Bluebell Railway - 2021 Giants of Steam Gala

The opportunity to see Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 No.53028 “Clan Line” in action was too good to miss. I set out early to capture the locomotives coming off shed at Sheffield Park to pick up their coaching stock ready for the day ahead. On the drive to the Bluebell Railway I was treated to one of those rare mornings when the sun was a big red ball in the sky turning the thin layer of mist hovering a few feet above the ground pink. The sun was still low in the sky as I watched the first of the engines trundle over the point work to replenish its water tanks from the tower at the London end of platform 2 before fetching its train ready to form the first service of the day, this process was repeated until all the locomotives and rolling stock required had been dispatched. We take a service train as far as Horsted Keynes, by now the mist has cleared as we observe the comings and goings in bright autumn sunlight. Not only are we treated to the sights and sounds of the big engines in action, there is also a short goods train giving brake van rides through platforms 2,3,4 & 5. Next we go on to the attractive station at Kingscote for a welcome coffee and a cake in the picnic area kiosk whilst watching trains arrive and depart, we complete the trip to East Grinstead before returning to Sheffield Park, stopping off at both Kingscote and Horsted Keynes to take a few more shots in the ever changing sunlight. The last leg to Sheffield Park sees the low mist return as the sun drops behind the horizon treating us to a spectacular sunset. It was dark as the last of the engines made their way to the shed offering some interesting photographic opportunities in the glow of the floodlights dotted around the yard. I left the station for the short walk to my car with the sound of simmering locomotives in the background; it had been an excellent day.

Locomotives featured:

Guest Locos:
Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 No.35028 “Clan Line”, courtesy of the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society (MNLPS).
Schools Class 4-4-0 No.925 “Cheltenham”, courtesy of the National Railway Museum/Watercress Line.


Home Fleet:
South Eastern & Chatham Railway H-class 0-4-4T No. 263 - owed by the “Bluebell Railway Trust”.
“S15” Class 4-6-0 No.847 (30847) - courtesy of “The Maunsell Locomotive Society”.
Class 5 4-6-0 No.73082 “Camelot” - owned by “the 73082 Camelot Locomotive Society”

The “Bluebell Railway” is a standard gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) heritage railway located in Sussex, England.