"Raise your Standards" | Bluebell Railway - 'Giants of Steam' Gala 16/10/2022

Returning for another year, the Bluebell Railway's annual 'Giants of Steam' Gala was held over the weekend of October 14th - 16th, with the theme of "Raising the Standards"; celebrating the work of Robert Riddles under British Railways. A total of 6 locomotives would be in steam for the event, with four of them being BR Standard Class locomotives.

The event featured three visiting locomotives, joining members of the home-fleet providing traction through the gala. The first of the visiting locomotives would come in the shape of 'Modified Hall' Class - 6989 "Wightwick Hall", courtesy of the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. 6989 has been on an extended loan to the Bluebell Railway through the 2022 operating season. Shouldering the Swindon machine would be 4MT - 76017, visiting from the Mid-Hants Railway, and 5MT - 73156 from the Great Central Railway. The presence of 73156, with the Bluebell's own 5MT - 73082 "Camelot", marked the first time in preservation that two Standard 5MT's have operated together since the days of steam on BR. While the visit of 76017 provided a double up of 4MT power, with resident 4MT Tank - 80151.

An intensive timetable was in use over all three operating days with frequent passenger services, including the ocassional double-headed service; a highlight of which came in the form of 73082 & 73156 working line-astern through the Sussex countryside.

Locomotives:
BR(W) 6959 'Modified Hall' Class - 6989 "Wightwick Hall"
BR Standard Class 4MT Tank - 80151
BR Standard Class 4MT - 76017
Ex-SR Q Class - 30541
BR Standard Class 5MT - 73156
BR Standard Class 5MT - 73082 "Camelot"

All footage filmed on Sunday the 16th of October 2022.