thanks for sharing this you filmed my Merchant Navy ! please see my new video of the bluebell regards Graham

@bkendlerA4 Barry, One of my friends has taken a couple of photos here, but it was too dark to take photos today, so I tried a video instead. Only when I looked at your vid of it at North Sheen did I twig that there was no diesel on the back!

Footnote: I filmed Clan Line on the outward run at North Sheen. Take a look? Barry

Great shot. I really liked that. I have not seen a shot of steam at Merstham before. Barry

Running this train paid for all the fuel it used during its 3 months of hauling the spoil trains, so about 10,000 tons.

Yes, the clue is in my description of the shot - Empty Coaching Stock!

aa right didnt kno there was a stephney club haha thanks for that

I think that's very unlikely since the NRM already have Waddon, so Stepney would really add little to what is available at the NRM, and it is in any case on public display at Sheffield Park (where it has a very large following in the form of our children's "Stepney Club").

shes a good loco pulling aome vintage stock, i would imagine the slim chance they cant get her steaming again she would be sent up to the nrm because thats where she deserves to be if not running on tracks

The best way to get involved would be with the Loco Workshop working group currently overhauling P-class 178. Once that is finished they will be deciding which loco to tackle next, and it'll probably be another small one. Stepney is one possibility. Details on the Bluebell web site via the Loco Works News.

The big part of the job on Stepney is that it needs new cylinders. We've made the patterns and had them cast, so they "just" need machining and fitting.

i'd help rebuild her, i am young, strong, willing, good with mechanical work, i love steam locomotives, and would love to get involved with them

Thanks for the comments. Yes, very much a one-off - the Bluebell will still be 100% steam on its scheduled/timetabled services. I'm afraid it's not that great a clip - just what my stills camera can do in video mode, hand-held - pretty inadequate really, but it's a newsworthy event, which is why I posted it.

There's a petition going around on the Railway asking for that!

My position is simply this. I do not want, ever, to see regular diesel hauled or powered trains running between East Grinstead and Sheffield Park. If other railways want to do this, fine, but steam is our major selling point. it would, however, be perfectly correct to run electric services into Horsted Keynes as they used to - nothing wrong in that.. It would be good to be able to offer the preserved 2Bil and 4Cor somewhere to run.

Nice video. Assuming it is a one off, I don't really mind the train, and it is stated on the site it is one off. I think it would be a shame if diesel traction ran alongside steam on the Bluebell, as the Bluebell is unique with only steamers, although I don't think diesels will ever (in the close future) run passenger services on the Bluebell. And I read somewhere that the train wasn't even full so... Anyway, nice well filmed clip.

It's a recreation.... in the 1960s they were ALL empty in this part of Sussex that's why most of the lines closed!

absolute rubbish bartonside! At the end of the day and technically speaking if what you are saying is right then we should re lay a stretch of third rail and energise it in the western platforms of Horsted Keynes, I'm very happy to see a class 73 on the line.... better that than what was originally planned... i e no trains at all!

This is a deeply disappointing event and a betrayal of everything the railway stands for. Diesel traction never ran on this railway and this is the thin edge of a wedge which will bring other inappropriate traction to this railway. The claim that it is a strictly one-off event will, I am afraid, not be adhered to. Other railways may wish to entertain internal combustion machines but the Bluebell should limit them only to shunting and the spoil trains.

i hope that they will restore her