New-Build Showcase | Bluebell Railway - Giants of Steam Gala 18-19/10/2025

A celebration of determination. The 'Giants of Steam' Gala at the Bluebell Railway, held over the weekend of October 17th-19th, would showcase the quartet of new-build standard gauge steam locomotives currently operating in the UK: 60163 “Tornado”, 2999 “Lady of Legend”, 6880 “Betton Grange”, and 32424 “Beachy Head”. All in four cases, no original members of their respective classes survived into preservation, leaving groups of like-minded enthusiasts to band together to construct new locomotives to ‘right the wrongs’ and fill the gaps.

Completed in 2008, A1 Class - 60163 "Tornado" was the first standard gauge steam locomotive to be built in the UK since 1960, as the result of a project which began in 1990 by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. The ground-up construction allowed the A1SLT some additional flexibility for future-proofing their locomotive, fitting all of the necessary mainline equipment in an efficient way. With “Tornado”, the A1SLT changed what was thought to be possible in the world of railway preservation, opening the door for numerous new-build locomotive projects. The first locomotive to follow the in wake of 60163, would be ‘Saint’ Class - 2999 “Lady of Legend”, which was completed at the Didcot Railway Centre in 2019. 2999 is a different type of new-build, being reverse-engineered from the hulking remains of ‘Hall’ Class - 4942 “Maindy Hall”; a locomotive secured in a derelict state, specifically for the purpose. 4942 was acquired in 1974 by the Great Western Society, and while the initial campaign to convert it into a 'Saint' proved to be unfruitful, a subsequent campaign launched in 1995 was met with far greater success.

A similar reverse-engineering approach took place for ‘Grange’ Class - 6880 “Betton Grange”, albeit to a lesser extent. The project to construct a new ‘Grange’ began in 1998, using the boiler from 7927 “Willington Hall” on new-build frames, to reach completion in early 2024. However, 6880’s title as ‘Britain’s newest steam locomotive’ would be short lived, as it would be dethroned by H2 Class Atlantic - 32424 “Beachy Head”. The project behind 32424 can trace its origins back to 1986, when the boiler of GNR ‘Large Boiler’ C1 Class - 3287 was discovered at a factory in Essex. The close lineage between the C1s and H2s would allow the boiler to be modified and used in a new-build H2, while various surviving items of LB&SCR origin would come to the fray. As such, on the 29th of October 2000, the Bluebell Railway launched the project to construct a replica of 32424 using the salvaged components, reaching completion in the summer of 2024.

In the cases 60163, 2999, and 6880, the chosen numbers represent the locomotive ‘next in line’ for their respective classes, had the original construction runs continued. For the latter, this includes the name “Betton Grange”, which had been allocated to 6880; the first member of the next batch of the ‘Granges’, which was subsequently cancelled in favour of the new ‘Manor’ Class. On the other hand, 32424 “Beachy Head” has adopted the identity of a scrapped locomotive, which had been constructed in 1911. The original 424, later 32424, and named after the iconic East Sussex headland, would be the last of the H2s remaining in service under British Railways, with a swansong on the "Sussex Coast Limited" railtour in April 1958 before a swift withdrawal. 32424 would be scrapped only a month later at Eastleigh Works. The construction of a new 32424 centred around correcting the missed opportunity to preserve the original, and is therefore seen as a ‘spiritual continuation’ of the locomotive; even including 32424's original regulator handle.

On the Saturday of the event, there would be a line up of the quartet at Horsted Keynes station, cementing this event as a truly special occasion in showcasing the modern world of railway preservation.

Locomotives:
Ex-GWR 6800 'Grange' Class - 6880 "Betton Grange"
GWR 2900 'Saint' Class - 2999 "Lady of Legend"
BR(E) A1 Class - 60163 "Tornado"
Ex-LB&SCR H2 Class - 32424 “Beachy Head”

00:00 - 6880 Waterworks
01:17 - 6880 Horsted Keynes footpath
03:36 - 2999 Horsted Keynes footpath
05:56 - 60163 Freshfield Bank
07:48 - 60163 Horsted Keynes
09:21 - 32424 Waterworks
10:36 - 32424 Three Arch Bridge
12:16 - 6880 Horsted House Farm Bridge
14:19 - 2999 Horsted House Farm Bridge
16:20 - 2999 Sharpthorne Tunnel
18:56 - 60163 Sharpthorne Tunnel
20:41 - 6880 Horsted Keynes
22:28 - 60163 Horsted House Farm Bridge
24:09 - 32424 Horsted Keynes south field
25:24 - Line Up Horsted Keynes
26:12 - 6880 Horsted Keynes
28:35 - 2999 Horsted Keynes footpath
30:57 - 2999 & 6880 Keysford Lane
32:16 - 32424 & 60163 Freshfield Bank
33:21 - 6880 Freshfield Bank

All footage filmed from a position of safety, while in possession of a valid PTS.
All footage filmed on Saturday the 18th, and Sunday the 19th, of October 2025.