Bluebell Railway - 'Giants of Steam' Gala 13-15/10/2023

The annual 'Giants of Steam' Gala at the Bluebell Railway always promises to be a spectacular event, with the 2023 edition being no exception, held over the weekend of October 13th-15th. A total of 6 locomotives would be in steam for the event. 6989 "Wightwick Hall", on an extended loan from the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, would join the home-fleet Standard pair of 80151 and 73082 "Camelot". Visiting from the Swanage Railway, courtesy of Southern Locomotives Ltd, 34070 "Manston" would make its first trip away from Dorset since it returned from overhaul in late 2022. The pacific is currently looking rather weathered, doing well to honour 34070's working life; 34070 spent its final years allocated to 72A Exmouth Junction, appearing in a similarly rundown aesthetic. A second Bulleid pacific would visit for the gala, in the shape of 21C127 "Taw Valley", from the Severn Valley Railway. "Taw Valley" is currently adorned by Bulleid wartime black. Though no Rebuilt Bulleid pacific carried the livery in the days of steam, since the rebuilding programme postdates World War II, it serves well as a 'what-if'. Completing the line up would be 72 "Fenchurch"; though no giant, the 'Terrier' proved perfect for the role of providing Brake Van rides around the station limits of Horsted Keynes, while hauling a short demonstration freight set. Complimenting the pair of visiting Bulleid pacifics, the home-fleet duo of 21C123 and 34059 would be on public display. Ex-SR Rebuilt 'Battle of Britain' Class - 21C159 "Sir Archibald Sinclair" (34059) is currently undergoing testing as it nears the completion of its current overhaul, and would feature at Sheffield Park station during the gala. SR 'West Country' Class - 21C123 "Blackmoor Vale" is out of steam awaiting an overhaul, featuring on display at Horsted Keynes. 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 34070 & 21C127 working line-astern through the Sussex countryside on the Sunday of the event. Locomotives: Ex-SR 'Battle of Britian' Class - 34070 "Manston" BR(W) 6959 'Modified Hall' Class - 6989 "Wightwick Hall" SR Rebuilt 'West Country' Class - 21C127 "Taw Valley" BR Standard Class 5MT - 73082 "Camelot" Ex-LB&SCR A1X 'Terrier' Class - 72 "Fenchurch" BR Standard Class 4MT Tank - 80151 Footnote: Attending all three days of the event resulted in a varied mix of raw clips to work with, featuring the various locomotives on differing coach sets in varied weather over the whole event. As such, this video is built around the timetable and locomotive allocations from the Saturday of the event, using it as a framework with the clips from the other two days edited in as and where appropriate, to try and convey coherent coverage of the gala. This does mean that there are some obvious differences in coach sets and other minor details between sequences. All footage filmed on Friday the 13th, Saturday the 14th, and Sunday the 15th of October 2023.