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
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.