Bluebell Railway General Discussion

34059 - A
73082 - B
80151 - WR (GAL on Sunday)

Tom

 

Thank you

 

Bluebell on Parade event details and timetable have been published. As theorised, Pullmans included with SR stock. I think nearly every available coach will be out during the weekend?

Sunday cavalcade too - that was unexpected.

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/bluebell-on-parade/

 

I did say it was going to be good

The only operational coaches not running at some point over the weekend (to my knowledge) are 4957, 16012, 25728, Car 54 and the Great Northern Saloon. I believe this will also be the first time RBR 1674 runs in normal passenger service again after its overhaul, not counting Golden Arrow services.

 

For BRPS members, the EGM / AGM documents are now online (and will be posted to members), including candidates for Trustee elections. Also included are an extract from the PLC accounts (the full accounts have been uploaded to the Companies' House website). The format is somewhat different from previous years, but I think quite helpful in putting rather more context around the numbers, particularly the variation in numbers from year to year. 2025 looks to have been a more positive year than 2024 financially, though as the accompanying directors' report makes clear, that doesn't take the pressure off the need to address the underlying financial pressure.

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/brps/brps-members-notices-and-documents/

Tom

 

Is the LSWR Brake Third back from its stay in the North East by then or is it staying there until later in the year?

Peter

 

I think it is staying all Summer - I heard 6 months. It’s not listed in any of the sets for Bluebell on Parade and it would certainly be included there if available.

Tom

 

Sadly, I am unaware of any planned operation for 1520 at the Bluebell in 2026. Things can and do change, though. We can always hope....

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BCb386xfg/

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT

How good is this!!!

The High Weald Steam Working Weekend team are immensely excited to announce that the Bluebell Railway's Manning Wardle 0-6-0T "Sharpthorn" of 1877 will be joining the party at Freshfield Mill farm

Early this morning, "Sharpthorn" was picked up from Horsted Keynes Station where by the two 6NHP singles "Jess" and "Endurance", showcasing the true power of steam

The 4 mile journey from Horsted Keynes to the rally site went without fault and provided some incredible photo's/ video's as the pair made their way to site

This engine helped to built the railway in the 1880s and has since become one of the Railway's most interesting assets

A huge well done to the High Weald team, and a special thanks to Daniel Robertson for spearheading the project

A big thank you to the Bluebell Railway for allowing us the loan of "Sharpthorn", she's going to look right at home at Freshfield Mill farm

This is truly an incredible achievement and something we cannot wait to share with you

Expect to see this old girl on heavy haulage duties with a host of engines

Bring on next weekend!

Keep an eye out for the official photos tomorrow from our photographer Oliver Moore Photography and the incredible Liv Cottingham Photography ✨️

Photo's courtesy of Dan Robertson✨️

 

Some more photos here: https://www.facebook.com/permalink....durC6wo9xehaPYoRhTXytuiFDMl&id=61575650620835

Tom

 

And some thrash to go with the photos...

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EbZCurPMR/

 

Timetable for model railway weekend has recieved some minor updates:
https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Model-Railway-Weekend_PTT_2026.pdf

Provisional locomotive and rolling stock allocations are now included. 32424 will run light engine to and from Horsted Keynes, following the Saint up in the morning, and coming straight back having dropped off set C in the afternoon, ahead of the 16:45 from SP.

 

Actually featuring platforms

 

In other Bluebell news, the BGZ 32975 is being withdrawn from the GA set and replaced with freshly overhauled Mk1 RBR 1674 (which a few years ago was on the WR).

It is suspected that dining passengers will not be carried in 1674. The vehicle is in crimson lake & cream livery.

This may be a medium-term stopgap until the ex-NRM BG 81025 can be overhauled; this was originally planned to replace the BGZ but had its overhaul paused due to more work needed being discovered.

Photos of 1674 are available on the Bluebell's Facebook. The coach will run in set GA with immediate effect, in the formation south to north 54-1674-175-64, directly taking the place of 32975.

 

That puts the GA set over the weight limit for the O1 / H. I wonder if that makes it more likely (when the H is back) that it sees more use on the B set, and the dining trains are more often taken by the Q / H2 / Std4?

Tom

 

The O1 is going to be tested on the Arrow to raise the limit to 160 tons on Sunday.

 

From FB I gather BGZ off to Scotland

 

I hadn't heard anything about what's happening to the BGZ, but I suspected, as it now sounds like is the case, that it would leave the Bluebell. I can't see that it would really serve any purpose on the Bluebell in either it's scullery configuration or as a proper brake. 81025 will eventually go on the arrow. There are loads of brakes around - and being a full brake, 32975 isn't particularly useful I don't think. I can't see that Carriage & Wagon could justify carrying out the overhaul that it desperately needs.