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Bluebell Railway | Giants of Steam | 16th-18th October 2026

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by Ben Jenden, Dec 24, 2025.

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  1. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I have t seen the notes. But at a guess it means the train will stop with the rear 6 in the platform - so the front 6 have gone through the platform before stopping. So not exactly non-stop but you won’t be able to alight from the front 6.

    That’s a guess though, pending the notes!

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Oct 13, 2026 at 3:57 PM
    #41
  2. WorkingPressure225

    WorkingPressure225 Member

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    Tom’s given the right answer, but I can provide a bit more detail into the workings.

    When the 12 coach train arrives back at Horsted Keynes to divide, the front 6 coaches will be off the end of the platform, with the back 6 being in the platform. You won’t be able to walk between the two sets to alight the train at this point - the interconnecting doors will have been locked to allow the train to be divided. Since the front 6 coaches don’t stop in the platform, it is effectively non-stopping Horsted Keynes, and was most likely the easiest way of explaining to an average punter.

    The WTT has a 10 minute dwell booked, with the front portion due to depart HK at 1805 and arrive at SP at 1820.
     
    WorkingPressure225, Oct 13, 2026 at 5:32 PM
    #42
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  3. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Well the last slip coach working was at Haywards Heath, so only a few miles away from Horsted Keynes...
     
    A1X, Oct 15, 2026 at 11:11 AM
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  4. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    I think you mean the first slip coach working....at least according to Wikipedia. The last slip coach workings occured on BR (WR) in 1960, long after the Southern finished with such practices.

    Peter
     
    torgormaig, Oct 15, 2026 at 12:49 PM
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  5. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Yes, you're quite right, on reflection I should have realised that if it came to it the backward, outdated thinking was always going to end up being a WR thing.
     
    A1X, Oct 15, 2026 at 1:33 PM
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  6. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    A post of Facebook shows pictures of 92134's tender arriving at the Chinnor and Princess Risborough Railway, so it looks like the pairing with 92240's tender will only be for its Bluebell visit.

    Am I right in reading the timetable for Sunday that the 12 coach train is top and tailed? I'm visiting Saturday, but I might have an opportunity to see this going up Freshfield Bank when I meet up with my best friend.
     
    Dan Hill, Oct 15, 2026 at 8:45 PM
    #46
  7. SECR 65

    SECR 65 New Member

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    Yes, the 12 car is top and tailed from Sheffield Park-East Grinstead-Horsted Keynes.
    71000 East Grinstead end, 92134 Sheffield Park end
    At Horsted Keynes, the train splits. The first portion goes down with 92134. The rear portion goes down with 71000 20 mins later; obviously it will run round at Horsted Keynes to lead for the down trip.

    On the timetable there are seperate lead loco and rear loco rows.

    'a' means loco attaches at Horsted Keynes
    'd' means loco detatches at Horsted Keynes

    (This info comes from the notes section at the bottom of the timetable.)
     
    SECR 65, Oct 15, 2026 at 9:16 PM
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