Autumn Gala Weekend, Bluebell Railway

Sunday 25th October 2009

The annual Autumn Gala, which in previous years has been a 'Giants of Steam' Weekend did not have any guest locos this year.
King Arthur No. 30777 'Sir Lamiel', based at the Great Central Railway had been expected, but it failed with superheater problems
during the Great Central Gala two weeks before and although repairs were made and the loco was serviceable, the GCR did not
consider it was reliable enough to transport it to the Railway and be able to remedy any problems away from base.
Rebuilt 'Battle of Britain' No. 34059 'Sir Archibald Sinclair', restored to working order during 2009 and 'Dukedog' No. 9017, which had been
repainted in B.R. black livery during its visit to Llangollen earlier in the year, with the other resident locos 1638 and 80151 worked an intensive
schedule of passenger trains and Terrier No. 672 'Fenchurch' worked brake-van rides at Horsted Keynes, on a mostly sunny Autumn day.
 

Click on a picture to enlarge it

No. 1638 at Horsted Keynes, having arrived light engine
 from Sheffield Park, reversed to couple up to the stock
forming the 10.25 am to Kingscote.

No. 9017 departs from Horsted Keynes
with the 10.35 am train to Sheffield Park.
the Met coaches replacing the freight.

Ex-LBSCR Class A1 0-6-0 No. 672 'Fenchurch' at
the rear of the 11.00 am from Sheffield Park, hauled
by No. 80151, near the top of Freshfield bank.

Ex-GWR 'Dukedog' No. 9017 carrying the name
'Earl of Berkeley' climbing Freshfield bank with the
11.32 am from Sheffield Park to Kingscote.

S.R. Class U 2-6-0 No. 1638 climbing Freshfield bank
with the 12.10 pm from Sheffield Park to Kingscote.
 

B.R. Standard Class 4 2-6-4T No. 80151 descending
Freshfield bank with the 12.05 pm from Kingscote.
 

'Battle of Britain' class No. 34059 'Sir Archibald Sinclair'
climbs Freshfield bank with the 'Golden Arrow' lunch
train, 12.43 pm from Sheffield Park.

B.R. Standard Class 4 2-6-4T No. 80151
ascending Freshfield bank with the
1.20 pm from Sheffield Park. 

Ex-GWR 'Dukedog' No. 9017
climbing Freshfield bank with the 1.52 pm
from Sheffield Park to Kingscote.

S.R. Class U 2-6-0 No. 1638 climbing Freshfield bank
with the 2.27 pm from Sheffield Park to Kingscote.
 

B.R. Standard Class 4 2-6-4T No. 80151 descending
Freshfield bank with the 2.25 pm from Kingscote.
 

Battle of Britain' class No. 34059 'Sir Archibald Sinclair'
climbing Freshfield bank with the
3.00 pm from Sheffield Park.

B.R. Standard Class 4 2-6-4T No. 80151 climbing just before
Horsted Keynes with the 3.30 pm from Sheffield Park.
 

The 4.10 pm from Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes
nearing Horsted Keynes behind 'Dukedog' No. 9017.
 

No.  34059 'Sir Archibald Sinclair' departing from
Horsted Keynes with the 4.00 pm from Kingscote
to Sheffield Park.

Photographs © 2009, Brian Easter