Bluebell Giants of Steam 13-15 October

Just announced on Facebook that 34070 Manston will be visiting

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I don't know why but I had a funny feeling Manston (or 257 Squadron) would be visiting for GoS. Manston is one of the last Light Pacifics I have yet see in preservation, so looking forward to it visiting.

 

More details on the event here:
https://www.bluebell-railway.com/giants-of-steam-gala-2023/

I wonder who the other guest locos will be

 

Wonder if 34070 will still be in her "weathered" livery then- sure to be popular with the photographers if so.

Wonder what else will appear (fingers crossed for 828.......)

 

This is from the (now full) photo charter invite for the day after the gala.

"Given the owning group are deliberately presenting the loco in a worn condition typical of the 1960s "

As was said in Swanning Around, "still needs some more muck to be really like the 1960." A sentiment I fully agree with.

 

21C127 "Taw Valley" announced as second guest.

 

Great news, Bluebell News suggested Giants would have a Bullied theme, plus I was hoping to get an opportunity to see Taw Valley in Wartime Black before withdrawal and haven't been behind it since I was a kid on a railtour 25 years ago now!
Hopefully it's a more successful visit than it's previous one!

With the opportunity to also see Manston for the first time, I'm very much looking forward to this one.

 

Pity it couldn't have visited next year after its mid-term overhaul and re-paint into the correct livery. I wouldn't even bother crossing the road to see it in its present condition. The editor of Bluebell News did hint that GOS may have a Bulleid theme and I was hoping by a process of elimination for either 34046 or 35006 so this announcement is a big disappointment.

 

Crazy! I knew it would visit before anyone else did!
Not a Bulleid fan but, should everything go OK, certainly be something that no-one will forget in a hurry!
NOW is there a plan to double head both at some point in time? A recreation of 2007's giants?

 

Question is, what's running alongside the pair?

 

At a guess I'd say the lineup could be 21C127, 34070, with 73082, 6989 and 80151 from the home fleet, possibly with 65 on the demonstration goods at HK again like last year? I'd assume it'll probably come to soon for 34059 to be ready in time?

Also for myself, I quite like the novelty of Taw Valley in Wartime Black, regardless of it's inauthenticity, it's only a temporary livery and other members of the class are out there in authentic liveries to experience should you wish in the meantime.

 

Giants of Steam.gala timetable now available https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Giants-Of-Steam-Timetables-2023-2.pdf

 

Thanks for the link, I think the last 3 trains on Sunday (day I am planning to attend) look wrong with trains departing both SP and HK before the train coming the other way arrives. For example Camelot arrives at SP at 17:35 when Manston has left at 17:30.

 

Is 80151 not well or is it spare for the weekend?

 

It's out on Sunday

 

Thanks! I only looked at Saturday's timetable as that's when I'll be going.

 

will there be connecting buses from HH every day?

 

There hasn't been in previous years but you can get the 270 bus at Perrymount Rd on Saturday and Sunday which will get you to Horsted Keynes and East Grinstead stations.

 

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Giants-Of-Steam-Timetables-2023-3.pdf

Updated version 3

 

What’s different?