#Bluebell Railway #GiantsofSteam #Britannia
This year's Giants of Steam at the Bluebell Railway was due to have two true 'giants' of the preserved steam world, Britannia no.70000 'Britannia' from of Icons of Steam and Duchess no.46233 'Duchess of Sutherland' from the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust, who was due to stay on the line after completing a Steam Dreams trip to Bath the weekend before. However resourcing issues lead to a change of motive power for the Bath tour, and a change of visitor for the gala with B1 no.61306 'Mayflower' stepping in, the change giving the gala an Eastern Region feel. Joining them from the home fleet was Standard 5 no.73082 'Camelot', running as no.73087 'Linette', freshly overhauled Std 4 no.80151 and Q no.30541 (Saturday and Sunday only so does not feature) with S15 no.847 spare in light steam. This years timetable saw 13 round trips shared between the four locos with a 40/45 minute frequency during the main part of the day.
We visited for the Friday but unfortunately the weather gods were not smiling on the railway as the day saw a combination of persistent often heavy rain with a blustery wind, very difficult conditions to film in! We spent our time split between West Hoathly, Horsted Keynes and Sheffield Park and this video is the best of the action that could be obtained in the weather! Thanks as always to everyone involved in putting on the event.
Photos...
www.flickr.com...
Locations and Locos...
70000 at West Hoathly.
73082 at West Hoathly.
61306 at West Hoathly.
80151 at West Hoathly.
70000 at Horsted Keynes.
80151 at Horsted Keynes.
61306 at Horsted Keynes.
70000 at Horsted Keynes.
73082 at Horsted Keynes.
80151 at Sheffield Park.
73082 at Sheffield Park.