Bluebell Railway H Class 263 return to service event 28/7/2012

This weekend the Bluebell had a bit of a mini-pre-grouping gala to celebrate the return to service of H Class 0-4-4T 263 of 1905. Joining 263 were C Class 0-6-0 592 of 1902 and P Class 0-6-0T 323 of 1910, all three built by the South Eastern & Chatham Railway (P Class 178 was also to join them but unfortunately had a problem on Thursday), E4 0-6-2T B473 of 1898 in 1920's Southern Railway olive green and 1877 Fletcher Jennings 0-4-0T 'Captain Baxter' industrial covering for 178. It's my first visit since I was very young and will certainly be returning - i've never really had an interest in the Southern railways before but it's certainly been kindled now and look forward to returning, definitely one of the best preserved railways i've been to with it's Victorian/Edwardian rolling stock and superbly presented stations, the presentation of the stations alone is something a lot of railways could follow the Bluebell's example on





E4 Class B473, formerly named 'Birch Grove' in LBSCR livery



P Class 323 'Bluebell', one of THREE P class locomotives the Bluebell has







Inscription on 'Captain Baxter's buffers

 

'Sharpthorn', the industrial locomotive that was actually involved in the construction of the line





In the engine shed, in which you can look around most of the out of service locomotives, is this A1 Terrier 'Fenchurch'




P Class 178 being worked on



H Class 263



C Class 592

 

The Metropolitan set of carriages