Bluebell Railway - 'Spring Steam Gala' 20-22/03/2026

For the first time in many years, the annual spring gala at the Bluebell Railway would not be held under the ‘Branch Line Gala’ title and format. Instead, this ‘Spring Steam Gala’ would take the event on a new trajectory, showcasing a variety of steam locomotive designs over the course of the three-day event; held over the weekend of March 20th-22nd. The event would feature three visiting locomotives to star alongside members of the Bluebell home-fleet. 2999 “Lady of Legend” has been on hire to Bluebell for since the autumn of 2025, appearing courtesy of the Great Western Society at the Didcot Railway Centre. The second visitor would be Standard Class 4MT - 75069, visiting from the Severn Valley Railway, with ‘Terrier’ - W8 “Freshwater” completing the trio - the latter visiting from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. The Bluebell would turn out some of their illustrious home-fleet for the weekend, comprised of 73082 “Camelot”, 34059 "Sir Archibald Sinclair", 72 “Fenchurch”, 4MT Tank - 80151, and O1 Class - 65. With 8 locomotives in steam, and an intensive timetable, the event proved to be a feast for enthusiasts. Locomotives: BR Standard Class 5MT - 73082 "Camelot" Ex-SR Rebuilt 'Battle of Britain' Class - 34059 "Sir Archibald Sinclair" GWR 2900 'Saint' Class - 2999 "Lady of Legend" BR Standard Class 4MT Tank - 80151 BR Standard Class 4MT - 75069 Ex-LB&SCR A1X 'Terrier' Class - W8 “Freshwater” LB&SCR A1X 'Terrier' Class - 72 "Fenchurch" SE&CR O1 Class - 65 00:00 - 73082 Freshfield Bank 01:44 - 34059 Horsted House Farm Bridge 03:13 - 2999 & 73082 Holywell 04:25 - 2999 & 73082 Imberhorne 05:55 - 80151 Courtland Wood 06:51 - 75069 Freshfield Bank 08:08 - 75069 Sharpthorne Tunnel 10:40 - 80151 Dean’s Farm Crossing 11:33 - 80151 Sharpthorne Tunnel 12:18 - W8 & 72 Tremaines 13:06 - 2999 Leamland Bridge 15:17 - W8 & 72 Three Arch Bridge 16:23 - W8 & 72 Leamland 17:42 - W8 & 72 Courtland Wood 18:53 - W8, 72, & 80151 Hill Place Farm 19:54 - W8, 72, & 80151 Kingscote 21:50 - 75069 & 73082 Imberhorne 23:18 - 65 Leamland 24:30 - 2999 Horsted Keynes footpath 26:27 - 75069 Horsted Keynes footpath 28:13 - 34059 Freshfield Bank 30:19 - 34059 Horsted Keynes South Field 31:43 - 73082 & 75069 Horsted Keynes footpath 33:45 - W8 & 72 Freshfield Bank 35:00 - 73082 Sheffield Park 36:38 - 34059 Holywell 38:03 - 34059 Imberhorne 39:35 - 75069 Horsted House Farm Bridge 41:19 - 80151 Vaux End 42:00 - 73082 Courtland Wood 43:21 - 2999 Sharpthorne Tunnel 44:59 - W8 & 72 Courtland Wood 46:33 - 75069 & 34059 Courtland Wood 48:09 - W8, 72, & 73082 Sharpthorne Tunnel 48:58 - 2999 Holywell 50:18 - 75069 & 34059 Freshfield Bank 51:48 - 75069 & 34059 Imberhorne 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 slightly varied weather over the whole event. As such, this video is split into two chapters. The first chapter uses the timetable and locomotive allocations from the Friday of the event as a framework, with clips from the Saturday edited in as and where appropriate. The second chapter covers the Sunday of the event. This does mean that there are some obvious differences in coach sets and other minor details between sequences. All footage filmed from a position of safety, while in possession of a valid PTS. All footage filmed on Friday the 20th, Saturday the 21st, and Sunday the 22nd of March 2026.