2024, day one. The new year would be welcomed in with steam at the Bluebell Railway, as the Sussex heritage line fronted four locomotives to deliver a day of intensive running, marketed as their 'New Year's Day Steam Up'.
The bulk of the services would be the three passenger sets working the full line length between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead. This would be supplemented by a demonstration freight set operating between Horsted Keynes and Kingscote, with O1 Class - 65. Returning from an extensive overhaul, Rebuilt 'Battle of Britain' Class - 34059 "Sir Archibald Sinclair" (name not carried) would make a triumphant return to passenger service during the day, bringing the home-fleet Bulleid bark back to Sussex for the first time in over a decade. The locomotive awaits final finishing and lining in the future.
Locomotives:
BR(W) 6959 'Modified Hall' Class - 6989 "Wightwick Hall"
LB&SCR A1X 'Terrier' Class - 72 "Fenchurch"
Ex-SR Rebuilt 'Battle of Britain' Class - 34059
SE&CR O1 Class - 65
00:00 6989 Freshfield Bank
01:39 72 Freshfield Bank
02:23 34059 Freshfield Bank
04:17 72 West Hoathly
05:11 34059 Sharpthorne Tunnel
06:12 65 West Hoathly
07:24 6989 Sharpthorne Tunnel
08:26 34059 Horsted Keynes south field
09:24 65 Horsted Keynes footpath
11:03 72 Horsted Keynes footpath
11:57 34059 Horsted Keynes footpath
All footage filmed on Monday the 1st of January 2024.