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Bluebell Railway | Spring Steam Gala | 20th-22nd March 2026

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by Ben Jenden, Dec 17, 2025.

  1. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Well-Known Member

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    First guest TBA at 4pm today.
     
    Ben Jenden, Dec 17, 2025
    #1
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  2. Paul.Uni

    Paul.Uni Well-Known Member

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    Do we think that the air brake pump (I'm sure I'll be corrected with the correct term) clip shared on social media is a clue or a Fenchurch/Beachy Head shaped red herring?
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2025
    Paul.Uni, Dec 17, 2025
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  3. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Well-Known Member

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    Ben Jenden, Dec 17, 2025
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  4. OldSchoolTrains2

    OldSchoolTrains2 New Member

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    Very glad to have this chance to catch 2999 at the Bluebell as I failed to make it in the autumn and the rest of the line-up looks superb too. Hope the timetable is as mad/complex/ingenuous as the Branch Line weekends in this slot have been in recent years!
     
    OldSchoolTrains2, Dec 17, 2025
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  5. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Great to have a 75xxx running again, 75027 has been out of traffic for a long time
     
    A1X, Dec 17, 2025
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  6. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

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    Lineup looks very good but why have 2999 back again so soon?

    W8 is great news - I very much enjoyed its previous visits. Maybe someone could confirm exactly when they were. If my memory serves me well, W8 and W11 both came over for the whole winter early in the 2000s, and W8 returned about 2007 for the Terrier Gala which took place that year.
     
    6026 King John, Dec 17, 2025
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  7. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Well-Known Member

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    2999 is still at the railway, so makes sense to use it whilst its still there
     
    Ben Jenden, Dec 17, 2025
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  8. malc

    malc Part of the furniture

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    Is BEACHY HEAD not taking part?
     
    malc, Dec 17, 2025
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  9. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    No, out for winter maintenance according to the Facebook page.
     
    5944, Dec 17, 2025
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  10. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    W8 and W11 were in 2000 along with 2678. W8 came back over in 2006 (along with 70/3, B662 and 2678) and W11 (and 70/3) came over again in 2022.
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2025
    Dan Hill, Dec 17, 2025
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  11. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for that. I wasn't aware that W11 had been back in 2022. Missed that one for some reason.
     
    6026 King John, Dec 18, 2025
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  12. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    W11 came for the Terrier weekend that one didn't make (72) and one broke on the first morning (70)
     
    A1X, Dec 19, 2025
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  13. The Gricing Owl

    The Gricing Owl Well-Known Member

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    31065, 34059, 80151, 73082, 75069 and 2 A1X locos. Fabulous line up!

    Bryan
     
    The Gricing Owl, Jan 8, 2026 at 7:47 PM
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  14. The Gricing Owl

    The Gricing Owl Well-Known Member

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    Hopefully the rolling stock sets will shown alongside the locos in the timetable, so I can focus my time at the event on the trains I consider authentic, or close to that.

    One for @Jamessquared to comment on perhaps, although of course I imagine the full details won't be available for a while.

    Plus any info about whether 75o69 is due to stay at the Bluebell for a while this year? A BR Standard class weekend with 73082, 75o69 and 80151 on appropriate rolling stock would attract dinosaur(s) I am sure! Just on normal service trains with an extra one added perhaps to keep costs down?

    Bryan - dreaming of those wonderful few years before the asteroid hit on 10 July 1967 - B
     
    The Gricing Owl, Jan 10, 2026 at 10:22 AM
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  15. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Well-Known Member

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    75069 is only staying for the gala AFAIK
     
    Ben Jenden, Jan 10, 2026 at 10:41 AM
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  16. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    Do we know whether the timetable is based off a Branch Line Weekend/65th Anniversary Gala format, with locos swapping sets at Horsted Keynes or a Giants of Steam one? My guess with the number of locos running would be the former?
     
    Dan Hill, Jan 10, 2026 at 11:07 AM
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  17. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    Dan my pictures show W8 and W11 over in February 2001 and W8 returned again in November 2006 with other visiting Terriers 32678 and 662. No sign of 70/3 as you call it in 2006.

    Looking through my pictures from back then, here is an unususl view of W11 climbing Freshfield bank, taken from Birch Grove, 17/2/2001 01-2-17 12 W11 copy copy.jpg

    Peter
     
    torgormaig, Jan 10, 2026 at 12:04 PM
    #17
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