Скачать или смотреть 'The Chesham Flyer' remembered | Bluebell Railway - 'Branch Line Gala' 16/03/2025

The 2025 edition of the 'Branch Line Gala' at the Bluebell Railway, held over the weekend of March 14th-16th, would see 5 locomotives take to the rails working an intensive timetable of frequent passenger services, bolstered by demonstration freight and brake van rides.

Making a trip across the Solent, Ivatt 2MT Tank - 41313 would star at the event having ventured to the mainland from its home of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. The Ivatt would be joined by a quartet of home-fleet power for the weekend. This edition of the the event would mark the 'Branch Line Gala' debut for H2 'Atlantic' - 32424 “Beachy Head”, with the new-build flanked by the veteran duo of 72 "Fenchurch" and O1 Class - 65. A second visitor had been scheduled for this event, in the shape of Ex-WD Hudswell Clarke Austerity Saddle Tank - 68067 (7 “Robert”) visiting from the Great Central Railway. However, it would unfortunately fail before the event with no prospect of a timely repair, resulting in resident Rebuilt 'Battle of Britain' Class - 34059 "Sir Archibald Sinclair" being called into service as a late substitute; completing the home-fleet contribution. 68067 would still be be on display at Sheffield Park throughout the event.

2025 marks 65 years since the end of regular steam passenger services on the Chesham branch, with this historical milestone being commemorated over the weekend. The Chesham branch was constructed by the Metropolitan Railway, opening in 1889, and remains open today with services operated by London Transport. The twilight years of regular steam on the branch under British Railways would see a shuttle service, 'The Chesham Flyer', operated by Ivatt 2MT Tanks and 6 archaic Metropolitan Railway coaches; divided into two sets of three. The final regular service would be hauled by Ivatt 2MT Tank - 41284, departing Chesham shortly after midnight on the morning of the 12th of September 1960. Once the service had been withdrawn, the 6 Metropolitan coaches were deemed surplus and were also retired from use. One was unfortunately scrapped while another has found refuge at the London Transport Museum, but the remaining four were saved for preservation and see regular use on the Bluebell Railway. For the Sunday of this event, these four coaches would be paired with 41313, recreating memories of the Chesham branch in its swansong of steam.

Locomotives:
BR(M) Class 2MT Tank - 41313
Ex-LB&SCR H2 Class - 32424 “Beachy Head”
LB&SCR A1X 'Terrier' Class - 72 "Fenchurch"
SE&CR O1 Class - 65
Ex-SR Rebuilt 'Battle of Britain' Class - 34059 "Sir Archibald Sinclair"

00:00 - 41313 Horsted Keynes footpath
01:28 - 32424 Horsted House Farm Bridge
02:55 - 72 Leamland
04:14 - 41313 Leamland
06:20 - 65 Leamland
08:32 - 34059 Keysford Lane
09:36 - 72 Keysford Lane
10:33 - 41313 Three Arch Bridge
11:52 - 65 Three Arch Bridge
13:07 - 72 Three Arch Bridge
14:45 - 32424 Sharpthorne Tunnel
16:09 - 41313 Tremaines
16:52 - 34059 Freshfield Bank
18:27 - 72 & 32424 Freshfield Bank
19:23 - 41313 Freshfield Bank

All footage filmed from a position of safety, while in possession of a valid PTS.
All footage filmed on Sunday the 16th of March 2025.