DPS 40th Anniversary gala - Bluebell Railway - 6/7/8 October

From Facebook...

 

and see also http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html

 

What a year 2017 will be, fantastic.

 

I am a steam man at heart but this is an unmissable event. I have a soft spot for these beasts and will hopefully attend this event if Southern are not on strike again. The surprise guest is not a Blue and white stripey beast by any chance?
What a year it's going to be for the Bluebell. They have had the spirit of the ECML moved to Sussex with the visit of Scotsman as well.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

Is it easy to get to by rail if southern aren't running?

 

That's a pessimistic view of the potential outcome of the Southern situation for an event ten months away!

The options are basically Southern, to East Grinstead or Haywards Heath (plus bus to Horsted Keynes). In addition, the Bluebell has often arranged vintage bus services to Sheffield Park from Brighton during big galas: no guarantees, but it is a possibility, and Brighton may be easier to reach by other means.

Tom

 

On strike days this last week their were buses from East Grinstead Station to Gatwick, then Gatwick Express to London ( Southern Tickets being accepeted). I got from E.G. to Victoria in 58 miniutes, and return in 63 minutes. I have managed to get into work in London every day during the strike.

The other options is drive, the railway is not that far away. I always drive to the Midhants usually about 1 1/4 hours to Ropley , while by rail to Alton it would be 2.5 hours in the morning ( I could just about make it to Swanage or the GC by road in that time).

 

South Eastern is unaffected and there is a direct Tunbridge Wells-East Grinstead bus link https://bustimes.org.uk/services/set_6-291-A-y08 (Unless of course the Bluebell can complete in double quick time its hitherto unannounced Eastern Extension via Forest Row and Hartfield, putting track back through the EG bypass , building a brand new flyover over the Uckfield line east of Ashurst and linking up with the Spa Valley, in which case it's only a fifteen minute walk across TW for a connecting train! )

Seriously, it's quite a surprise that tbe Bluebell, an LBSCR/SR line, has been chosen for this event, although with an A1, an A4 and soon an A3 paying a visit besides the 2015 Deltic event, as you say, you would think that the ECML gets re-routed through Mid-Sussex at times *. Obviously, the DPS appreciated their reception when they brought their locos down two years ago and I agree with you, although I don't often frequent diesel galas, this one has already gone down in the diary

* PS - not to mention Green Arrow in 2003 and Beachy Head's boiler, originally built for a GNR Atlantic.

 

Sounds like a job for the Weymouth Quay mob!

 

Can't see listed on bluebell website? This still taking place?

 

Listed here http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/events/index.html

 

Thanks

 

Mainline charter around Hampshire on 7th announced with more details to come

 

Can't find hotel nearby, hoping it gets back in before last train of nite.

 

Details here

http://thedps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Booking071017.pdf

The tour is booked to leave East Grinstead around 17.00, calling at Oxted and East Croydon before going on a circular tour of Hampshire, returning to East Grinstead around 22.30.

 

May get off East Croydon would help getting into central London better

 

The Mainline tour from is cancelled - Details here on the DPS Website:-

http://thedps.co.uk/category/railtours/

 

Timetable up on the Bluebell website
https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp...Deltic-Gala-October-2017-Public-Timetable.pdf

 

From the e-Newsletter:

A Diesel Lover's Delight!

The Bluebell Railway is delighted to be hosting the 40th Anniversary of the foundation of the Deltic Preservation Society with three of these iconic diesel locomotives visiting for a special Anniversary Gala over from 6-8 Oct., 2017.

The event will be a Deltic diesel lovers delight! We will be featuring:

• D9002 "The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry", which is coming all the way from the National Railway Museum in York.
• No. 55009 "Alycidon" and No. 55019 "Royal Highland Fusilier", both provided by the Deltic Preservation Society.
• A miniature Deltic from York.

View the intensive timetable for the weekend with a 12-car set due to run on the last train of the day on both Friday and Saturday evenings.

Event Summary

All three days ...

• Intensive three-train service running all day
• Deltic cab visits on the visiting locos at Sheffield Park station.
• Brake van trips on the first train of the day from Sheffield Park behind Bluebell Railway's very own D4106 diesel shunter (bookable in advance)
• Brake van rides throughout the day at Horsted Keynes station.
• A 7 ¼-inch gauge Deltic running through the locomotive yard

Plus ...

Friday:

• Photoshoot with three loco line up at south end of Horsted Keynes at 1:30 p.m. That's two locations available for photography not normally open to the public.
• 12-car run on 5:35 p.m. service from Sheffield Park

Saturday:

• An added attraction ... on Saturday only BRPS President Gordon Pettitt OBE will give a talk about his first-hand experience of trial trips and Deltic performance on the East Coast Main Line. It will be held in the Birch Grove Suite at Sheffield Park starting at 2:15 p.m. and is scheduled to last 30-45 minutes.
• 12-car run on 5:30 p.m. up service
• Special evening "Beerex" Deltic train at 8 p.m. from Sheffield Park with a special brew from Harveys of Lewes available on board.
• Pie and mash available from the Bessemer Arms at Sheffield Park Station.

Tickets are available at £25 for one day or £50 for all three days, so come along and see these noisy giants in action. Book Deltic Weekend tickets online.

For all details, click here.

 

Just back from a flying visit to the Bluebell for this event. Looks to have been well-supported. Sadly, according to the weather forecast, the next two days don't look to be as pleasant as today, which has seen almost unbroken sunshine here in Sussex, although high cloud is starting to arrive from the west as I type this.

For a bit of fun, I have just underlined D9002 in my old 1973 Combined Volume! Sadly, 18 out of 22 will be my final total, although I gather that one cab survives from D9008/55008, which was one of the four which eluded me. I still almost have to pinch myself to believe that I've just photographed a Deltic on the Bluebell. Having known the line since I was a child, I must admit, it's a sight I never thought I would see until the gala two years ago. The DPS and the Bluebell seem unlikely bedfellows, but considering it was the DPS which took the initiative to ask if their anniversary gala could be staged on a former LB&SCR/Southern branch line with no connection whatsoever to the class's former stamping grounds, I guess they must have been made very welcome in 2015.

I'm also pleased that, while as a member, I support the Bluebell principle of steam only for the regular timetabled trains, the line is prepared to make exceptions such as this. If one weighs the goodwill which this generates to the DPS and the diesel enthusiast community in general against the possible moans of a few people turning up this coming weekend without checking the website and perhaps being disappointed at the lack of steam (and perhaps a few people who not only don't like diesels but don't like the thought of them working trains on the Bluebell), the balance goes very much in favour of the former.