Bluebell Railway | Spring Steam Gala | 20th-22nd March 2026

There should be staff to assist people with mobility difficulties across the foot crossing at the north end of the platforms.

Tom

 

Thanks Tom

Don

 

Gala timetable and loco directions here https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Spring-Steam-Gala-TT-2026-3.pdf

 

Looks good. Platform allocations would be great

2999 would be my main objective as I have only seen it on the Didcot demonstration line.

Getting there will be a challenge due to Engineering Works on many lines but I can do it if I start very early and Southern behave.

Don

 

But re

But remember on diversion via Staines and the Hounslow loop so journey will take longer to/from CJ as well.

 

Hi Don, I think the platforms allocations have been left off because of a recent change in how information such as timetables is distributed to staff. We’ve moved away from a weekly Special Traffic Notice to information being published on HOPS directly, so I imagine the platform allocations have been “lost in the move”. They should be included for future timetables. I’ve complied a very rough list for you, but this won’t apply to all services as some of them use different platforms as timings and needs dictate.

Sheffield Park:
1: Generally SP-EG services
2: Generally SP-HK services

Horsted Keynes:
1: HK-EG services
2: Generally EG-SP and HK-SP services
3: Generally SP-EG services

Kingscote:
1 (M): Generally EG services
2 (L): Generally HK and SP services

I hope this helps you

 

OK

OK thanks

Don

 

Many thanks Ben, very helpful.

For me it will be sets B and D behind 73082, 75069 and 34059. No other combinations are available - well, not for dinosaurs!

With 73082+75069 at 14.00 and 16.35 ex SP on the Saturday my main focus of the event.

Bryan

 

Gala timetable updated Spring Steam Gala TT 2026 V2

 

I can't see any great changes, unless I've missed something vital. The two BR standards and 34059 on sets B and D should keep me happy.

And no move to put 80151 chinmey first on just the four Muansells, which would be superb for that line/area. But I've given up waiting as I've decided my BR SR steam memoirs book is to remain unchanged now as my designer approaches the half way stage of her work on it. And with a line that thinks the Atlantic looks great on the old woden stock I guess attempting to match the reality of operations there in the 1960s and just before, is no longer going to generate any money. Except from one decrepit dinosaur!

Only a gentle moan before I get jumped on!

The Bluebell is a wonderful heritage line with some superb locos, and I know that longer trains will be the norm at the Spring Festival that I certainly plan to support.

Bryan - not from a great height please - B

 

Changes are -
1) Coaching stock. - A is now Mets+4 wheelers. C is now WR stock and the LNWR Observation car
2) 73082 and 80151 in use all three days rather than two each - each will triple head with the two Terriers ex-East Grinstead
3) 65 now in use Friday and Saturday but not Sunday.

 

Hi Bryan, I know this won’t be perfect for your photography aims but 80151 is rostered on the A Set during the February Half Term, which is showing on HOPS as 3 Maunsells on the southern end with 3 Mk1s on the northern end. The whole set is formed South-North of 1309-1336-3687-4941-1818-4754.

Unfortunately, one of the Maunsell Third Opens (1309) is being withdrawn for overhaul after the Spring Steam Gala, so it looks like there won’t be a 4 coach Maunsell set for a couple of years now.

 

Very many thanks for that. I may go over just to enjoy that, but with all that I am currently doing (three steam loco memoirs books at once!) I really have to accept that the one fully drafted (BR SR) and nearly half way through design has to be left as it is now.

Thanks again,

Bryan

 

The loco roster page lists Lady of Legend, Fenchurch & Freshwater in use on 28 & 29 March

 

Looks like 299 is rostered for most of April as well

 

Time for a

Time for another 'oh dear' from the resident dinosaur!

Bryan - now doubled up on look outs for even more incoming asteroids - B

 

2999 is reported to staying for the duration of the year in the latest Heritage Rail Mag

 

Got three Railcams screens running while I work today so I can enjoy the KWVR, Chinnor diesel and Bluebell galas before heading to the last of those tomorrow - which I'm very, very much looking forward to.

Having seen the Pullmans are at the front of that set, quick question. Do the little windows on the Pullmans open enough to still get some decent noise in? Realised I've never travelled in a Pullman coach before and hoping that I can enjoy both breakfast and 'thrash' tomorrow morning with the early double-header!