowd. Photos and video as below;

 

My video and a couple of photos from yesterday at the gala. Certainly seemed well attended, hopefully the rain today hasn't put too many off!

 

I went today (Sun 14/10). As mentioned above, the crowds were very reminiscent of last year's Flying Scotsman Flying South event. An enjoyable event .... shame Mayflower wasn't there!

 

One from today : -

 

Really good day out despite the overcast and patchy conditions. Had 2 trips behind 60009 (I pre booked on the Queen of Scots and did The Waverley as well including the Obo) as well a short trip behind 847 from Sheffield Park to Horsted and a spell behind 73082 from. Horsted up to East Grinstead and back to Sheffield Park.

Sadly neither of the 2 60009 runs I had were non stop as we stopped twice waiting for the up Kingscote services. We ended up 10 mins late on the second trip (though the run round seemed to take a bit longer at East Grinstead) and we had a stop on the run up as well.

I was hoping to get some final pics in the yard as it might be my last chance to see 60009 in steam but given the time we got back, the works was shut. I'll look out for maybe one last run behind her.

 

I was deciding whether to have a 2nd go on the A4 or a run behind Camelot and film the A4 passing Kingscote!

 

I was deciding whether to have a 2nd go on the A4 or a run behind Camelot and film the A4 passing Kingscote!

 

The rest of my photos from today -https://paulsimpson.zenfolio.com/p864181440

 

I attended on Friday and most of Saturday, thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience! Friendly staff combined with an intensive timetable that never dropped more than 5 minutes in all the time I was there - very impressive. The freight at HK was a nice touch, looked so much better than just a loco and brakevan and the Q class especially looked fantastic on it. Thanks to all involved for their efforts, and I leave below a video from the 2 days and some of my better photographs...

 

Picture no. 2 (and 6) shows one of most beautiful ranks of restored historic carriages I have ever seen!

Thanks a lot for these pictures 73082!

regards,
Knut

 

Yes a tricky choice Life can be challenging for a railway enthusiast!

 

BACK ON THE MAINLINE AT OXTED


https://www.flickr.com/photos/jumbojet1/43519059830/in/datetaken/lightbox/

 

Ta very much! Agreed its always nice to see them out, was especially pleased when I saw the GN Director's Saloon was to replace the LSWR 3rd Lav Brake in the consist so that a full teak/brown rake was formed. Looked excellent behind the O1 especially!